The holidays are almost here, so you’ll likely be entertaining more guests in your home. Not only will this extra activity put a strain on your plumbing, but you could be dealing with a messy situation if you have a clogged drain in your kitchen or bathroom sink. While it’s always best to call a licensed plumber to deal with a nasty drain clog, there are still a few things that you can do while you’re waiting for the professional to arrive. Here are a few drain cleaning tips to keep in mind.
1. Keep at Least a Couple of Plungers Handy
Plungers are some of the most effective plumbing tools that you can keep in your home. Most people use them primarily to unclog toilets, but they can also be used on kitchen and bathtub drains. You need to have the right type of plunger for any given task, so try to keep at least a couple on hand in your home. Cup plungers have a rubber cup at the end of a handle and should be used to unclog kitchen, shower, and bathtub drains. Flange plungers have a flap around the end of the rubber cup and are intended for use on your toilet. The flap fits into the hole at the bottom of the toilet bowl to create a more effective seal.
To clear a clog from a sink or bathtub, make sure that you have a few inches of water in the sink or tub, fit the cup of the plunger over the drain, and move it up and down vigorously for about 20 seconds while rolling the plunger cup. This should force water down the drain and dislodge the clog. To clear a clogged toilet, make sure that there’s enough water in the bowl to cover the head of your flange plunger, fit the flange at the bottom of the cup into the hole in the toilet bowl, and move the plunger up and down for about 20 seconds. Once the water drains into the hole, flush the toilet to make sure the clog is cleared.
2. Using Baking Soda, Vinegar, and Boiling Water
You can also clear a clogged drain with a combination of baking soda, white vinegar, and water. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, and follow that with 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Cover the drain, and let the mixture sit for about an hour. It should work like a natural drain cleaner and break up the clog. After you’ve given it time to work its magic, pour a pot of boiling water into the toilet to flush down the mixture and what’s left of the clog.
3. Keep Plastic Drain Cleaning Tools Handy
If your kitchen or bathroom sink is clogged with hair and grease, you may be able to pull some of the offending material out with a plastic drain cleaning tool. Its barbed strips of plastic work much like an auger or snake to break up clogs and pull debris from your drain. They’re inexpensive and available at any hardware store, so pick some up to keep on hand.
Call Big Sky for Assistance
While you may be able to clear minor drain clogs on your own, you may need to call a plumber for bigger problems. If you have a badly clogged drain this holiday season, call Big Sky Plumbing & Heating in Helena, MT to ask about our drain cleaning services.