If you have clogged drains, there are several ways that you can fix the problem yourself with just a few simple tools, but if it’s beyond your abilities or if the issue persists and your pipes are in bad shape, then it’s time to call in the professionals.
Use vinegar and baking soda to unclog the drains.
Suppose your blocked drain results from hair or food buildup. Vinegar and baking soda can be an effective solution. Vinegar is acidic while baking soda is alkaline—because they’re opposites, they neutralise one another. Mix them in a bowl and pour them down the drain to clear out any accumulated gunk.
Call a professional plumbing service to unclog drains.
If you need to figure out what is causing your clog, if your pipes are damaged, or if your drain needs to be fixed, it’s best to call for help.
A professional plumber can quickly identify the source of the problem and recommend solutions that will get your drains flowing smoothly again.
Use a plunger to unclog drains.
- Place the plunger in the drain opening, cover it with water and plunge up and down rapidly in an up-and-down motion. If it doesn’t work, try plunging while pouring in vinegar or boiling water.
- What to do if your plunger doesn’t work: Remove any blockages with a pair of tongs. Make sure you’re careful not to break the drain when doing this; if you can’t get everything out without breaking anything (which is likely), call out a professional plumber instead of trying yourself again!
Use commercial drain cleaners to unclog drains.
If you have a blocked drain, you can use a commercial drain cleaner to unclog it. However, you should refrain from using these products in other areas of your house. For example, do not put a commercial drain cleaner in your toilet or bathtub—you will only cause severe damage to those pipes and fixtures. Also, avoid using them on kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks and even bathtubs: these are too delicate for commercial drain cleaners’ harsh chemicals.
Use a snake or auger to unclog drains.
If you have a clogged drain and don’t have time to wait for the plumber, you can unclog your drain using a snake or auger. A snake is a long, flexible metal rod that twists through the pipe and dislodges whatever is clogging it. An auger has sharp blades at one end that cut through roots and other objects stuck in drains.
A snake costs $20–$30, while a drill starts around $80 and can get up to $100 depending on its quality. They’re available at home improvement stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot; if you buy one online, make sure it comes with instructions on how to use it!
You can fix your drain, but a plumbing service is better if you cannot do it yourself.
If you have a simple clog, then you can fix it yourself. But it might be best to call a professional if your drain is more complicated—or if you’re uncomfortable doing this kind of work yourself.
The cost and time involved depend on the plumbing service you need. For example, if your sink drains because there’s too much gunk in the pipes under the sink or along its length, then an experienced plumber will use an auger or snake (a long flexible metal tool) to push out everything that’s blocking things up. If roots are growing through cracks in the pipes outside your house, they’ll cut those roots off and clear out any large pieces of debris clogging up where they emerged from within these cracks. In some cases, tree branches overhang onto houses’ roofs; those branches could fall upon them during storms causing severe damage such as broken windows or even collapse due to heavy snowfall accumulation on roofs during winter months. So having someone regularly inspect those trees from above (using a bucket truck) just in case any part branches break away before falling onto something else below. Like vehicles parked nearby one another or people walking by near sidewalks near residences whose homes sit next door close enough distance away street corners where traffic lights exist too.“