There are few feelings worse than knowing a drain in your home has a clog in it. The good news is that there are several ways to remove a clog in a safe, affordable, and timely manner. Let’s take a closer look at a few common methods that homeowners use to remove debris from a pipe and get it working like new again.
Use Boiling Water
Perhaps the easiest way to get rid of a clog is to pour boiling water down the drain. This is typically best for eliminating minor clogs that occur because of grease or hair accumulation in the shower drain.
If you are going to use boiling water, make sure to take precautions to keep yourself and your property safe. Ideally, you’ll wear gloves, goggles, and protective clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible. Make sure to pour the water slowly into the drain and to give it a few minutes to work on the clog before running the faucet again.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
For a more stubborn clog, you might need more than water to remove organic material inside a pipe. In such a scenario, you can use baking soda and vinegar to dissolve hair, grease, or similar material.
When the baking soda and vinegar come together, it will create a chemical reaction that releases a significant amount of heat. The heat is what will chip away at whatever is clogging the pipe and help move it along.
It’s still important to wear goggles, gloves, and clothes that minimize exposed skin. This will reduce the risk of splatter getting into your eyes or on your skin, which could cause pain or irritation. It’s also worth noting that you’ll want to clear the sink or tub of standing water first, as these materials are generally ineffective after encountering it.
Use a Plunger
The final method of tackling minor clogs is to use a plunger to help material move through a pipe. A plunger generates pressure inside the pipe and can create enough force to move whatever is stuck inside a sink or tub drain.
Snake a Pipe
For deeper clogs, simple materials such as water or a plunger aren’t going to help much. These materials won’t be as effective getting deep into the pipe, where a clog can linger and worsen over time.
At this point, it’s generally best to call for professional help, as a plumber has the tools and experience to diagnose where the clog is and what is causing it. One of the tools that will likely bring to the job site is a drain snake.
A drain snake has a tool at the end of it that can break up material as it is rotated inside the pipe. Snakes come in a variety of sizes, which means that a plumber likely has one that is big enough to reach even the deepest and toughest of clogs.
Hydro Jetting
Hydro jetting involves shooting a pressurized stream of water inside the clogged pipe. This can be an especially effective option if you’ve experienced multiple clogs impacting the same drain.
The hydro jet will clean the walls of the pipe in addition to getting rid of the clog itself. This can help to prevent future plumbing issues because there won’t be any lingering debris capable of creating a clog in the near future.
Cleaning a pipe may also reveal the presence of holes, cracks, or other physical damage that a clog might be hiding. This provides you with an opportunity to replace the pipe before it has a chance to cause any more problems for you.
Airburst Cleaning May Help
An airburst cleaning uses gas instead of water to move material stuck deep inside a pipe. It is considered an ideal solution in more severe cases because it can create a significant force without damaging the pipes. This may be ideal for older pipes that could be more vulnerable to cracks or other issues after being exposed to significant pressure.
Why You Don’t Want to Use Chemical Cleaners
Your first instinct when dealing with a clogged sink or shower drain might be to use a chemical cleaner to get rid of it. However, although chemical cleaners are easily accessible and relatively inexpensive, they are rarely the best option in the short or long-term.
It’s important to consider that they only work on clogs caused by grease, hair, or similar materials. If a tree root is causing the clog, drain cleaners won’t dissolve the root. Instead, the substance will only linger inside the pipe and could cause damage to the pipe itself.
It’s also common for chemical cleaners to create fumes that can overwhelm you while you’re in a small space such as a bathroom or laundry room. These fumes also have the potential to travel throughout your house and cause breathing and other types of serious health issues.
Finally, chemical cleaners are extremely caustic, which means that they can burn your skin. Even a small amount of drain cleaner on your skin can cause severe burns or result in serious vision issues if it gets into your eyes. Ultimately, it can be more trouble than it’s worth, which is why professionals almost always avoid using these products.
How Do You Determine the Severity of a Clog?
The method you choose to get rid of a clog depends largely on where it is in your pipe and the severity of the clog. If you still have a small trickle of water flowing through the pipe, you may be able to resolve the clog yourself using one of the above methods.
However, if water starts to back up into your home, the clog may be farther down the pipe and out of reach. There could also be clogs in multiple pipes, which may indicate a problem with the main line to your home.
A plumber can use a camera that can get into a pipe and determine the exact location of a clog. Using a camera is also ideal to help a plumber determine what is in the pipe. From there, a plan can be made to get rid of the clog and clean the pipe safely and quickly.
If you require drain cleaning services in Bountiful, UT, our team has the tools and experience necessary to do the job right. In addition to resolving issues with slow drains, we can also perform in-pipe repairs, unclog toilets, and help with other plumbing system issues. Don’t hesitate to contact Blue Best Plumbing, Heating, Air, & Generators today to learn more about how we can meet your drain needs!
