How To Unclog A Blocked Drain And What You Should Know

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It doesn’t matter how careful you are, at some point, you’ll most likely face the undesirable situation of having to unclog a blocked drain. Let’s face it, it happens to us all, and eventually, we all have to deal with it. The key is understanding what’s causing it and how to fix it in the best way possible. 

There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to unclog a blocked drain, and there are things you can try that work great and are always worth a try! 

How To Unclog A Blocked Drain

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The first thing to consider is whether you are flushing wet wipes because you need to stop if you are. I didn’t realize they were such a huge source of the problem. Did you know that there have been enough wet wipes flushed down the drains in Sydney to reach as far as Los Angeles and back? 

Did you know that if you flush wet wipes, makeup wipes, or any type of cleaning wipes, you’re massively increasing your chances of a big blockage and a plumbing bill to match? I’m a huge fan of using Clorox Wipes daily as they are such a great way to clean and disinfect my bathrooms – now, I’m extra careful about not flushing them down the toilet bowl. 

You can talk to any Sydney plumber to confirm how important it is to keep these wet wipes out of your drains. It’s also useful to have their number on hand to assist you when dealing with a clogged drain.

With A Few Good Techniques, You Can Clear It Easily

There are a few techniques you can apply yourself while waiting for your plumber to arrive. However, just because you have managed to get the water flowing again does not mean you shouldn’t get a plumber to check your drains. It can prevent them from becoming blocked again.

Don’t forget, clogged drains can cause flooding and a serious amount of damage to your home. You should check your insurance wording to see what coverage you have.

Drain Cleaner

Another awesome way to unclog a blocked drain is a simple one and probably stuff you already have at home. If the water is draining very slowly then you might be able to use a drain cleaner from a shop – providing you follow the instructions on the package. 

Alternatively, you can make your own! I’ve used this hack before and it is worth trying. 

Simply pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, then pour half a cup of vinegar down the drain and cover the drain hole. Of course, this will force the reaction downwards.

Follow these instructions: 

• Pour a pot of boiling hot water down your drain.
• Then pour in about 1/2 cup baking soda.
• Let that sit for a few minutes to do its job.
• Pour a mixture of 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of very hot water down on top of the baking soda to continue the process. 
• Be sure to cover with a drain plug as you will want to keep the reaction down below the drain surface and let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
• Then, flush one more time with a pot of boiling water.

You will hear it fizzing and bubbling – then after 10 minutes add another half a cup of vinegar, cover and then leave for 30 minutes.

Plunger

To deal with standard sinks you’ll need a cup plunger. It needs to go over the plughole and seal. You then slowly move it up and down; the action will push air through the pipes, hopefully moving the blockage in the process.

You’ll need a different type of plunger to deal with toilets.

With Some Care, You Can Avoid A Clogged Drain

Pipe

If you push a normal piece of pipe down your drain you’ll be liable to get it stuck or damage your plumber. However, if you have a drain snake, you’ll be able to slide this slow down the drain, and it will find its way around the bends. Ideally, it will push through the blockage and break it up or pull it up to the plughole for you.

The Sewers

It is also worth lifting your sewer cap outside to confirm that the blockage is in your home, not outside the pipes. It will usually be a problem out if all of your drains are blocking or slow draining.

In this case, you’ll need drain rods and the assistance of a professional; they can clear the blockage and ensure that your drains are in good condition, saving you a lot of inconvenience and expense.

It is also important to watch what you put down your drains; sanitary products are one of the worst items for toilets while hair can be seriously detrimental to your sink drains.

In Closing

If you aren’t sure what’s causing your blocked drain and to no avail, you’ve tried everything and it’s still clogged, it’s best to call professional plumber services to come to the rescue. There have been times when we were able to unclog a blocked drain, and other times we weren’t that fortunate. Either way, it’s always worth trying to clear it yourself first – who knows? You might get lucky!

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