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Quick and Effective Solutions to Easily Fix Your Drain at Home

The drains are far from the most glamorous part of our homes but they are still very important. Problems with your drains can be a massive source of frustration, whether it is your kitchen sink taking an absolute age to drain, or the water spilling over your shower base every morning. If these problems recur often, you need to take steps to address them before a bigger issue arises. There is no better time than now to address that clog that has been bothering you for weeks. The best thing is, if the problem is small, you may not even need to call out a plumber.

To help everyone fix their plumbing problems, here are four quick and effective solutions to easily fix your drain at home.

1. Call in the Professionals for Major Problems

Before we get started with the DIY solutions, it is worth pointing out that for drain problems that are causing major leaks or flooding, you should always call in a professional plumber. The folks at allserviceplumbers.com/south-gate/ explain that a major leak from your drains may be the sign of something more than a regular clog. In addition, constant leaking and flooding can cause major water damage to your home which can cost a lot of money to fix and could even cause major structural issues. There are many reliable, honest plumbing companies in every area, just look online for one close to you which has positive reviews.

2. Clear the Gunk from the Trap

Most sinks have that U-shaped pipe we are all familiar with which is called the trap. This has two purposes; to stop debris from washing down further into your system and causing a clog that you can’t access, and to form a liquid barrier that prevents sewer gases from traveling up your pipes into your home. Every plumbed appliance including sinks, toilets, showers, and bathtubs will have either an internal or external trap.

To clear a clog from a trap, turn off your water, and then place a bucket beneath it to catch the water which is resting in the trap. You can then remove it by taking out the nuts with a wrench. Once it is free, you can clear the blockage by hand and then give the inside of the trap a quick scrub with an old toothbrush to clean it up. Give the trap a rinse and then attach it back into place. Once that is done, check that the problem is solved by running the water again.

3. Suck Out Blockages with a Wet and Dry Vacuum

Wet and dry vacuums are specially designed for cleaning up liquids along with dry debris, but they can also be a fantastic machine for unclogging your drains. All you need to do is set your vacuum to “wet”, and then form a tight seal between the vacuum attachment and your drain (you can be creative with putty, old socks, or anything else plug the gaps and form the seal). Click the power settings up from the highest in stages to loosen and then finally suck up whatever was clogging the drain. Then you just have to run the water to check that it worked and empty out the vacuum bag.

4. Use a Plunger or Clothes Hanger to Unclog Drains

Sometimes, the best ideas are the simplest, and it is amazing how effective plungers are at unblocking drains and toilets. Plungers use simple pressure and suction to move water that is stuck in the pipes around until water blockage is trapping the water is dislodged. Some blockages may be stubborn and the pressure created by the plunger won’t be enough to dislodge them.

In this instance, you can try using a clothes hanger (or a drain snake if you have one) to loosen and yank out the gunk. This can be particularly useful for bathroom sinks and showers when the clogs are usually tangles of hair and other sludge.

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Problems with your plumbing can be immensely frustrating, and clogged drains, in particular, can be a daily annoyance. The first thing you need to do is decide whether the issue is so severe that you need to call in a professional plumber before serious damage is done to your home. If it is just a minor clog or another small problem, then you may be able to fix it yourself without even needing any specialist plumbing equipment. Try out these tips and you may be able to find a quick and effective solution to your drain problems.

Written by Eric

37-year-old who enjoys ferret racing, binge-watching boxed sets and praying. He is exciting and entertaining, but can also be very boring and a bit grumpy.