Leave Clogged Drain Repairs To The Pros

June 14th, 2012 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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Clogged drains are one of those things that most handy homeowners try to tackle themselves, but in most cases you are really better off letting a professional plumber handle it.  Sometimes a homeowner can successfully clear a clogged drain, but if efforts are unsuccessful, they often end up damaging their pipes or making the problem worse.  In addition, most of the time a clogged drain is just that –  a clog that only affects a single drain.  However, sometimes a clogged drain is a sign of a much bigger problem and an experienced plumber has the training and skill to recognize these problems.

Some clogged drains can be cleared by the homeowner.  If your stopper has collected too much hair or if the clog is in the trap, many homeowners can safely remove these clogs and get their drains flowing freely.  In addition, some clogs will respond to gentle pressure from a plunger.

However, when homeowners start using plumbing snakes, drain cleaning chemicals and the like, the problem can go from bad to worse.  Drain cleaning chemicals sound great – just pour it in the sink or drain and let it do it’s magic to dissolve the clog.  Unfortunately, these caustic chemicals can do just as much damage to your plumbing as they do to the clog.  In addition, they usually don’t work and you end up with clogged sink full of dangerous chemicals.

Plumbing snakes are another home remedy that looks like a great idea, but rarely works out that way.  Homeowner grade plumbing snakes are only useful for light clogs very close to the drain.  Even when the work, they often only knock a hole in the clog and leave most of it behind.  The sink drains today, but the clog will be back soon.  In addition, plumbing snakes can damage pipes or get stuck in the pipe causing even more problems.

For all but the simplest clogged drains, you are better off calling a plumber who can quickly and safely clear the clogged drain.  Also, your plumber will be able to tell if the clog is a symptom of a more serious problem like a collapsed sewer line or a backed up septic system.

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Clearing A Clogged Sink Drain

December 22nd, 2011 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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If your sink drain is clogged, you may be able to clear the clog with few simple tools and about an hour of effort.  If you still can’t clear the clog, no harm done other than spending about an hour of your time trying.  Then you can call the plumber and relax while they handle the drain cleaning.

First, here are a couple of don’ts: Don’t try to clear the clog by pouring caustic chemicals down the drain.  If you already have, stop now and call a plumber.  You don’t want to try any of these clog clearing techniques on a sink full of hazardous chemicals.  Also, don’t try to clear the clog using compressed air or a pressure washer.  You will probably make a big mess and you can damage the pipes and end up needing a very expensive repair.

Now, to clear the clog start by removing the P trap under the sink.  This is the P shaped pipe attached to the sink drain.  Put a bucket under the trap and carefully remove the slip nuts with a pair of pliers.  If the clog is in the trap, clean it out and put it back together.  If not, you can either call it a day and let your plumber take care of it, or you can try using a plumber’s snake to clear the pipe.  Plumber’s snakes for home use are available at your home improvement center.

Leave the P trap off and feed the plumber’s snake into the drain pipe. Continue feeding and cranking the snake until it stops.  Then, tighten the set screw, apply some pressure and continue cranking until you feel the obstruction give way.  Carefully remove the snake, cleaning it as you go.

Reassemble the P trap and run hot water through the drain to flush away loose debris.

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Clearing a Clogged Sink Drain

December 10th, 2010 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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Most clogged sink drains can be cleared without calling a plumber.  However, if you are not comfortable trying to clear a clogged drain you should let an experienced plumber handle clearing the clog.

Also, if the clog does not clear after a couple good faith efforts to clear it, you need to call a plumber.  Stubborn clogs or frequent drain backups can be a sign of more serious plumbing issues.

First, never use caustic chemicals to attempt to clear a clogged drain.  These rarely work as advertised and they can damage your sinks and pipes.  Also, if you pour caustic chemicals into the standing water and the clog does not clear, you have made the job of clearing the clog ten times harder.  Now you not only have a clog, but you also have a sink and drain full of caustic chemicals.

For a clogged sink, the first place to check is the trap under the sink.  Remove the trap and see if the clog is in the trap or if can be seen in the drain line.  If so, remove the offending material, reassemble the trap and see if the water flows freely.

If the clog was not in the trap, use a plunger to force water down the drain and dislodge the clog.  Several vigorous thrusts with the plunger should do the job.

If the drain is still clogged, you can try using a plumber’s snake that you can purchase at your local home improvement store.  Remove the trap again and feed the plumbers snake down the drain line until it meets resistance.  Turn the crank to work the snake into the clog, then pull the snake out of the drain.

If the plumber’s snake does not clear the clog, it’s probably time to leave it to a professional plumber.

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