How To Easily Clear Any Clogged Drain

Clogs form in every plumbing system; there is no way to prevent them. We’ll demonstrate how to unclog stubborn clogs in a bathtub, floor drain, and kitchen sink.

These tried-and-true methods will clear almost any blockage. After a few unsuccessful tries, if you still can’t remove a blockage, be sure to admit defeat and hire a professional plumber or drain-cleaning service. A pipe or fixture might be irreversibly damaged if you use excessive force.

Unclogging a Sink or Bathtub

Sinks can be easily unclogged using plungers, but proper technique is crucial. Every bathroom sink that is code-compliant has an overflow that is about an inch from the rim. As you plunge, pressure frequently returns through the overflow rather than pushing the blockage. To take advantage of the hydraulic pressure, cover this hole with a rag and plunge with manual pressure.

Use of a wire drain snake might be required if the plunger is ineffective in unclogging the sink. Remove the pop-up component from the sink and gently feed the wire into the drain while turning the handle. Once the snake has made some progress, add a little more wire and continue. This will unclog the drain.

The same concept applies when plunging a shower drain: cover the overflow. Remove the cover, place a rag over the hole, and apply manual pressure to seal the overflow.

Unclogging a Drainpipe

Larger drainpipes, which are used by sinks, toilets, and showers, can occasionally become clogged as well. Thankfully, at every direction change, there should be a clean-out fitting attached. To gain access to the cap so that you may clear the clog, just pry it off with some pliers or a wrench.

Using a longer wire snake is one way of clearing a clogged pipe. They are stronger, longer, and often have tips with additional force to break up the clog or hook it for removal. Simply slide the wire snake through the drain as it moves forward to dislodge the blockage. One tip we recommend is to run water through the pipes while snaking the drain if it is possible. By doing so, the newly loosened buildup will be able to flush through the system instead of settling back in place.

Unclogging a Floor Drain

There are floor drains that remove wastewater from central air conditioners, washing machines, and other appliances in many basements, garages, and laundry rooms.

Large amounts of soap scum, laundry lint, sand, and bacteria accumulate in these drains over time and eventually solidify inside the lengthy drainpipe. You’ll need an electric power auger to cut through these stubborn blockages.

• a power auger with a cable that is at least 50 feet long. Remove the strainer that is over the drain hole first.
• Then, search for a clean-out plug on the drain basin.
• Using a wrench, remove the plug, then feed the cable straight through the pipe.
• It will be necessary to snake the cable through the trap if the drain doesn’t have a clean-out plug, though this method is tougher.

If these methods don’t work, it may be time to hire a professional plumbing service to get the job done. As one of Texas’s most reliable and affordable plumbing service providers, Made’s Plumbing offers solutions for all of your plumbing requirements!