Nothing can stop up business in the kitchen quicker than a clogged drain. Normally, if there is only one fixture clogged, your first choice would be a typical drain cleaner that can remove obstacles that tend to accumulate close to the drain opening (like hair and grease).
Most common drain cleaners you could use would be a chemical drain cleaner readily available at most retail stores, a plunger, a handheld auger or air burst drain cleaners. However, you can damage your drain pipes if you are not careful and you may be better off calling a plumber to remove the clog. Caustic chemicals can harm the inside of your pipes and can splash on you, causing burns on exposed skin. Augers can get stuck in a clogged drain making matters worse and air burst drain cleaners can cause weak pipe joints to separate.
If more than one drain is slow or clogged, it is possible that you’re experiencing a clog in your main sewer line connecting the building to your city’s sewer system or to you septic system. Repairing these types of clogs is best left to a plumbing professional. Your plumber is equipped with professional drain cleaning equipment such as heavy duty sewer snakes or high pressure hydro-jetting equipment that can clear tough sewer line clogs. He can also use a high-tech video camera to inspect the inside of the sewer line to determine the cause of the clog.
As you can see, there are several methods to address the drain clog, and all have their own advantages and disadvantages. Should the problem persist or become repetitious, contact your local plumbing professional for an inspection of the building’s plumbing system.
