If your sink takes too long to drain or water starts to pool around your feet in the shower or you start to smell some unpleasant odors then it is clear that you have some drainage issues you need to deal with. You may feel helpless with a pile of dirty dishes waiting to be cleaned while your sink is clogged and filled with water. Having a functioning drainage system is essential for your personal and financial satisfaction. Whether you are looking for a plumber like Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga ON, here are some easy tips on how you can deal with these plumbing and drainage problems at home in an easy and cost-effective manner.
Use a Bent Wire Hanger
This is a simple and effective method. It involves straightening out a regular wire hanger and then bending it into a hook-like shape. The small hook is passed through the drain pipe and you must make fishing like motion while you pass it through. In this way, you will be able to get all kinds of unwanted and dirty things out of the drain. It is important to note that you pull the gunk out of the drain rather than push it in. Once you think you have all the unnecessary stuff out of the drain, you can run hot water down the pipe and you should be good to go.
Use Boiling Water
This is one of the easiest and least expensive methods to clear out any blocked drains. This involves keeping a pot of water on the stove until it starts to fully boil. As the water boils you can get rid of the still water in the sink using a bowl or container. After the water boils you can take it off the stove and immediately pour it down the clogged up drain. If the water still remains still and the drain stays clogged then you must let it cool and remove it to give the method another try. The process might have to be repeated a number of times for effective results. It works on most types of clogs or stoppage.
Unclogging solution
An environment-friendly and effective way of unclogging your pipe is a mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and hot water. The combination of hot water and baking soda will make the clog in the drainage pipe lose. The vinegar will cause a chemical reaction that will make the sludge travel down the drain easily. It’s better to start by pouring hot water down the clogged drain after which you should pour half a cup of baking soda and wait for around five minutes. This step must be followed by pouring a mixture containing one cup of vinegar and one cup of boiling hot water. After waiting for ten minutes, pour another pot of hot water down the drainage pipe to remove any leftover clog or sludge.
Clean the Drainage Pipe
Cleaning your drainage pipe might not sound so fun or doable. To be honest no one wants to do plumbing jobs themselves but this is a very simple and easy task that can make your life easier. The first step is to position an empty bucket below the U-shaped pipe underneath your sink. The bucket will catch any water that falls from the pipe. You can use a wrench to loosen the screws holding the pipe. The entire process can be easily executed by hand. The pipe can be detached and turned upside down and its contents can shift into the bucket. You may need to remove some excess sludge with an old toothbrush. In the end, you can wash the pipe with water and attach it back. This should clean the clog right up.
Use a Drain Guard
You can make use of a drain guard on all your drainage holes to remove the waste that is washed down the sink. Drain guards are either plastic or metal disks with a grate like surface that is placed on top of the drain pipe. They collect any unwanted waste material which can later be thrown away. A drain guard can also be used in the shower top collect and hair or other sludge that can clog up your drainage pipe.
Conclusion
In conclusion, no matter how undesirable plumbing jobs are it is important for us to take these small and easy steps to avoid larger drainage issues that require more expensive professional assistance. Keeping your garbage disposal clean at least once a month with a brush can also assist in avoiding drainage problems. Another method is to crush some ice and salt to remove any grease or slime from the walls of the disposer. Pour in some cold water and lemon to add a refreshing smell.
