Clogged drains happen to everybody. Even with all the preventative measures in place, sometimes a clogged drain just cannot be helped! Most of the time you can fix a clogged drain at home alone. But sometimes a clogged drain takes a bit more expertise to unclog!
What is a clogged drain?
Homes have plenty of drains and drain pipes – they are in the kitchen, the bathroom, and outside. Sometimes, these become clogged as a result of a build-up of debris, products, foreign objects, or even just a collection of built-up residue. When left, this can cause plumbing problems and could even lead to an influx of drain flies and some truly unpleasant smells.
How to know if you have a clogged drain
If you have a clogged drain, there are a few telltale signs. These will alert you to the problem and usually happen pretty soon after the blockage forms. You might notice any of the following:
- A bubbling toilet
- Water draining slowly from the sink, bathtub, and shower
- Puddles of water around washing machines, dishwashers, and sinks
- A foul smell coming from the drains
You might also notice that your water pressure has decreased, or that your water seems to have cut off altogether. Any and all of these suggest that your home has a blocked drain somewhere.
What can cause clogged drains?
There are any number of things that can lead to clogged drains, and none of them are particularly pleasant. What is likely to have caused your clogged drain will depend on which drain is clogged.
Clogged kitchen drain pipes
If your kitchen sink is clogged, or your dishwasher, then it is likely due to a hefty build-up of grease, soap, food, and oils. These accumulate in the pipe and form one solid lump, blocking any water from travelling through. These are one of the most common blockages, especially among those with garbage disposals.
Clogged bathroom drain pipes
Bathroom pipes are very susceptible to clogging as they get a lot of product and other items washed down them daily. In a bathroom sink and a bath or shower, the most common causes of a clogged drain are hair, soap, toothpaste, product residue, and small toys. The latter is usually the result of a child’s fun bathtime.
When it comes to a clogged toilet, usually this is caused by excess toilet roll, wet wipes, feminine hygiene products, or a foreign object being flushed down the toilet. Occasionally it can also be caused by a large mass of human waste.
Occasionally, bathroom pipes become clogged due to foreign objects falling or being dropped down them and causing issues in the plumbing system. These foreign objects could be toys, toilet roll holders, tampon applicators – a lot of things fall down toilets!
Offset pipes
You might find that, actually, nothing has clogged your drain pipes as such. Sometimes, particularly when homes are old or are their own settling land, the plumbing system and pipes can be unsettled. This is referred to as ‘offset pipes’, and it essentially means that the pipes have moved in such a way that they are no longer slanted, and this leads to water, product, hair and whatever else goes down the drain remaining still in the pipe rather than flowing down the pipe.
This then results in a clog, and one which can be particularly irritating, as no matter how many times you clear clogs, offset pipes cause recurring clogs. Even if you use professional drain cleaning services, this clog is likely to return until the pipes are moved.
Can you fix your clogged drain?
Lots of household jobs and tasks can actually just be fixed by the homeowner, so long as they know what they’re doing. Clogged drains, to some extent, are no different. With the help of a drain snake, drain cleaner, toilet plunger, baking soda, hot water and white vinegar, you can usually unclog drains fairly easily. There are a few different methods to fix your clogged drain without having to call in a drainage specialist, and which one will work best for you depends on the type of clog you have. For a simple clog, one of these options will often resolve the issue. However, if these DIY methods do not work, or you notice that your drains are making strange noises, or your water completely stops – it is time to call a plumber!
Baking soda and vinegar
One of the simplest ways to fix a clogged drain is to use baking soda and vinegar. This works on organic clogs, i.e those caused by soap scum, sewage, cooking grease, food waste, hair or oil. You need to measure out about 1/3 of a cup of baking soda and the same amount of white vinegar.
Once measured out, pour these down your drain pipe and leave it to soak for a while. It should act on your drain clogs fairly quickly, but if left overnight it will really work magic on your blocked drains. The solution works by fizzing and separating the clog from itself. Pour water through the drain afterward to wash away any leftover clog.
Boiling water
Another shockingly simple way to remove drain clogs without having to hassle a professional plumber is to simply boil a kettle and pour it down your drain. The hot water will travel through your sink or tub drains and down through the drain lines, where it will melt the clog or dissolve whatever is holding it together.
Chemical drain cleaners
This is a controversial solution. Some chemical drain cleaners are corrosive, and can actually do more damage than good to your pipes, but if you absolutely need to use a drain cleaner, you can do so once or twice without causing too much damage.
Plunging your plumbing
One of the plumbing secrets that your local plumber will probably deploy first is using a plunger on your sink drains, toilets, or bath. This does often work wonders, but can be messy and dangerous to try without the proper knowledge. When using a toilet plunger, your initial plunge should not be forceful, and you should take it slowly – it may take some time.
Drain snake
You can purchase your own drain snake, or you can bend a wire hanger to serve the same purpose. This method is a little bit gross, especially if it is a toilet that you’re removing the clog from. You simply need the snake to be straight with a hook at one end, and you poke it into the clog and pull to pull the clog back out.
When to just call a plumber
If you try more than two of these DIY methods and you don’t notice any difference in your drains, it is time to call a professional plumber. Alternatively, if you begin to hear odd noises, or if your water shuts off, you should call a plumber immediately.
For those renting, it is always safer to just call a plumber, as if you try a DIY fix and damage the property your landlord will not be happy.
