How To Clear Blocked Drains Inside & Outside
A blocked drain can cause a lot of damage to your household, not to mention the foul smells that can emanate from your drain when it's full of hair, dirt and such. Blocked drains are an incredibly common issue that can lead to significant problems for your plumbing if you don’t remedy the issue quickly. In this article, we are going to find out how to clear blocked drains inside and outside so that your plumbing is in top condition.
If you have any plumbing issues such as a blocked drain that you can’t unblock - all you have to do is contact our team of professional plumbers at Top to Bottom Plumbing today.
Table of contents:
c. Use baking soda and vinegar
2. Things to avoid when trying to clear a blocked drain
d. Chemical drain cleaning products
e. Coat hangers
How to clear blocked drains inside and out
The best course of action when you have a blocked drain is to hire a professional plumbing service like Top to Bottom Plumbing to do the job for you. A professional plumber will have all of the proper tools to unblock your drains easily and without causing any mess or damage. They also have the knowledge to find out where exactly the blockage sits - inside or outside - and how to effectively solve the problem. So we recommend that you tackle a blocked drain by calling in a professional.
With that said, there are a few at-home options that you might want to try out. Below are a few popular ways to clear blocked drains. Please remember to take safety precautions when performing these solutions such as wearing protective eye goggles, rubber clothes and appropriate clothing to protect yourself.
Use a plunger
The plunger is a humble at-home unblocker that is designed to unclog drains and pipes. It can be very effective at removing smaller blockages, so it is worth trying this method out. To use a plunger, you will have to perform the following steps:
Make sure that your drain is free from any coverings, such as a grate or strainer.
Fill the sink (if possible) with a little bit of water, then begin using the plunger to apply upwards and downwards pressure on the drain clearing for about 30 seconds.
If you have managed to remove the blockage, finish the job by pouring some hot water down the drain to remove excess residue.
Use Hot Water
Another useful method for smaller blockages is to try flushing the system with hot water. Don’t use boiling water because this can damage the PVC piping. To try out this tip, perform the following steps:
- Heat the water (make sure it isn’t boiling)
- Add a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid down the blocked drain
- Pour about a litre of hot water down the drain slowly
Use baking soda and vinegar
A classic at-home combination of baking soda and vinegar is another approach to unblocking drains inside and outside. When you mix these two ingredients together, they create a fizzing frothy mess that can be used to loosen up blockages and clear them. To do this, follow these instructions:
- Pour a litre of hot water down the blocked drain
- Add about 50 grams of baking soda down the drain and wait for a few minutes.
- Pour about 500 ml of white vinegar down the drain and add another litre of hot water afterwards
Things to avoid when trying to clear a blocked drain
There are lots of DIY solutions to clearing a blocked drain, but not many of them work. In fact, many of the most popular suggestions for clearing blocked drains can actually cause more harm than good.
Chemical drain cleaning products
Drain cleaners have been around for a long time now, but they’re still a very dangerous chemical to use in the home. These solutions are a big environmental danger, but they can also damage your plumbing system and they pose a risk to your health. The active ingredient in most chemical drain cleaners is caustic soda, which can melt pipes if it can’t remove the blockage. What’s more, if you need to use a plunger after using a chemical drain cleaner, you could risk splashing yourself with the product and giving yourself nasty chemical burns.
Coat hangers
Another common DIY approach to clearing a blocked drain is to use a coat hanger. This is a bad idea because blockages work their way deep into the plumbing system. A coat hanger is too small to reach deep enough to effectively clear out any debris. What’s more, it can get stuck in your plumbing or make your blockage more severe.
If you’re still struggling with a blocked drain after trying out these tips, it might be time to call in the professionals.
Our team at Top to Bottom Plumbing are here to help with your
plumbing emergencies, so contact us today on
07 4779 7722 to discuss your needs.
