Tips To Clean Blocked Drains
Everyone has to deal with a blocked drain at one time or another. The warning signs are all there. You start noticing the long time it takes for the sink to drain and then, you start noticing the unpleasant odour from the drain. All of these warning signs point to just one thing which is a blocked drain.
It is important that you deal with it quickly as the consequences can be dangerous and unhygienic. Sometimes, hairs inside the drain are the cause of the blockage but there are times when you need some other solutions to deal with the blockages. Here is a list of some of the most effective ways to deal with a blocked drain.
One of the most effective ways to get rid of the blockage in the drainage to use a regular wire coat hanger. Just take an old hanger and straighten it as best as you can. Now, you need to take one end of the hanger and create a hook. You need to push this hook down the drain cover and look for the blockage.
Image 0800gasman
If you are lucky, all of the greasy stuff that has been blocking the drain should be easy to pull out. It is extremely important to use this in the right manner, as there is always the danger of pushing the gunk further inside. Once you are satisfied with the removal, run some hot water into the drain and it should be cleaned nicely.
Another way of dealing with a blocked drain is to take the highly useful baking soda along with some vinegar. To prepare the mix, take baking soda and vinegar in equal parts. Mix these quickly and immediately pour the mixture down the drain. This mixture should get rid of all the gunk and grime that has blocked the pipe.
Ideally, you should leave the mixture overnight into the drain and then, flush it with hot water in the morning. In case, you do not want to prepare this mixture outside, you may also pour some baking soda right into their drain and then pour on some vinegar.
You can also use boiling water to get rid of the clogged drain. You should boil sufficient quantity of water to pour deep into the drain 2 to 3 times. Needless to say, safety comes first and you should take adequate care to keep your hands and feet safe while pouring down hot water.
You should also keep in mind that boiling water will also produce a lot of hot steam and you need to protect your face by covering it with a towel or some other protective cover while pouring the boiling water down the drain. You may pour the hot water 2 to 3 times and you should wait for a few seconds between the pours. This solution works most of the times.
Caustic soda can also be used to clean a clogged drain. It is important to keep in mind that it should be handled cautiously as it can cause burns if you do not take adequate protection. Always wear eye protection and use rubber gloves while handling this chemical. Mix around 4 cups of caustic soda into around a gallon of cold water.
Use a wooden spoon to mix it well and pour the mixture into the blocked drain. The mixture should be left inside the drain for around 20 to 30 min. You may then flush the mixture down with boiling water. You may repeat this process multiple times to ensure that the drain is thoroughly cleaned.
These are some of the most effective ways to clean a blocked drain. However, you may have to hire the services of a plumber in case the above mentioned tips do not work. If you live or work in northern Auckland, a good North Shore plumbing service for blocked drains is Heron Plumbing. They have a number of highly trained plumbers working around the area so can be with you as soon as possible. You can get more details on their website here www.heronplumbing.co.nz.