If you have a blocked drain, it can be a massive inconvenience
Not only will having a blocked drain prevent water from flowing freely through your pipes, but it can also cause unpleasant smells and damage to your property.
In this blog post, we will discuss how to unblock and clear your blocked drain using simple home remedies that anyone can do! We will also discuss what causes blocked drains and steps you can take to avoid a clogged drain in the future.
7 Ways To Clear a Blocked Drain
Want to know how to clear a drain? Here are 7 home remedies on how to unblock a drain that you can try before calling out a professional plumber:
- Baking soda and vinegar
Baking soda and vinegar is a classic home remedy for blocked drains. Simply mix equal parts of baking soda and vinegar and quickly pour them down the drain. Leave it to sit for 30 minutes, and then flush the drain with boiling water.
- Boiling water
Another simple method is to pour a pot of boiling water down the blocked drain. Boil a kettle and slowly pour the hot water down the drain; this will help melt any fat, oils and grease (FOG) that may be causing your blockage.
- Manually clean your sink pipe
If you do not feel confident taking your sink’s plumbing apart, perhaps avoid this home remedy for blocked drains.
Here is a step-by-step guide to cleaning a blocked drain in your sink:
Step 1: Put a bucket under the U-shaped pipe under your sink to catch any water that may come through your plumbing during the unblocking process.
Step 2: Loosen the slip nuts at both ends of the pipe with a wrench and remove the pipe.
Step 3: Empty any water or debris from the removed pipe into the bucket.
Step 4: Use an old toothbrush to clean the inside of all the pipes you have access to now that you have removed the U-shaped section.
Step 5: Slowly flush the pipes with water and reassemble the plumbing.
- Baking Soda and Salt
This is a variation of the baking soda and vinegar method. Simply mix a half-cup of baking soda with a half-cup of salt and pour it down your blocked drain. Leave it to sit for 30 minutes before flushing with boiling water.
- Use a plunger
If you have a plunger, this can be an effective tool for unblocking a drain. Simply place the plunger over the blocked drain and ensure a tight seal. Pump the plunger up and down vigorously until you clear the blockage.
- Store-bought chemicals
Many store-bought chemicals are designed to unclog blocked sewer drains, but we do not recommend that you use a chemical cleaner. Chemical cleaners can seriously damage the structural integrity of your pipes as many of these chemicals are made with corrosive agents.
Not only can they damage your pipes, but they are a hazard to the environment. If you do decide to try a chemical, read the instructions carefully as these products can be dangerous to your health if misused.
- Biological cleaning products
For an environmentally friendly blocked drain cleaner, use a biological cleaner. These are made with enzymes that break down organic matter.
Still, have a blocked drain?
If you have tried all our DIY blocked drain solutions and your drain is still an issue, it is time to call a plumber. Did you know that one of the most common causes of blocked drains is tree root intrusion? Planting bushes, shrubs or trees anywhere near your drainage lines must be avoided at all costs.
Tree roots are naturally drawn towards sewerage pipes as they give the roots the moisture they need, nutrients and even Oxygen. Tree roots will grow towards any crack or loose join in an underground sewerage pipe in search of moisture and nutrients. As they force their way into the pipes, they will start to form a ‘web’ trapping anything flowing down these lines. Pipe Relining Cape Town will be able to quickly identify the problem and get your drains unblocked in no time!
5 Frequently Asked Questions About Blocked Drains
A lot of the time, blocked drains are caused by tree root intrusion that requires the help of a professional plumbing company to remove them. Using specialised drain cleaning equipment, plumbers can identify the extent of the root intrusion using drain camera inspection technology. Once found, the plumber will perform a series of drain cleaning methods using highly specialised machinery. Roto rooters and high-pressure hydro jetting are two standard machines used.
After removing all blockages from the drain pipe and depending on the damage caused by tree roots, your plumbing company may recommend pipe relining to repair and restore the broken line.
If you have a blocked shower drain, the best way to unblock it is with a plumbers snake. Start by removing the drain cover and feeding the snake into the drain. Twist the snake in a clockwise direction until you can push through the blockage. Flush with water to check that the water is draining well.
If you have a blocked drain, the best thing to use is a plunger. A plunger is designed to dislodge blockages and clear drains quickly and easily. If you don’t have a plunger, you can use a garden hose or a plumbers snake.
We do not recommend using chemical cleaners to clear blocked drains. Chemical cleaners can cause severe damage to your plumbing and lead to further complications, health hazards, and environmental damage.
It is best to call Pipe Relining Cape Town for assistance if you feel you need to resort to chemical cleaners. We may save you money in the long run by helping you avoid the costly consequences of using a corrosive chemical cleaner.
If you regularly deal with a blocked drain, here is a list of the common causes and why they clog your drains:
Tree roots: If you have tiny cracks in your plumbing, tree roots will often invade your plumbing to access the plentiful water supply. As the roots spread and grow, they will cause severe blockages that need professional intervention and specialised equipment.
Fats, oils and grease: When you pour hot grease or fat down the drain, it solidifies and sticks to the sides of the pipes. Over time, this build-up can cause a blocked drain.
Hair: The hair you shed when bathing can become tangled and clump together, causing a blockage in your shower or bathtub drain.
Soap: Soap can build up in drains and create a blockage. This is more common in shower drains as soap accumulates over time.
Toilet paper: Too much toilet paper can cause a blockage in your toilet drain pipe, especially if it is allowed to dry and not flushed down often.
Foreign objects: Small objects such as jewellery, toys, and hairpins can become lodged in drains and cause a blockage.
How Pipe Relining Cape Town Can Help
If you have a blocked drain, the best thing to do is call a professional. Pipe Relining Cape Town has years of experience in dealing with blocked drains. Our drain cleaning service will quickly and easily identify your blockage and unblock your drains in no time!
We make use of drain camera inspection so we can find and identify the problem. We will then use one of our state-of-the-art drain cleaning methods to remove your blockage.
Our drain service uses 2 drain cleaning methods to clear drain blockages:
- High-pressure hydro jetting: We spray water at a high pressure to remove stubborn blockages.
- Roto Rooters (Rotary Machine Cleaner): A specialised hose with spring-loaded blades spring-loaded spins at high speed to break up your blockage and remove it from the drain.
Conclusion
If you have a blocked drain, there are many things you can do to unblock it. However, if the problem persists, it is best to call a professional. Pipe Relining Cape Town has years of experience dealing with blocked drains and will quickly identify the problem and get your drains unblocked in no time!
We hope you found this article helpful, and you now know what to do if you have a blocked drain. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us or follow us on social media for updates and announcements. We often share D.I.Y plumbing tricks. We are always happy to help!