Knowhow-Now Article

Drain Clogged? Fix It In A Jiffy!

There are many things around your house you really ought to hire someone to fix. For example, when your electrical system becomes a hazard, hire an electrician. That said, there is no reason to hire a plumber to fix as simple a problem as a drain which has clogged. This article will offer you many solutions to fix the problem.

Tip: If your pipes are making a racket, there is a simple way to quiet them down. You must anchor any type of exposed pipe.

One easy way to unclog a drain is by using your toilet plunger on it. This is especially useful for kitchen drains which get blocked by small pieces of food. Just fill the sink with water, put in the plunger and get at it. Keep going until the water from the sink completely drains. If it drains and then gets plugged again, repeat this step until the water is flowing freely. It is a good idea to do this once a month to prevent blockages from ever accumulating.

Tip: Avoid septic tank problems by having your tank pumped out in five year intervals. Deposit and debris build up in your tank can result in major problems.

The most likely culprit in a blocked drain is hair. To fix this, you need a pipe snake. The first step is to figure out how big it needs to be - for a blocked drain, it ought to be short and relatively thin. Take a coaxial cable and remove the end. Pull the wires out a bit and form them into a star pattern separating each individual wire. Wear gloves when you do this! Now you just have to push it into the drain while spinning it. Keep going until you feel it getting stuck, then give it a good shove. Rotate it a few more times and then gently draw it back. It should bring the plug with it.

Tip: Knowing all your different tools and how they are used will be a great help when you work on a plumbing job. Read all the user manuals, and make use of the library and internet to learn all about projects you can do by yourself.

If that doesn't work, try this method. First, put on some safety goggles and don rubber gloves. Next, get one cup of bleach and pour it down the drain. Get some hot water from an unclogged sink and pour it down the drain, too. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, and then try running water down the sink. If it doesn't work, you can repeat it until it's cleared.

Tip: Stay away from bleach tablets, blue tablets for the toilet and other toilet odor removers. These things may help improve smells, but they can damage the rubber components of a toiler, which can cause it to function improperly or even worse, completely break down.

At worst, you will need to remove the U-bend pipe beneath your sink. Put a large bucket underneath it and then unscrew the connection. This will release all the water in the pipes, but that pressure alone may remove your blockage. If not, it at least gives you the ability to use your snake within the deeper reaches of the plumbing system, if that is where the clog happens to be. If you aren't comfortable with performing this pipe surgery, then you really ought to hire a plumber. You've tried your best and hopefully they will be able to fix the problem instead of you potentially making it worse.

See how simple it is to remedy? Don't waste your money on a plumber just because your water is backing up! Instead, use these tips to try to solve the problem on your own. Once you tackle that project, see if there are others you can learn about online and do yourself too.

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