You Hear a Gurgling Sound When Water is Flowing
The most prominent sign that your pipes are clogged is a reduced flow rate. Whether it is your shower pipe, faucet, or drain if you see that the water does not flow as fast as it should then you're most probably dealing with some sort of blockage in the pipes.
You can drain the pipe, fill the partially blocked pipe with hot water, and use your forearm to feel the pipe. Alternatively, instead of using your forearm, you can opt for other tools like an infrared camera or a temperature gun if you're in a position to get one.
A plumber inserts the hose and nozzle into your pipes and blasts high-pressure water through it to scour out the drain pipes. Not only does this move out clogs, but it also helps to remove hard deposits and hard water minerals. This is one of the most popular and safe ways of unclogging and cleaning out drains.
You will likely pay around $350 to $650 to have a plumber unclog a main sewer line unless you have complications like serious damage to the line.
Use a drain snake
The process of unblocking drains with rods is variously called snaking, cable rodding, augering or rooting. It involves pushing a specialist, heavy-duty metal cable through the pipe to break up the blockage, thus allowing water to flow through.
This technique is a classic – and one of the most popular DIY drain unclog methods. Pour one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar down the drain and allow it to work its magic overnight. The next morning, flush the drain with boiling water. Repeat if necessary.
Finding Where Your Drain is Blocked
Simply take off the drain covers and look inside, if it's full of water then the blockage is after this drain chamber and if it's drained then the blockage is upstream of it. You can use this to narrow down exactly where the block is.
A straightforward yet effective approach to addressing a clogged drain pipe involves simply using hot water mixed with dish soap. This method, ideal for tackling minor blockages, leverages the degreasing power of dish soap combined with the force of hot water to dislodge and dissolve clog-causing residue.
Plumbers drain snake
Plumbers drain snakes are advanced tools that only a professional should use. They delve further into your pipes and can remove blockages from deep within the system. We usually reserve these tools for difficult clogs that everyday methods can't tackle.
Visual Inspection Methods
These sewer pipe camera inspection tools, often referred to as pipe inspection cameras, are lowered into the pipe system through access points such as cleanouts or manholes, providing a detailed visual inspection of the pipe's interior.
As well as being an inconvenience and a disruption to your day-to-day life, drain problems such as blocked pipes will cause problems, and you'll need to call out a drainage expert to resolve these issues. In certain cases, these problems will be an emergency requiring an immediate resolution, whilst others will not.
One option is to use a drain snake or auger to physically remove the clog. Another effective technique is to create a chemical reaction using baking soda and vinegar. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes, then flush with hot water.
Type of Blockage
The overall cost of drain unclogging will depend on the blockage type, for instance, a small blockage in a toilet or sink is normally only priced at around £50 to £70. However, a more extensive blockage deep in your drains could end up costing you around £150 to £200.
You can tackle a clogged sewer line using other strategies if you don't have a snake on hand. First, you can run hot water down the drain for 5 to 10 minutes to see if that helps break up the clog. If it doesn't, pour equal parts of vinegar and baking soda into a bowl and then pour that mixture down the drain.
You'll likely pay between $300 and $450 to unclog your toilet with Roto-Rooter. However, the price could change depending on if the clog has caused a lot of damage, which your plumbing pro will want to inspect during your service appointment. Keep in mind that you won't get a quote from Roto-Rooter over the phone.
Water pressure changes or changes in water flow are one of the most immediate signs of a clogged pipe. This indicates that part of the pipe is cracked or broken or, more commonly, you may have a troublesome clog that's inhibiting the flow and creating a blockage.
#1: Use baking soda and vinegar
Let it sit for an hour or more (or overnight if you suspect the blockage is really bad) and then flush with hot water. In theory, the blockage should be gone but repeat the process if you experience further problems.
Hydro jetting costs $475 on average but range from $350 to $600. A plumber can give you a quote and get rid of your sewer clog. Having to keep your plumber on speed dial is no fun for any homeowner. If chronic sewer clogs are giving you issues, it might be time to call in the big guns.