How to Fix Clogs in Minutes

Click here to get this post in PDF

A simple clog can easily go sideways for three reasons, when it goes completely under the radar, when you attempt to clear it but have done it wrong and when it’s been going on for ages, but you choose to care less for it to be fixed by a pro. That’s why when a clog problem strikes, and you can’t afford to take time or wait for it to fix itself. Fortunately, fixing a clog is much quicker than you think with these few safe and simple tips we’ve put together for you. 

Tip #1 Pump it up and down (Plunger)

Where there’s a drain, there’s likely a plunger. Plungers come in really handy when you need them. They are small enough to tuck behind toilets or under sinks. If you don’t have one at hand, take a trip to any local chain store in your area. They’re very cheap but work great on clogs. They come in different types to work in different types of drains, but they all have a common purpose, to save your day from a clog problem. Flange plungers, for example, have tall domes and flanges at the bottom that you can bend to use on flat surfaces like tubs and sinks and extends for toilets. The flange helps create a seal around the drain hole. By contrast, standard cup plungers have fairly shallow domes with a flat bottom rim and are commonly used in kitchen sinks. 

1. Prepare the plunger for action. If you’re using a flange type, bend the flange at the bottom of the cup for a flat surface and extend for the toilet.
2. Remove any drain filter, or stopper, and apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to get a good seal with the plunger. 
3. Run a small amount of water just enough to cover the cup of the plunger.
4. Hold the handle straight and maintain a good suction while pumping up and down until you feel the clog has loosen.
5. If the water starts to flush, that’s your key intel that you’ve successfully cleared the clog. If nothing changed, give it another shot before calling a plumber.

Tip #2 Snake attack (Drain snake)

Plungers usually work magic on clogged drains, but if it has shied away this time, try snaking the clog. Using a snake drain can be a messy job so be sure to put on the right clothes you don’t care about getting a splash on and gloves. You also need to place towels or a catch basin under pipes you are working on. 

Just something to note when using a drain snake. Keep the handle as close to the entrance as possible. The less slack in the cable there is, the more effective it is, and the less likely the head of the snake cable will flex back when it comes in contact with the clog. If you also hear scratching noises when working your way down, carefully pull the snake back up and re-adjust. If the head of the snake seems stuck in the obstruction, try pulling it out slowly. You don’t want to cause any damage inside the drain line. 

1. If you’re working on the sink, locate the cleanout in your P-trap and rotate counter clockwise to remove. If you’re working on other drains, proceed to step 2.
2. Place the end of the snake into the drain and turn the hand crank to slide it down. Make sure to keep the snake’s shaft steady while you’re working your way down. 
3. Keep on turning the handle to unloosen the entire length of the cable.
4. When you feel any resistance slowly pull the snake back up by turning the handle in the opposite direction this time. This will pull the shaft at the same time. 
5. Remove any bits of clogs that are pulled with the snake and rinse the snake off.
6. If you’ve removed the P-trap and trap arm, put them back together. 
7. Tighten the cleanout to avoid leakages. In some instances you may need to apply a Teflon tape on the cleanout thread to get a good seal.
8. Flush the drain with water and see if it’s good to go. If your first attempt wasn’t successful, repeat steps 1 to 4 until your drain flushes freely.

Tip #3 Magical tandem (Boiling water and dish soap)

A little bit of fat and oil in your diet is essential for your body to absorb the nutrients it needs to function well. But they just don’t do the same in your plumbing. Fats, grease, and oil are nothing but a triple threat to your drains. In fact, it is one of the biggest reasons why the kitchen sink clogs frequently. That’s why you need to battle kitchen sink clogs right away so these greasy gunks don’t have a chance to create more problems in the future. 

There’s no secret to making sure the ingredients will work magic in your drains. You only need water, a kettle, and dish soap to prepare this. Add a small amount of salt to cut short the boiling time. The boiling water will melt the grease while the dish soap helps loosen them.

Just one thing to bear in mind. Don’t use boiling water excessively. Pouring more than plastic pipes can handle can put it in danger of warping or melting. It is also bad for porcelain toilet bowls and wax seals when used too much. 

1. Boil about a cup or two of water and add salt to boil quickly
2. Remove sink drain filter, if there’s any
3. Pour enough dish soap in the drain and wait for 5-10 minutes to allow dish soap to come in contact with the clog and loosen it.
4. Pour boiling water and make sure it’s still steaming hot.
5. Wait up for 15 minutes for the clog to work loose
6. Pour boiling water again to flush the remaining clogs
7. Run the water for 2 minutes and check if the water starts to drain
8. If you don’t see any action at that point, you may need to call a plumber.

Tip #4 Soda bubble bomb (Baking soda and vinegar)

Normally when your drain clogs, you have a pretty good idea what’s causing it. Usually, it’s food, grease, or hair. Problems like these, you can definitely handle yourself with just the right mix of kitchen staples. Chances are, you already have baking soda in your home. Baking soda which is sodium bicarbonate mixed with vinegar which is a weak acid produces a reaction with a bubbling effect that will help dislodge a clog.

1. Pour a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by the same amount of vinegar. You will notice a bubbling effect while pouring the vinegar. That’s the bomb trying to loosen the clog. You can use a measuring cup to do this or use a funnel for sink drains with smaller openings.
2. If the first step fails, repeat the process. You can also add half cup of salt after the baking soda, or boiling water after the vinegar on your next attempt.
3. Try flushing and check if you’ve successfully cleared the clog
4. If the water is now freely flowing, run the tap to flush any remaining debris.
5. If you’re still unlucky to clear the clog the natural way, it’s time to call the blocked drain repair experts.

Tip #5 Call the blocked drain Sydney specialist

Hopefully, the tips above will do all the tricks to clear the clogs easily breezy for you. But if you feel it’s tough enough, call the experts in blocked drain cleaning Sydney instead. It’s pretty simple, not all clogs are the same. Some of them are meant to be left for the professionals to do. Not all clogs can be fixed on a whim, others take time and require specialised tools. So if you’ve figured you’re neither capable nor have the right tools to fix a clog, don’t waste time. Ringing your local unblock drain professionals shouldn’t take time.

Final words

Bottom line is, whether you have a blocked toilet drain, blocked sewer pipe, blocked sewer drain, or blocked stormwater drains, the goal is to clear the clog right away. Delaying a clog can only make the problem worse and might leave you with drains full of waste and dirty water. If you need assistance to achieve a clog-free drains, Revolution Pipe Relining is only a call away. We can clear any type of clog in just a short amount of time for you.

You may also like: The Importance Of Good Plumbing For Your Workplace

Image source: stock.adobe.com