As a homeowner, there are many times when you will come across a problem such as finding that your drainage has been clogged. This is something that has to be handled correctly, otherwise you may end up facing some hygiene problems or having the problem become worse with time. The best course of action at this point in time would be to get a plumber to come and solve the problem for you. Not only will they solve the problem quickly, but they are also likely to do it properly. This way, there will be little risk of the problem recurring in future.
However, there are many times when you might want to try out a few DIY fixes. This is particularly so if the problem occurs suddenly, or when you are trying to sort it out before the plumber comes so that you don’t have to deal with flooding. Some of the common things you can do to unclog the drainage include:
Using a wire hanger
Sometimes, the clogging will be due to the accumulation of solid matter such as hair within the plumbing. If you are suspecting this, you can try to solve the problem by taking a coat hanger, straightening it out and then turning the end of the wire into a hook. You can then pass this into the drain. The goal would be to try and get rid of some of the matter in the plumbing. One of the disadvantages of doing this is that if you are not careful, you might end up pushing the material further down, which will complicate the problem. In addition to that, there is a limited amount of material you can remove from the drain using this method, so it’s not useful for major clogging. It might also force you to come into contact with some of the material clogging the drain, which can be unpleasant.
Use baking soda and vinegar
You can also create a mixture that you can use to unclog the drains. This is made by mixing a third of a cup of baking soda with a third of a cup of vinegar. As soon as both are mixed, the mixture is likely to fizz a lot. It is important that you pour it down the drain as fast as you can, so it’s not the type of solution you can make in bulk. When the fizzing occurs within the plumbing, it has the potential to get rid of any grime and stuck objects within it. This is a reasonably effective way to get rid of such blockages, but you should expect some drawbacks including the fact that it might take time for it to work. You might need to let the solution sit for an hour or overnight if you can, and then drain some hot water to flush it out. Another way to make the mixture is by pouring some baking soda in the drain, and then pouring the vinegar in later.
Using a vacuum cleaner
You can use some vacuum cleaners to unclog a drainage, but only if they are capable of vacuuming liquids. The first step in the process would be put it in the setting that allows it to vacuum liquids. You would then need to create a seal between the vacuum cleaner hose and the drain, and then switch it on. This will suck out most of the gunk stuck in the drain. The downside of using this method is that not all types of vacuum cleaners can be used for it.
Using some boiling water
One of the commonest causes of drainage clogging is the presence of too much solid matter that has been matted together within the plumbing. Pouring some boiling water down the drain will act to soften the gunk, making it flow through the pipes with more ease. However, the problem is that if the blockage is extensive, this method might not work.
Using caustic soda
Caustic soda can be used to dissolve most of the gunk within the drainage. The fact that it’s very toxic means that if you intend to use it, you should protect yourself by using gloves and goggles. You can then pour about three or four cups of the solution in the drain to clear out the blockages.
These are some of the easy to use DIY methods of unclogging a drain. For most simple clogs, using any of the above methods will work well. However, if you find that the problem is recurring or that the results are not satisfactory, you should not hesitate to call a plumber to come and sort it out for you. Trying to undo plumbing in a bid to fix such a problem might be very messy, and you might do irreparable damage to the plumbing.