How to clean clogged pipes in a house?

Author: Herta Jacobs  |  Last update: Friday, December 26, 2025

Baking soda, vinegar and boiling water can help clean drains naturally, but you may need something stronger, like Liquid-Plumr ®, to fully unclog those really tough drain clogs.

How to clear clogged pipes in a house?

Baking Soda & Salt – Pour equal parts of each down your drain, let it sit 20-30 minutes, then follow it up with hot water. Vinegar, Salt, & Lemon – Mix equal parts of salt and vinegar in a bowl, add a half part of lemon juice, then pour the mixture down your drain.

How do I clear a main line blockage?

Your step-by-step guide: How to clear a main sewer line clog
  1. Loosen the cap on the drain pipe. ...
  2. Allow any sewer buildup to come out of the drain. ...
  3. Gently feed the auger cable into the main line drain. ...
  4. Run the auger until the clog is broken up. ...
  5. Hose out leftover debris. ...
  6. Pull the auger cable back out of the main line drain.

Do baking soda and vinegar work better than drano?

Using baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain is an effective and natural cleaning method, which some people prefer over harsher chemicals. It works great for weaker drain clogs. By using this mixture periodically, you may be able to avoid clogs altogether (and the need for a more powerful cleaner like Drano).

What is the best homemade drain cleaner?

Baking Soda + Vinegar
  • Pour 1/2 cup baking soda, followed by 1/2 cup vinegar down drain.
  • Plug drain and let sit for one hour.
  • Then, pour a pot of boiling water down drain. Repeat if necessary.

How Pipes Are Professionally Cleaned and Relined | Art Insider

What happens if you put too much baking soda down the drain?

If you put too much baking soda down a drain onto a clog, it can sit on the clog and become a solid mass as it is subjected to more and more water. This will make the block worse and even harder to remove.

What chemical do plumbers use to unclog drains?

Properties and Uses: Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is a highly corrosive acid used extensively by plumbers to clear severe clogs. It reacts rapidly with organic materials in drains, breaking them down into simpler compounds that can be easily flushed away.

How do I unblock my main drain in my house?

Mix 1/3rd of a cup of bicarbonate of soda with 1/3rd of a cup of vinegar in a measuring cup. It will fizz immediately, and you should waste no time pouring it down the clogged drain. The fizzing action will help to remove the gunk, hair, and grime that has built up in the blocked drain pipe.

How to unclog a pipe without a snake?

Mix ½ cup of table salt and ½ cup of baking soda in a cup or bowl and pour it down the drain. Let it sit for about 30 minutes, or overnight if it's a stubborn clog, and then wash it down with a pot of hot water.

How do plumbers fix blocked pipes?

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.

How to flush sediment from pipes?

Begin the flushing procedure by opening the hot water taps in your bathroom(s). Open ALL hot water sink fixtures, hot water bathtub or shower fixtures. Next, open all other hot water fixtures, such as in kitchens, wet bars, etc. Run all of these hot water fixtures for 15 minutes, then shut the water off.

How do I get the pressure back in my water pipes?

6 Solutions to Low Water Pressure
  1. Clear the Clogs. One of the most common causes of low water pressure is clogged pipes. ...
  2. Clean or Replace Corroded Plumbing. ...
  3. Seal the Leaks. ...
  4. Repair or Replace Faulty Fixtures. ...
  5. Replace Pressure Regulator. ...
  6. Install a Booster Pump. ...
  7. Let Our Professionals Improve Your Home's Water Pressure.

What's the best thing to unblock pipes?

#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.

What do plumbers use to clean pipes?

These include chemical drain cleaners, snake augers, drum plungers, and more. Drain cleaning services are essential for keeping plumbing systems functioning properly.

How much does it cost to fix a clogged sewer line?

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.

What do professionals use to unblock drains?

Drain snakes also called drain rooters or augers, use a long cable with a spiral-shaped head.

How do I unclog my house pipes?

How to Unclog a Drain: Top Tips from Your Local Plumbing Experts
  1. Look For Any Obstructions.
  2. Grab The Drain Snake.
  3. Use a Plunger.
  4. Boiling Water.
  5. Make a Homemade Drain Cleaner. ‍
  6. Call a Professional.

How much does it cost to unblock a main drain?

Prices start from approximately £90 for straightforward manual unblocking to £275 for a complete CCTV drain assessment including a detailed report. Additional services such as high-pressure water jetting and drain relining are charged per service or per linear metre. Drain relining averages at £100 per linear metre.

Why should you never use baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain?

The fizzing reaction and gas created may help loosen some small blockages. However, it is not typically strong enough to break down larger clogs or remove hard-to-reach debris. As a result of the above facts, if you have a serious drain clog, using baking soda and vinegar is unlikely to be effective.

Where to pour main line cleaner?

FOR A SLOW MOVING MAINLINE: Pour the entire contents of the container into the main line that leads from the house to the sewer or septic system. Use one gallon of Mainline Cleaner for every twenty feet (20') of main line. Use no water for at least three hours or overnight, then flush with warm or hot water.

What dissolves concrete in a drain?

Use Croc Crete to Remove Hardened Cement

This is the best method of removing hardened concrete from a drainage system. Croc Crete is a cement softener that attacks concrete at its core. It transforms cement back to its liquid form, allowing you to work it through the drain.

Is baking soda and vinegar better than Drano?

It's definitely not strong enough to tackle serious food particles and microbial growth in a kitchen drain, though. While you can have better luck with a combination of baking soda and vinegar, it's best to use Dran-O, available at Target, or another chemical drain cleaner if your drain is clogged.

How to clear a clogged drain with standing water?

First, remove all stagnant water from the sink. Replace it with hot water until it is halfway full, and it generates a seal around your drain. Place the sink plunger over the drain and start pumping up and down swiftly. Remove the plunger, observe if the water flows, and repeat the procedure until water flows freely.

Can you leave baking soda and vinegar in the drain overnight?

Allowing the baking soda and vinegar mixture to sit in the drain for an extended period, such as overnight, can improve its effectiveness. The prolonged contact with the clog helps break down the build-up more thoroughly, making it easier to flush away with hot water the following morning.

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