How to Clear a Blocked Drain

What’s that awful aroma floating through your house?

Blocked drains can be everything from a minor inconvenience to a major issue that brings with it an expensive repair bill.

With any luck, you can clear the drain on your own without the need to call in a plumber to look at the issue. Learn some of the best methods for how to clear a blocked drain here!

Throw Some Hot Water on It

This method tends to work well in the kitchen where blocked drains are often caused by debris being trapped in built-up grease. Boil a big pot of water and dump it down the drain. The heat will melt the grease and help loosen the clog enough to wash it away.

Throw Some Bubbly Cleaner on It

Another method is to shake a bit of baking soda down the drain. Chase it with a little vinegar. The bubbly action from the reaction between the two substances can help dissolve the clog. You may have to repeat the process a few times.

Throw Some Caustic Cleaner on It

The baking soda and vinegar method is far more environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, it isn’t always the most effective.

For stubborn clogs, you can get caustic cleaner from the store. Use with care as it can burn your skin and you shouldn’t breathe the fumes. Only use as much as you need to avoid releasing large quantities of the chemicals into the environment.

Use a Plunger on It

For toilet paper clogs and similar blockages, a plunger is an excellent tool for clearing the blockage. Simply place the plunger over the drain, making sure it gets a good seal. Pull it up and down briskly, the resulting suction is often enough to break up the clog.

Plumber’s Drain Snake

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you won’t be able to clear the blockage on your own and you’ll need to call a licenced plumber. They’ll bring a toolbox full of tricks for clearing your drains.

One of these is a plumber’s drain snake. This flexible cable can be inserted into the drain until it runs into the blockage. Usually, the cable punching through the clog is enough to break it up.

CCTV Camera

However, the drain snake won’t work on certain types of blockages — tree roots for example. No amount of stabbing at it with the drain snake will remove solid blockages like this.

To get a better understanding of what is blocking the drain, a plumber will use a CCTV camera. This is basically like a drain snake with a little camera on the end of it. When the plumber can get eyes on the situation they can make a better determination of what needs to be done.

Enjoy Free Flowing Drains

Avoid the stink and hassle of blocked drains by being careful with what you put down them. Even something that is seemingly innocuous, like liquid grease, can cause a large problem. It’s liquid when hot, but it won’t stay that way as it travels through your drains.