Blocked drains are the worst! They can stink up your house, not to mention being really inconvenient. This is particularly true when the only toilet in your house is clogged…
Thankfully, there are a number of ways that you can clear out pipe blockages yourself. Check out these tips on how to clear a blocked drain from a Nowra plumber here.
The Boiling Water Trick
For grease or food blockages (usually in the kitchen) boiling water may do the trick. Simply pour a pot of boiling water down the drain and let the heat dissolve the blockage.
Tip: before you do this trick, make sure you have metal or ceramic pipes. The intense heat can damage and loosen joints in PVC piping systems.
Homemade Cleaner
Remember that science project you did once in school? The one where you put baking soda and vinegar in your volcano model to simulate lava? Remember how these two ingredients exploded into fizzing action when you mixed them together? You can do the same thing with your drain. The fizzing action can be enough to break up certain types of blockages in your drain. Keep at it, because it might take a few tries.
Pump the Drain With a Plunger
For solid objects, such as toys or small household items that end up getting flushed down the toilet, you might have luck with a plunger. You can get this device at any hardware store and it’s likely you already have one in your home. Close off any overflow spouts to ensure you’ll get a good seal. Then, stick the device over the drain opening and pump the handle up and down. This will create suction that may be enough to dislodge the object and clear the drain.
Make a DIY Drain Snake
For hair blockages in shower drains, a simply DIY drain snake might be helpful. Undo a coat hanger and make a hook at one end. Slide it into the drain and use the hook to snag the clump of hair and pull it out of the drain.
Caustic Commercial Cleaner
As a last resort, before you call the plumber, you can try a commercial cleaner. These are made from harsh chemicals designed to attack and dissolve whatever is blocking up your pipe. However, these are not good for you or the environment so use them with care. It’s also best to avoid using them as much as possible.
Call in a Professional Plumber
Once you’ve exhausted all these DIY methods of trying to clear your drain, you may still be stuck with a clogged drain. In that case, it’s time to call the friendly plumbers over at Curran Plumbing in Nowra. With tools like a professional plumber’s drain snake, a CCTV camera to see what’s going on down in your pipes, and a hydro-jet, we’ll be able to get your drain clear in no time!
