DON'T use excessive force when plunging a clog. Too much pressure can damage the drain line connection and ruin the trap. DO use a plumber's snake if plunging didn't work.
But a larger clog or one that's deep into your home's plumbing system may not respond to the pressure of a plunger. Never use excessive force to plunge a clog. If the drain won't open with normal plunging pressure, you need a professional's help. Forceful plunging can damage the drain line and cause leaks.
Is it bad to plunge a shower drain? While it won't necessarily cause damage, you should not plunge a shower drain. It will only cause the clog to travel further down your plumbing.
Plunge the Kitchen Sink
Small clogs can often be dislodged with a cup plunger. A simple plunger with a flat rim, it creates a seal over the sink hole to apply the pressure needed to dislodge the clog. Make sure the sink contains enough water to submerge the head of the plunger and place the cup over the drain opening.
Don'ts: Don't use excessive force when plunging a clog. Also, keep in mind that you shouldn't use too much pressure because it can damage the drain line connection, which will lead to further problems eventually.
Press up and down rapidly for 20 seconds. Pop the plunger off of the drain using a straight up motion. Check to see if the water begins to flow down the drain. If the water is still stuck, repeat the plunging process until it clears.
Check water level in toilet bowl
After plunging for thirty seconds, quickly break the seal and remove the plunger. Listen for a gurgling sound from the drain (a good sign) and check the water level in the toilet bowl. If nearly all the water drained from the bowl, then you've probably cleared the clog.
The black stuff has many names, such as black sludge, bio-slime, and biofilm. The slime is a living organism made up of hair products, skin cells, body oils, food, toothpaste, hair, phlegm, and anything else that can stick to the walls of your bathroom drain.
When you are using a baking soda and vinegar solution to clean out your drain, you are actually causing the rubber and plastic that are used for the drain's pipes to be eaten away by the mixture. Over time, this rubber and plastic will break down, causing the drain to become even more blocked.
For the toughest of clogs, a plumber may use a hydro jet. This tool sends pressured water through pipes to break down drain build-up. This tool is often faster and more efficient than a typical drain snake. Hydro jets get rid of the clog, but they're also effective for cleaning drains.
But if used improperly, drain augers could make the clog worse. You could jam the obstruction in there tighter, or worse, do damage to your pipes. There are a few things you should know before snaking a drain yourself. Here are some things to consider, including how to know when to call a professional plumber.
Amateurs will mistakenly apply way too much force. The damage to the protective zinc can lead to significant rusting and cracking, which may lead to serious flooding in the future. The drain snake can break off pieces of metal that can add more damage. Flooding can result if pipes break during snaking.
Plunge Correctly
Give a few good up and down strokes with the plunger and flush the toilet. If the water clears from the toilet, then you've successfully unclogged it.
A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber's snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it's physically pushed through a stubborn clog. The terminal end of the device is a corkscrew-shaped hook that is fed into a clogged drain or toilet.
Excessive water pressure can cause stress on your plumbing leading to leaks and burst pipes.
If your snake isn't unclogging your drains, it could be because the thumbscrew is loose, the clog is too severe, or the auger is dirty. Or maybe you just need a refresher on how to use a drain snake. A drain auger (snake) is a simple, inexpensive necessity for every homeowner.
Pouring boiling water is quite risky as it might lead to a steam burn or scalding. Another thing to keep in mind is what type of material you are pouring in into. If you have a porcelain sink, it is likely to crack due to the heat. All in all, pouring boiling water down your drain will only cause issues down the road.
You may be surprised to learn that pouring soda down the drain does work for some clogs. To be specific, you need a dark-colored cola (such as Coca-Cola or Pepsi). This type of carbonated beverage usually contains a good amount of phosphoric acid, which given enough time, can eat away at some types of clogs.
Can you leave baking soda in the drain overnight? It is safe to leave baking soda (and vinegar) to work overnight to unclog a drain.
Because of its corrosive nature, Drano can cause toilet bowls to crack, PVC pipes to melt or break and the glue that holds pipes together can be eaten away. If any of these things happen, you're going to be left with an inoperable plumbing system and costly repairs.
Use a Homemade Drain Cleaner
Boil two cups of water. Pour a half cup of baking soda down the drain. Pour the remaining boiled water down the drain. Wait 10 minutes while the baking soda and the hot water work together to unclog the gunk blocking up the drain.
The "creepy black stuff" in your drain is made up of a combination of things, mostly decomposing hair, soap scum, toothpaste grit, shaving cream residue, skin cells, etc.
If a plunger or plumbing snake doesn't work, water and soap might do the trick. Boil a gallon of water and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes. As you wait, pour a cup of liquid dish soap into the toilet bowl. You can then pour the water slowly into the bowl — leave it for about 20 minutes before flushing.
Fats, Oils and Grease. These are the three most infamous kitchen sink cloggers out there. Unfortunately, they're also the most common. The problem is, these substances are all perfectly suited to clogging drains.