Sharing Knowledge About Residential Plumbing

If you have a clogged drain, then there are a wide variety of ways that you can approach the problem. Here are some simple solutions that you can try on your own, using materials that are found in every home: 

Hot Water

One of the simplest solutions can also be quite effective. Some hot water can break up those nasty clogs, but you will probably need to go a bit further than the warm setting on your tap. In many cases, the hot water coming out of your faucet/shower will be significantly colder than boiling, which means that it won't be optimal for forcing those pesky clogs apart.

To handle this, you'll want to separately boil water and pour it down the drain. However, there are two things that you need to keep in mind when doing so:

First of all, you want to make sure that you are careful around any seals on your drains. Boiling water can compromise rubber seals, which can lead to leaks and other frustrating problems down the line. Pour the water carefully so that it goes directly into the drain, avoiding the edges if possible.

Secondly, you want to add enough hot water to flush the problematic portion of the pipe entirely. Half measures can end up just forcing the clog down the pipe a little bit. With enough hot water, you can permanently destroy clogs.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

If you want to use a chemical reaction, but don't want to use dangerous chemicals, then a simple solution of baking soda and vinegar can be the answer for you. All you need is a few cups of hot water, half a cup of baking soda, and half a cup of vinegar.

Just add some hot water and the baking soda into the drain and allow it to settle. The hot water will help the baking soda disperse into the clog, creating the perfect setup for the reaction. 

After a few minutes, you'll want to add the vinegar. This will pretty quickly result in a rapid expansion of a foam-like substance, but your goal is to force this reaction downward. To achieve that, try to cover up the top of the drain.

Wait a few minutes to see if the clog reforms, and then attempt the same solution a few more times. If you are still having problems, then it might be time to move on to more serious measures. Contact local professionals, such as those from Aalco-The Drain Doctor, for further assistance.