If you’ve been a homeowner for very long, you’ve probably dealt with clogged drains. It may have a sink, bathtub or toilet drain. Often the first sign of a clog is when water begins to drain slower than normal. Occasionally, a slow moving drain will gradually clear out the clog itself and begin draining properly again. In most cases, however, a drain will require some assistance to remove the material that is clogging the drain pipe.
Do-it-yourself Solutions
Hair Clog: If the clog is in the bathtub drain, the first step would be to remove the drain cover. Bathtub drains often can become clogged with hair that has collected just beneath the drain cover. Simply removed the accumulated hair clog may be all that is needed in this case.
Plunger: For a toilet or sink clog, the use of a plunger may be all it takes to dislodge the clog from the drain. The pressure of air and water being forced through the pipe by the plunger usually will dislodge most simple clogs.
Soda and Boiling Water: If you are not dealing with standing water, just a slow draining sink or tub. After be sure the drain cover is clear of any hair or obvious obstruction, pour one cup of baking soda down the drain and then follow it with three cups of boiling water. You may need to repeat the process a couple of times to fully clear the clog.
Not all clogs can be dislodged with these simple methods. The more stubborn clogs may require the help of a professional plumber who has the tools needed to remove what wasn’t affected by the use of a plunger or the soda and water treatments.
