Home Remedies for Fixing Clogs
by Alex J.

In an effort to avoid shelling out money to a plumber, many people have found themselves in the midst of a do-it-yourself disaster.

With a little know-how this type of situation can be avoided. Triumph over clogs by trying some of these home remedies:

Sink Drains

It is inevitable that at some point a drain will clog after it has been assaulted with hair, toothpaste, soap, whiskers, and grime. To unclog a sink drain first pour a half cup of baking soda into the drain followed by a cup of vinegar. Let the concoction sit for 30 minutes. Rinse with boiling water for metal drainpipes, or hot tap water for plastic drainpipes.

Still clogged? Use a small plunger and cover the drain with the suction cup, adding just enough water to create suction. Plunge up and down quickly for 20 strokes. Repeat if necessary.

For stubborn clogs, remove the drainpipe under the sink. Use a bucket to catch anything that may come out of the opening. Check the pipe for clogs. If it's not clogged, use an auger. Guide it through the drain and slowly maneuver it around bends in the pipe. When the blockage is caught on the auger, pull it back slowly and then turn the handle pushing it through the clog. Push it out of the hole left by the drainpipe. Run water to see if it pours out into the bucket indicating the clog is gone. Rinse the pipe before putting it back.

Shower Drains

A plunger can work for a clogged shower drain as well. The baking soda and vinegar trick is also effective. Let it sit, covered, for several hours before rinsing with boiling or hot water. For a surface clog, use a pair of needle-nose pliers to pull out any visible residue. Then loosen the screws and remove the top part of the drain to probe deeper.

If the clog is stubborn, try a coat hangar. Straighten it and stick it in the drain opening. Snake it around until you feel the clog. Try to slowly pull it out if the hangar is able to connect with the blockage. Or push it further down to a wider part of the pipe so it can be washed out. If nothing works, consider a wet/dry vacuum. Place the nozzle over the drain and secure the hose with duct tape. Switch the vacuum on and off until the clog is cleared.

Toilets

Unclogging a toilet is not a particularly appealing task, but sometimes it needs to be done. First, wait until the water is fairly low, you may have to use a bowl to remove excess water, and add five tablespoons of dish soap to the toilet bowl. Let it sit before adding a kettle full of boiling water and start plunging. This can also be done with baking soda and vinegar, similar to sink and shower drains.

If this doesn't prove successful it's time to turn to a closed auger. Never use a regular auger as it can damage the toilet. Insert the padded end of the closed auger into the toilet drain, turn the crank handle until you feel pressure from the tip of the auger hitting the clog. Keep turning the crank and pull the auger out slowly to dislodge the blockage.

Alex J. works with Blue Sky Plumbing, Denver plumbers who offer a wide range of plumbing and HVAC services for residential and commercial customers.

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