What to do if your drain clogs?

A clogged drain is a nightmare that can hit you anytime, especially when you are not prepared for it. Suppose, you have some guests coming over, and your bathroom lavatory clogs up, or your kitchen sink is full of dirty water because it can't find it’s way out, what would you do? Call your plumber? That’s a good idea if you have time on your hands. But, what if the plumber is not available? Or your guests are just about to arrive, and you don't have a chance to call the plumber? Too many questions? Don't be afraid; we are here to answer them for you. 

You might have heard about some highly advertised commercial drain cleaning products and how effective they are. Surely, anyone would be tempted to use them to unclog the drain before trying anything else. But, we would advise you NOT to make that choice. There are many cases in which using these strong drain cleaning products is the only option, but let’s just leave that decision to the experts and start with the basics.

Why do drains clog?

While solving any problem, the first step is to find it’s cause. So before discussing drain cleaning, let's talk about why do drains clog at first place? The answer is very simple, misuse of drains. It’s very simple when something goes down the drain, that is not supposed to go down, it gets clogged. Now that 'something' depends on the place of clogging. In the kitchen, small food particles and grease/oil are the main reason for clogging. In a bathroom, hair, paper and soap scum are the main culprits. Some other objects like a toy, bottle cap, etc. could also be the reason for drain clogging, in which case, a drain cleaner is not going to help you. 

Assuming that you have identified the problem, and it isn't a foreign object like a toy, start with locating the clog. Remove the stopper or strainer or anything you can reach to open the drain thoroughly, and pour hot water down the drain. If that doesn't work, try using a plunger, followed by plumbing snake, or auger. If none of it works, get the drain cleaner.

Drain Cleaners

Before going all Terminator on the clog with strong acidic cleaners, try using some home remedies for clearing clogs.

The most common is the baking soda and vinegar combo. Pour in equal quantities of baking soda and vinegar into the clogged drain, wait for 20 minutes, and then pour in hot water. This would work only on minor clogs.

Then come the chemical drain cleaners which generate heat to dissolve the clogging substances and clear the drains. There are different types of chemical cleaners like acidic cleaners, oxidizing drain cleaners, caustic drain cleaners, etc. The negative point of using chemical cleaners is that they are extremely toxic in nature and are very harmful to you, as well as the environment, if not used as directed. They generate heat which may also soften the pipes made of PVC. Use proper equipment and protection while using chemical cleaners and keep children and pets away.

Prevent Clogging

Wouldn't it be better if you don't let drains clog in the first place? Yes, obviously! So here are some tips to prevent drain clogging:

Don’t dump food or grease in the drains.
Keep sink stoppers and strainers in place and clean them regularly.
Use enough water while grinding food scraps in your garbage disposal.
Don’t flush paper products down the toilet.
Pour hot water, 2-3 times a month, down your drains to clear off any grease, oil or soap scum.

Was this article helpful? We hope it was. For more information on drain cleaning check out SameDayPros. Our professional drain cleaning provide same day services and are there 24x7 to help you and guide you.

Average Costs for Drain Cleaning

The national average drain cleaning services cost is $50 - $250+

The national average is about $90 for a plumber to clear a blocked drain and can be as high as $250 for a blocked main line to the property. But all these prices are dependent  on the severity of the clogged drain.

Billing:

Hourly Rate - Most  companies charge by the hour.
Flat Rate Per Job-  Some  companies charge a flat rate for the work they do.
Recognize that there are several variables in developing the price. These include:

• Time that it takes to complete cleaning.
• How many technicians are working on your project.
• Was it an after hours emergency

Remember, the company quoting a low rate may not necessarily be the right  company for you. Some  drain cleaning company may offer low hourly rates, but then charge additional "fees" to do the job.

You may also need to consider that most  companies charge a higher rate for overtime, weekends, holidays and emergency calls.

The best rule of hand is to get an itemized estimate so you know exactly what is expected from the local company.

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Commercial Drain Cleaning VS Do-It-Yourself Solutions For Clogged Lines

Commercial drain cleaning companies are great help for clearing clogged drains. However, you may want to save money by trying few do-it-yourself tips before you call a plumber. Cleaning clogged lines involves much more than dumping chemicals in your drains.

Using Boiling Water to Unclog a Clogged Kitchen Sink

The best drain cleaning solution for slow running kitchen sink drain is boiling water. This may sound so simple but it works great. If you pour 1 - 2 kettles of boiling water down the drainage system of a slow running sink, you can save the line from plugging up. Note that the number of kettles of boiling water needed to unclog the drain will increase depending on the degree of grease accumulation in the line. So if 1 or 2 kettles didn't get results, consider pouring in more kettles until the kitchen drain start running freely again.

Using Salt Water to Unclog a Clogged Drain

Mix a solution of 1/2 cup of salt with 4 liters of water. Pour the salt water into a saucepan and steam. Make sure to not over-heat or let the solution to boil. Pour the steaming salt water down the drainage system.

Using Baking Soda and Vinegar to Unclog a Blocked Drain

Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drainage system and follow with ½ cup of white vinegar. Cover the drain and leave it for between 30 minutes to 1 hour. Then flush the baking soda and vinegar down the line with 2 quarts of boiling water. Attention: The combination of baking soda and vinegar will produce a bubbling effect that may splatter.

Note: salt, baking soda and vinegar solution not only clear blocked lines, it also stop drain odor.

Using enzymes to Clear a Clogged Drain

There are many good enzyme-based drain cleaning products in the market today. From the "DC16 Drain Care Enzyme Cleaner" to the "Rooto Corp. 1061 Liquid Sweet-X Enzyme Drain Cleaner". A Google search of "enzyme drain cleaners" will give you a lot of options to choose from. Enzymes, which are safer than the chemical drain cleaners, can break down drain clogs at the source. However, if your drain is completely blocked, enzymes will not be effective for clearing it.

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5 DIY Drain Cleaning Methods You Must Know

Need some help with drain cleaning? Here are 5 DIY methods to unclog and thoroughly clean the pipes. We do not suggest these as an alternative to professional drain cleaning as it's critical for maintaining proper plumbing around your house but consider these for situations when you need immediate help. Get drain cleaning baltimore now.

1.Baking soda

Mix equal parts of vinegar and baking soda in warm water and pour it down the drains. It's an excellent method to clear off small blockages and regularly clean the drains.

2.Use chemical drain cleaners

Don't consider it as a long-term solution as the caustic materials used in these chemicals can damage the pipes, drains, and the toilet. But using it once to clean off the drain wouldn't cause harm.

3.Use a plunger

Plungers aren’t only for toilets. There are special plungers which are designed to clear off the drains.

4.Use vacuum hose

Yes, you can clean the drain with the vacuum hose. Place the hose near the opening of the drain. Seal the area with a wet towel. Turn on the vacuum and keep it on until the clog is clear.

5.Drain Snake

Another DIY solution to drain cleaning is to use drain snakes. These are flexible and small and apt to be used to remove clogs in sink drains.

These are the five easiest DIY methods to clean the drains. The result should be an unclogged drain. If they don't work, you must call a drain cleaning professional to look into the issue, as chances are the clog is really big and severe.

Hop on to Same Day Pros and locate the drain cleaning expert working nearest to your location. Get more info on drain cleaning here.


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What One Should Never Flush Down the Toilet?

Are you wondering why your drain cleaning bills are getting bigger? Chances are you’re flushing wrong things down the toilet, that are causing clogged drains. Here are a few things that you should never flush down the toilet.

1.Wet wipes

Though they seem delicate, they don’t dissolve when flushed down the pipes. This cause clogs in sewerage pipes.

2.Tampons

These women products are designed to expand and end up getting stuck in the sewer lines.

3.Cotton

Be it cotton balls or cotton swabs, never flush them down the toilet unless you like paying for professional drain cleaning. Cotton doesn’t break down and thus stays in the pipes leading to a bigger clog.

4.Medicines

A lot of biochemical products are polluting the environment and research shows that they make it to water as consumers are flushing them down the toilet.

Even band aids which are completely non-biodegradable products are leading to clogged drains.

5.Dental Floss

Yes, you use it in the bathroom but it doesn’t mean your toilet is the right way to get rid of it. It’s nonbiodegradable and wraps around existing clogs to cause even bigger clogs, and apparently make you spend even more money on drain cleaning.

6.Oils and grease of any kind

What’s the problem in flushing down liquids? Right? Do you know that as soon as you flush down oil or grease, it transforms into a thick wax and sticks to the pipes attracting more things to disrupt the normal flow.

Basically, the only other thing that can be flushed down the toilet except for the human solid waste is toilet paper. Toilet paper disintegrates in water and hence doesn’t cause a clog. Everything else must never be flushed down the drain.

Let’s be real. We all have been guilty of flushing wrong things down the toilet. As a result of which, you might face a clog. We suggest you call up a Drain cleaning pro to help you clean up the drains before the issue becomes serious. Same Day Pros can help you connect with on-demand services in your area. Give it a try!

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Drain Cleaning with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Drain Cleaning with Baking Soda and Vinegar

1. Pour 3/4-1 cup of baking soda in the drain that needs to be cleaned.
2. Pour 1/2 cup vinegar in the drain and immediately cover the drain (use a plug or set a plate over it – you want to keep everything inside the drain)
3. Leave everything to sit and work for about 30 mins (don’t use the sink during this time)
4. After 30 mins, remove the cover and let the hot water run thru the pipes for about 2-3 mins.
5. For really tough drain cleaning you may need to repeat – but I find if I do this on a regular basis (about once a month) it keeps my drains clean and fresh without any problems.

Freshen Drains with Baking Soda and Vinegar

1. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup table salt and pour down the drain
2. Follow by pouring 1 cup of heated vinegar down the drain (it will foam and bubble)
3. Let it sit for 15 minutes
4. After 15 minutes run hot tap water for 30-60 seconds.

Baking soda and vinegar are the foundations of DIY cleaning!  It’s really that simple.  For just pennies, you can keep your drains and home fume free by using baking soda and vinegar instead of harsh chemicals or calling the plumber.

Always find local drain cleaning service near me already working in your neighborhood at samedaypros.com or by using the FREE samedaypros.com app. With more than 100 categories to choose from achieving local professional same day service has never been easier.

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