It’s probably no secret to anyone when we say that one of the most common problems that our plumbers get a call for are clogged drains.
You may be in the habit of taking care to keep your home clean, but it’s still possible that you’ll have a clogged drain. Whether food is blocking up the kitchen sink or hair has turned into an issue with your shower drainage – it can happen to the best of us.
So what do we recommend for unclogging those drains? Here is our list of what is best to use to unclog your drains.
What Is The Best Product To Unclog Drains?
Some commercial products can work well for unclogging drains and they are certainly convenient but they are not necessarily good for your plumbing in the long run, so we recommend to try to avoid using these types of products.
Instead, follow these steps to get that nasty clog dislodged.
Step 1 – If you want your plumbing to work smoothly, there are a few precautions that need to be taken. First and foremost wear clothes that aren’t too precious since they’ll inevitably get dirty during the process of working on pipes. Next it’s important not only to place old towels around your workspace but also use rubber gloves for added protection against leaks.
Step 2 – Some clogs can be easily dislodged with baking soda and vinegar. Many DIY homeowners (and plumbers) recommend the combination of baking soda and vinegar to help unclog drains or to be used as maintenance in order to keep them from getting blocked up again, though it’s not always a permanent solution if you don’t clean out your pipes afterward. The recipe is simply 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by 1/2 cup white vinegar; pour one down the drain after another until everything has gone through once. You can repeat the steps if necessary.
Step 3 – If the baking soda and vinegar recipe doesn’t work – your next step is to use a plunger. Plungers are not always reliable, but they may be worth trying if you need one more option before calling in an expert plumber. To properly use the plunger follow these instructions:
First, if you’re trying to unclog your sink, use a sink plunger. Before you begin pumping the plunger, turn on your faucet and put enough water in the sink to cover the cup of the plunger. Place the cup of the plunger of the drain and use brisk movements of up-and-down or side-to-side vibration for about 1 minute each time. Make sure to keep the cup of the plunger against the drain to maintain that seal. In other words, don’t lift the plunger off the drain.
Step 4 – A final recommendation (with caution) is to use an auger aka plumber’s snake. The augers can be used to flush out clogs in pipes and drains, as well as clear other debris that has collected around any given pipe section or fitting. However it does not come without caution! If you are not familiar with using an auger or feel any hesitancy at all – we recommend that you avoid this to unclog your drains. Reason being that using an auger improperly can actually cause more damage to your drain pipes and you may just end up with a cracked pipe that still has the clog!
If you do decide that you want to go ahead and use a commercial product to unclog your drains, we can recommend the following:
CLR Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover
Seventh Generation Dish Liquid
Bissell advanced professional spot and stain
Seventh Generation All Purpose Natural Cleaner
If you’re dealing with a clogged drain and these solutions haven’t worked for you then don’t hesitate to call in an expert plumber. You’ll save time and effort by enlisting the help of someone who has knowledge and tools necessary for quickly resolving your issue without risking damage from DIY fixes.
If you have any questions about unclogging drains or are having some problems with it, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-443-8229. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.