5 Tips to Unclogging a Drain Before Calling a Professional

Backed up plumbing is never an ideal situation. The warnings signs come first as pooling water and nasty, unpleasant odors. But you know your Delaware-area home is in real trouble with your sink or shower refuses to drain at all. Before calling the plumber for an emergency fix, consider these five DIY tips for unclogging a drain.

• 1. Bent coat hangers
  Take any wire hanger and straighten it out as much as possible. Next, bend one end into the shape of a small hook. Push this hook past the drain cover and fish around to pull out any hair and debris blocking up your plumbing. Once done, run hot water to clear it all out.
• 2. Baking soda and vinegar
  Forget the expensive store chemicals! Mixing a 1/3 cup of baking soda and 1/3 cup of vinegar will create a fizzing mixture great for unclogging a drain. For best effects, allow it to stew for anywhere between an hour to overnight. Once done, flush with hot water.
• 3. Wet and dry vacuum
  Also known as a wetvac, this tool is useful for a whole host of household applications, including unclogging a drain. Simply set it to vacuum liquids and turn it on to its highest setting. You may want to cover the vent to prevent household messes and keep a tight seal over the drain.
• 4. Caustic soda
  Caustic soda, also called Sodium Hydroxide, can be bought at any local hardware store. Because it can cause chemical burns, it’s important to wear the right safety protection while handling. To use, pour 3/4 gallon of cool water into a bin, before adding 3 cups of caustic soda. Mix with a wooden spoon and pour into the clogged drain. Leave for 20 to 30 minutes and clearing with hot water. 5. Boiling water Simply pour boiling hot water in different stages down your drain.

If you still can’t beat the drain buildup, call Sobieski Services for professional help unclogging a drain. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC & plumbing systems).

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