Top 8 Ways to Unblock Your Household Drain

We have all had those moment of doing the dishes and emptying the sink only to find that it drains more slowly than you ever thought possible. Or it simply doesn’t drain at all. This means your drain is blocked and something is caught somewhere in the pipes, causing an obstruction. Here at Coastal Drains we are fully equipped to deal with problems like these but we are keen to equip you as well so that you don’t have to worry about getting your wallet out to fix the problem.

Hence, we have written this article suggesting the top 8 ways you can unblock your drain at home, without too much fuss or hassle.

• Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking Soda and Vinegar are two of the most effective natural, home-remedy cleaners that you can use all around your home. We suggest that you mix 1/3 of a cup of baking soda with 1/3^rd of a cup of vinegar to create your drain unblocking remedy. When mixing the two ingredients, they should start to fizz straight away so you should waste no time pouring the concoction straight down your sink. Let it sit for an hour or even over-night, for the best effect. Finally, flush it all through with some hot water.

• Boiling Water

Once of the oldest tricks in the book, boiling water. This is self-explanatory but we will explain it anyway, just to be clear. Boil the kettle with as much water as it will hold. Then pour it slowly down the drain in a couple of stages, waiting a couple of seconds between each pour. The boiling water will travel through the pipes, dissolving any obstructions in its way. Generally, this is the fastest and easiest way to unblock a drain and you can do it all with household items you already own!

• Cleaning the Pipe

This is a slightly more advanced way to unblock a drain so if you don’t feel confident about taking apart a drain pipe, maybe do not attempt this. However, it is a fairly simple procedure. Place an empty bucket underneath the U-shaped pipe beneath the sink. The bucket will collect any water or leaks that occur during the process. Using a wrench, loosen the slip nuts at both ends of the pipe and remove the pipe. Empty any contents into the bucket. You may need to fish around for any hidden debris in the pipes, using an old toothbrush for this is an effective method. Rinse the pipes with water and then put it all back together. In most cases, this will completely unblock your drain.

• Salt and Baking Soda

Generally, salt and baking soda are items we all have in our kitchen cupboards. Simply mix half a cup of table salt with half a cup of baking soda and pour it down the blocked drain. Leave it to work for 10-20 minutes and then pour boiling water down after it. These three ingredients all mixed together will produce a chemical reaction that should dissolve some of the nastiest blockages you are struggling with.

• Get Out the Plunger

This is an old-school technique that you should try before calling out a plumber. Plungers are a brilliant mechanism for sucking up any blockages in your drains. They do require some strength and persistence at time. It may take a few tries but they have been successful for decades in clearing household drains.

• Chemical Cleaners

Of you have tried all of the above methods without success, your drain may require something a little stronger such as a chemical cleaner. You can buy chemical drain cleaners in most supermarkets. Pour it down your drain, leave it to sit and work for a couple of hours or overnight. Run hot water down the sink to finish the process and you should have a lovely, working, unblocked drain.

Note: It is always important to follow the instructions when using heavy duty cleaning products.

• Biological Cleaners

If you are more environmentally friendly and are trying to avoid strong chemical cleaners, why not try a biological cleaner? These cleaners use enzymes which chew through any blockages but they do have limited power in contrast to harsh chemical cleaners so it may not be effective in removing more stubborn grime blocking your drain. However, if you are trying to get rid of hair, soap or other easy to tackle blockages, a biological cleaner is extremely effective.

• The Zip-it

The Zip-it is a great drain cleaning device that you should definitely purchase, if you do not have it already. It is a long plastic stick with upward facing hooks that, when placed down the drain, pull out the grime as you lift the stick back up. This is a great way to hook the mess out from your drain pipes without too much fuss and bother. This is a really neat drain cleaning tool!

Call Us Today 

If you drain is still blocked and you have tried everything with no success, it is necessary for you to call a professional and get them to come in and sort the problem for you. Give us a call today and let our professionals unblock your drain safely and effectively so that you can get on with your life without any the extra stress!

Did these drain unblocking methods work for you? Let us know in the comments below.