Blocked drains can be frustrating, inconvenient, and downright annoying. However, they are usually quite easy to fix if you have the right plumbing knowledge. Difficult blockages must often be removed by a professional plumber, but this is rare.
With this in mind, we’ve put our heads together to develop a few of the best ways to clear your blocked drains. Prevention is obviously the best method, but if you do suffer a blockage for some reason, you can try the following:
Use a Mixture of Baking Soda and Vinegar
You might not realise it, but a simple mixture of baking soda and vinegar can work wonders when unblocking drains, especially in the kitchen. Since it uses harmless chemicals, we recommend it as the first thing to try stinky drain.
- Pour a kettle full of boiling water down your drain.
- Add a cup or so of baking soda.
- Wash the baking soda down with double the amount of vinegar.
- Plug the drain and wait some time for it to work its magic.
This method is good for minor blockages but won’t work for everything.
Consider Using a Powerful Drain Cleaner
If you’re suffering from a blocked drain resistant to weak chemicals like vinegar and baking soda, you could try a more powerful chemical. Head down to your local supermarket, and you will find a selection of different drain cleaners.
In general, the most powerful are the crystal-based ones. Purchase a packet and follow the instructions to unblock your drains. Chemical drain cleaners are usually powerful, so you will want to wear gloves and eye protection to reduce the risk of chemical burns.
Try Physical Unblocking
Once you’ve tried chemical removal, the next thing to do is to try unblocking your drains with some physical tool. There are numerous tools available that are specifically designed for removing drain blockages, but it’s essential to do some research and choose the right one.
One of our favourite drain unblockers is the drain snake. Basically, it’s a long, flexible tool that can be inserted into your drain. Since drain snakes are long, they are effective for clearing blockages some way down the pipe.
Alternatively, you could use a plunger, especially if the blockage is in your bathroom or toilet.
Think About Calling a Professional Plumber
If you continue having trouble clearing a blocked drain, then it could be a good idea to call you local plumbing contractor. Be aware that you will have to pay a little, but unblocking pipes is usually quite a fast process if you know what you’re doing. This means that the cost might not be as high as you think.
There’s also nothing wrong with calling a plumber immediately if you don’t have the time or patience to attempt to unblock your drains. Try to find a contractor with a good reputation who specialises in residential plumbing maintenance.