Everyone knows that frustrated or anxious feeling you get when the water doesn’t drain out of a sink or tub. Even worse are those times when you flush the toilet and the water starts to rise instead of disappearing.
When either of these things happen, your first instinct is probably to grab a plunger, and sometimes, that’s all it takes. But if that doesn’t unclog the drain, you might turn to other remedies.
Do-It-Yourself Solutions For Clogged Drains
It’s a good idea to treat suggestions for how to unclog a drain that you read online with a healthy skepticism. Boiling water, for example, can damage your pipes or crack your toilet. Chemicals that promise to dissolve clogs can also do more harm than good. Jamming something down the drain in hopes of dislodging the clog is not a good idea. However, if you own a plumber’s snake and you know how to use it, this can be a safe way to get rid of a clog.
Another DIY option is to check out the U-trap. That’s the part of your pipes under your sink that is curved like a U. In kitchen sinks, food can get stuck there, and in bathrooms sinks, hair, toothpaste, soap and anything else you’ve washed down the sink can accumulate and cause a blockage. However, taking apart the U-trap can be unpleasant. If you don’t want to look at and smell the sludge in your drain or you aren’t comfortable taking your pipes apart, you’re better off letting a plumber take care of the clog.
When to Call a Plumber
It’s always better to call a plumber than to risk damaging your pipes. If you can’t unclog a drain on your own with a plunger or a snake, give the professionals a call.
There are also a couple of situations in which you should probably call a plumber even if you have managed to unclog a drain. Is this happening a lot? Do you feel like you’re getting far more use out of your plunger than its manufacturer intended? If clogs in your drains have become a regular occurrence, this suggests that there might be a more serious issue, such as a clog further along in the main sewer line. Alternately, someone in your household is regularly putting things down the drain that shouldn’t go there!
The other situation in which you should call a plumber even if you can get rid of the clog is when multiple clogs are happening throughout your house. This also suggests that the problem is more extensive. There are a few more signs that your clog might indicate a more serious problem. Foul odors, odd noises and dirty water coming back up the from the drain can mean it’s time to get the professionals involved.
How a Plumber Can Help Unclog That Drain
There’s no need to feel defeated if you can’t solve the problem on your own! In addition to knowledge, skill and experience, plumbers also have equipment that can detect clogs and get rid of them, including any that are deep in your sewer line.
In addition to manual snakes, plumbers have motorized snakes that can penetrate as far as 150 feet into your drains and sewer line. They aren’t the right tool for every job though since they can damage pipes that are already fragile. Another tool for clearing out drains is the hydrojetting machine, which can blast out all the gunk that’s been building up in your pipes for years.
Plumbers also have cameras that they can send down into drains and sewer lines. With this tool, they can figure out exactly what kind of clog they’re dealing with and where it is.
Get Help For Your Clogged Drains
Clogged drains can be inconvenient, stressful and disgusting. And trying to unclog the drain yourself using methods other than a plunger or a snake can make the problem worse. When you need prompt, professional help for your clogged drains, call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. We pride ourselves on our punctuality. If there’s any delay, it’s YOU we pay. We’ll diagnose and fix your problem so that you can get back to using your kitchen or bathroom as soon as possible.
