Unclogging a Clogged Drain

Having issues with a clogged drain? We know how frustrating (and messy) a clogged drain can be. If your clog is serious and you notice that multiple fixtures are backing up or there’s flooding or water damage, you should call a plumber to come to take a look at it ASAP.

However, if you have a manageable clog, there are a variety of tools that you can use before reaching out to a professional, including:

• Plunger
• Baking soda and vinegar
• Drain snake

Below, we’ll go into more detail about how you can utilize these tools to unclog your drain.

Rather have a professional unclog your drain for you? No problem. We’ve been helping Phoenix homeowners unclog their drains for years, so no matter what the issue is, we’ll find it and take care of it. Learn more about our drain cleaning services or…

Solution #1: Plunger

Believe it or not, plungers are not only good for unclogging toilets, but they can also be quite effective for breaking up many types of drain clogs.

To unclog your drain with a plunger…

Step 1: Start by ensuring that your sink or bathtub is filled with enough water to cover the bottom of the plunger.

Step 2: Start plunging! Plunge your sink or bathtub drain for about 30 seconds and then see if the water starts to drain out of your sink or bathtub.

Step 3: If water hasn’t started to drain yet, keep trying! If after a few minutes the plunging method isn’t working, move on to the next DIY fix.

Solution #2: Baking Soda & Vinegar

If manual removal isn’t working, your clog may be caused by scale or lime build-up. To remove it, try a combination of baking soda and vinegar.

Step 1: First pour about half of a box of baking soda into your sink or bathtub drain.

Step 2: Pour ½ cup of vinegar into your drain after the baking soda and let it sit for about 30 minutes.

Step 3: After the baking soda and vinegar have been in your drain for about 30 minutes, pour a few cups of hot water down your drain to clear out this mix and your clog. WARNING: While you should put hot water down your drain, do not put boiling water down your drain, as this could end up warping or damaging your piping.

Solution #3: Drain Snake

If you’re still having issues with your clogged drain, our next suggestion would be to use a drain snake.

Drain snakes are exactly what they sound like, they’re steel wires that you can “snake” down into your drain and then twist to catch and remove debris.

If you don’t have a drain snake, you can usually find them at hardware stores for fairly cheap.

Solution #4: Call a Professional

If you’ve tried all of the above and are still having trouble unclogging your drain, it’s time to call a professional.

Depending on how extensive (or hard-to-reach) the clog is, you could end up damaging your piping or clog your drain even more if you keep trying to free the clog yourself. It’s in your best interest to hire a professional who can accurately assess where the clog is located and which tools would be best to get rid of it.

Still having issues with a clogged drain? Call the best in Phoenix: Patrick Riley

We’ve been helping homeowners with plumbing their plumbing issues for quite a few years, so we know what we’re doing. No matter how small or complex your clog is, we’d be happy to take a look and help you determine what the best solution is for your home.