Are you dealing with a slow drain or clog? You don’t have to grab your phone and call a plumber just yet. You might be able to clear them all on your own.
How to Clear a Toilet Drain:
You flushed the toilet, but the contents didn’t go down. If anything, the water in the bowl rose, creeping dangerously close to the edge.
Don’t flush the toilet again. Go to your broom closet and grab a toilet plunger. A toilet plunger is not the same as a sink plunger. A sink plunger will have a flat bottom, whereas a toilet plunger will have a flange that’s designed to fit over a toilet drain. You also don’t want to mix these two types of plungers up for the sake of hygiene.
Place the toilet plunger into the toilet bowl, making sure that the flange is firmly over the drain. You’ll want to create enough pressure to clear the clog. So, pump the plunger up and down, and repeat this step until the contents go down. Before you assume you’ve fixed the problem, give the toilet another test flush.
How to Clear a Kitchen Sink Drain:
Your kitchen sink is draining very slowly. You feel like it takes ages for the dirty water to disappear after you’ve scrubbed the dishes. So, how can you fix it?
When the Drain Is Slow and the Sink Is Empty
You should do what’s called a drain rinse. Boil some water. Pour some liquid dish soap down the drain and then follow it up with the boiling water. The mixture of soap and very hot water could help clear a fatty or oily clog. Once the boiling water has drained, run the tap to see whether the sink fills up all over again.
When the Drain Is Clogged and the Sink Is Full
Treat the problem similar to a toilet clog. While the sink is still full of water, grab the sink plunger and place it directly over the drain. Then pump the plunger up and down. Repeat this until the water rushes down the drain.
How to Clear a Shower Drain:
Your shower drain is likely clogged with soap scum and loose hair. Unfortunately, these aren’t clogs that you can easily rinse away. You will need to pull them out of the drain, which can be an unpleasant experience.
How can you pull the clog out? You can use a hair-clog snake. This type of drain snake is very thin, so you can easily fit it down the shower drain. It also has small barbs along the length so that it can snag loose hairs and tug them out. Lower the snake down the drain until you meet resistance. Twist it, bring it back up the drain and then remove the slimy hairball.
What If These Strategies Don’t Work?
Sometimes, drain clogs are stubborn. No matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to clear the passage and get your drain back to normal. This could mean that you don’t have the right equipment to get the job done. Or it could mean that there is a major issue with your plumbing. For instance, you could have a clog in your main sewer line.
Whenever your DIY attempts fail, you should call up a professional plumbing service for help. They can clear the clog for you and fix any other related plumbing problems that are happening right under your nose.
What if a plumber’s bill is outside of your budget? Don’t skip this professional service for the sake of your budget. The longer that you ignore a plumbing problem, the more damage you could do to your home and your wallet. If you don’t have the savings to cover the bill immediately, you could check out an online loan company and see whether you’re eligible to apply for a personal loan there.
An approved personal loan could help you manage this emergency repair in a short amount of time. After fixing your plumbing, you can follow a straightforward loan repayment plan. Soon enough, you’ll be able to put the whole ordeal behind you.
You just might have the power to clear your own drains. Before you call a plumber, try these techniques!