Clogged tub, sink and shower drains are common events, and there are numerous remedies to rectify a clogged drain. Plungers, augers and various drain-cleaning products are available, one of which is likely to clear most clogged drains. Small objects and organic materials are the usual suspects in such backups, but when the trouble is caused by a buildup of sand the solution may be more difficult to achieve.
For one thing, unless you know exactly how the sand got into the drain in the first place, you may be dealing with a situation that is way beyond your control. If you’ve just cleaned out the fish tank in the kitchen sink or the kids have dumped buckets full of beach sand into the tub, it’s one thing, and you can try a few experiments before calling your plumber. Here are a few DIY tips that may be worth a go.
- Wet-Vac – You might get better results from pulling rather than pushing. If the sand is near the top end of the drain system you may get it back out by vacuuming.
- Bladder – A bladder is designed to increase the water pressure into the drain, which can break up a sand clog, dispersing the sand so that a regular flow can flush the system clean.
- Garden Hose Reducer – As with a bladder, a hose reducer will increase the water pressure and may wash the sand away.
If you can’t identify where the sand came from or your initial efforts are unsuccessful, it is time to call in a licensed plumber. The problem could be a broken water line, necessitating major work. Your plumber may even have to “scope” the line with a miniature camera to identify the problem. But, that’s what your professional serviceman is there for, so don’t hesitate to call for help.
