Nothing is worse than when you suddenly have a clogged drain – be it a kitchen sink drain, floor drain, or a bath drain. You can’t just sweep it under the rug. If you don’t fix this problem immediately, this will cause a bigger problem for you in the long run. But, how do you fix it?
Here are the things you can do to fix such a pesky problem:
First off, you have to turn off the water and clear the drain. If it is a serious clog, it might take a while for the water to go down. You can speed up the process by scooping out the water and pouring it somewhere else. Make sure that there is no water left in the sink or tub. For your floor, mop it up or use an old rag to soak the water all up and throw it away.
Then, you can start preparing the solutions. You can try them and see if they work for you:
Hot water
Simply boil a pot of hot water. Then, pour it into the clogged drain. Repeat as necessary if the water still won’t go down.
White vinegar and baking soda
Use equal parts baking soda and white vinegar; pour the ingredients in one at a time directly into the drain starting with the baking soda and immediately followed by the white vinegar. Plug the drain and let the mixture sit. Open your taps and test if the clog is gone. Repeat as needed.
Lemon juice and baking soda
The lemon juice and baking soda solution works similar to the white vinegar and baking soda solution. Have equal parts lemon juice and baking soda; pour the ingredients in one at a time directly into the drain starting with the baking soda and immediately followed by the lemon juice. Plug the drain and let the mixture sit. Open your taps and test if the clog is gone. Repeat as needed.
Plunger
A plunger is always a handy tool to have around. You have to have at least a little bit of water in the sink or tub for it to work. Fill your tub or sink with water until it covers the rubber end of the plunger. Then, rapidly plunge it in a forward motion. You’ll have your drain working again in no time.
Metal hanger or drain snakes
Cut a wire hanger and straighten it and form a small hook at the end. You can use this to fish out any object that is causing the clog or you can use drain snakes.
Drain snakes can be bought in any handyman store. Get one and agitate the clog in the drain. This works especially in tubs because, most of the time, the main cause of the clog is hair build-up. A drain snake is the best tool to do the job. Simply put the drain snake into the drain and fish out the object clogging (in this case, hair) the drain. Drain snakes can successfully remove the debris.
Call in a professional
It is highly recommended to still contact a plumber to take a look at your drains. Although you have solved the problem, it might re-occur due to a fissure in your pipes. Try an emergency plumber in Sevenoaks if you need help.
