Coral Springs: How to Deal With Clogged Drains
Clogged drains can be more than just a minor annoyance. Aside from any bad smells, clogged drains can cause your plumbing to back up which can cause some serious damage. If your drains get clogged you’d better handle it sooner rather than later.
Fortunately, you don’t have to shell out for a professional plumber to fix a clogged drain. Here are some simple ways you can fix a clogged drain all on your own.
Use an Auger
An auger is that big drain snaking tool that professional plumbers use. You can buy a pretty cheap auger at the department store for anywhere from $20-$100.
To use the auger, remove the drain plate and slowly feed the tip of the auger into the drain. It will probably help if you have an extra light source so you can see inside the drain. One the tip has disappeared, start cranking the handle and work the tip through any bends or curves. Once you hit the clog, which you will feel, then start twisting the head to break through, If the water starts to drain, then your efforts are working. Once finished, run hot water through the drain to catch and leftover debris.
If you can’t shell out for an auger, you might be able to achieve the same effect with a sufficiently long piece of wire, like that from a coat hanger. It will be harder with a regular wire, but as long as the clog isn’t too big, you should be able to clear it without too much extraneous effort.
Clean the U-Pipe
This method is a bit more in-depth, but you can physically remove the U–pipe (sometimes called the drain trap) and clean it directly. You should already be cleaning this part of your drain on the regular, but it can also be a quick fix in case of a clogged drain.
Using a plumbers wrench, loosen the nut on the u-pipe, positioning a bucket to catch any falling water. Once the nuts are off, carefully remove the U-pipe and empty any excess water into the bucket. From there, it’s a simple process of clearing the U-pipe with your hands or tool. If you use your hands, make sure you wear gloves. Once the clog has been removed, slowly run hot water through the U-pipe to clear any debris and reattach it one finished.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
A quick home fix involves vinegar and baking soda. Simply pour a half cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by a half cup of vinegar. Then, plug the opening of the drain with a rag. The baking soda and vinegar will react to create a sludgy foam that expands and can clear out any drain clogs. If the first mixture didn’t do the trick, try again with more baking soda and vinegar. Once done, flush the drain with hot water to break loose any last bits of debris.
Conclusions
Clogged drains are annoying but thankfully they are usually simple enough that you can fix them on your own. There are lots of different ways of cleaning a clogged drain; there are just some of the simplest and easiest to pull off with what you already have in your home. For more information related to clogged drains, Contact West End Plumbing at 954-741-5271.
