If there’s one plumbing problem that every Brighton, CO, home will eventually develop, it’s a clogged drain. It’s an issue that usually starts slowly, with a sink that takes a little longer than usual to drain. Eventually, however, it will turn into a full-blown clog, preventing you from using the affected fixture until you fix the problem. When that happens, you may be tempted to turn to one of the many chemical drain cleaners that promise to clear up your clog without harming your pipes. Not only can those products pose a hazard to you, the user, but they can damage your pipes if you aren’t careful. Instead, here are some ways to safely clear a clogged drain and when you should call in a plumber to handle it for you.
Use Boiling Water
In many cases, clearing up a clogged drain is as easy as boiling some water. Boiling water can sometimes soften or break down whatever’s causing your clog, allowing it to move through your drain and out of your home. All you need to do is boil approximately one-half gallon of water and then pour it down the affected drain. Then, follow up by running hot tap water to exert a little bit of extra pressure on the clog. If this fixes your problem, the water should start draining normally after about five minutes.
Of course, you shouldn’t do this if the clog you’re dealing with is inside a PVC pipe. Although PVC should be capable of standing up to boiling water, you shouldn’t take any chances. Instead, use a thermometer to make sure you use only hot water that’s a maximum of 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use Baking Soda and Vinegar
If hot water alone isn’t clearing your drain, you might want to switch to a more forceful solution. You can do this by using a simple mixture of baking soda and white vinegar. The reaction between the two releases CO2, which can work its way into your clog and dislodge it.
To use this method, pour half of a cup of baking soda into the clogged drain. Then, follow that up with half a cup of white vinegar. Next, add several cups of hot water to the drain. Finally, leave the mixture to work for a few hours. When you return, you might find that the clog is gone.
Try Some Dish Soap
If your efforts at breaking up your clog don’t work, it still may be possible to resolve the clog on your own. Instead of trying to break up the clog, you may have more success making it easier for the clog to move through your pipes as-is. To do this, all you’ll need is some liquid dish detergent. For one thing, liquid dish detergent is great at dissolving oils and fats. Plus, it’s an excellent lubricant.
To get started, squirt about one ounce of liquid dish detergent into the affected drain. Then, slowly pour a few cups of 180-degree water into the drain after it. Follow that up by running hot tap water into the drain for several minutes. This should help push the detergent into the gaps in and around the clog, which may be just enough to make the clog move on through your pipes.
When To Call a Plumber
There are a few situations when it’s best to call in a plumber to deal with a clogged drain. One of them is when you know that the clog is a result of a foreign object that’s fallen into your drain. It can damage your pipes to try to make certain objects move through them. So, you’re better off hiring a professional plumber who will know how to remove the object without harming your pipes.
You should also call a plumber if the DIY options above don’t work to resolve your clog. That can be an indication that you’re not dealing with a simple clogged drain line, and something more serious could be happening to your home’s plumbing.
When you’re dealing with a clogged drain in your Brighton home and nothing’s working to fix it, call TYCO Plumbing. We’ve served homeowners here since 2016, offering comprehensive plumbing services including water heaters, gas line piping, sewer repairs, and anything else your home’s plumbing might need. We’re Better Business Bureau accredited with an A+ rating, are a top-rated local award winner, and hold an Elite Service badge on HomeAdvisor. So, for clogged drains and all of your other plumbing needs in Brighton, call our team at TYCO Plumbing today.
