3 Different Ways to Fix That Blocked Drain Yourself

A blocked drain is one of the many reasons why you may need to conduct plumbing repairs in your home. The untreated wastewater and sewage inside the pipe can flow back into your home, posing a serious health hazard to your family.

While you can always rely on a professional plumber to unblock your drains, learning how to fix the problem yourself can save money on your plumbing repair bills. Check out these DIY-friendly tips for unblocking a clogged drain.

Use the boiling water trick

The oily, greasy and fatty substances that slide down your sink drains unnoticed can build up over time and eventually clog the drains. To help clear the obstruction, you should pour boiling water down the affected drains in small, discrete amounts.

Know what material your pipes are made of before attempting this drain unblocking repair. If the pipes are made of metal, it's safe to attack them with boiling water. In the case of PVC pipes, using boiling water could melt the piping and its seals, thus doing more harm than good.

Try home-made drain cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners are a fast and easy way to get clogged drains flowing smoothly again, but they are not too kind to your drains and the environment. These harsh chemical products can damage your pipes and pose a major threat to the environment when used too frequently.

If you want to save the environment while avoiding damage to your pipes, homemade drain cleaners can be a great alternative to drain cleaning chemicals.

Baking soda and vinegar are two common kitchen ingredients you can use to tackle slow drains. All you have to do is to pour a bit of baking soda into the affected drain, let it sit for a few minutes, and then follow it up with some vinegar. 

Attack with a plunger

There are two main types of plungers you can use when it comes to blocked drains: cup and flange.

Cup plungers are suitable for unclogging blocked sinks while the flange versions are specially designed for clearing blocked toilet drains. The cone-shaped protrusion of the flange plunger creates an airtight seal around the toilet opening, providing enough suction to clear even the toughest toilet clogs.

Learning how to use each type of plunger correctly can help you easily deal with partial clogs that could easily turn into major blockages if left unaddressed for a long time.

Being a homeowner means you are responsible for keeping your home's plumbing system in top working condition. While undertaking routine plumbing maintenance will help you achieve this goal, plumbing issues can still arise, resulting in the need for plumbing repairs. Don't hesitate to bring in a professional plumber if you're faced with blocked drains you can't fix yourself.

For more information on how to fix a blocked drain, contact a company near you.