Unclog a Drain with Tips from the Experts

Have you got a blocked drain? Are there bad smells coming up from the pipes? Is the water slow draining? Then you have come to the right place. In this article we will share top tips from the experts on how to unclog a drain. We will even throw in some extra tips to help you prevent clogs and blockages from occurring in the future. 

How to Unclog a Drain 

Did you know that Thames Water spends approximately £18m every year clearing blockages from household drains? Clogged drains are one of the most common problems UK homeowners struggle with, but unblocking a clogged drain doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, there are a number of super simple solutions that will restore the water flow and function of your drains in next to no time. Don’t be one of the many people struggling from blocked drains this year. Follow our expert suggestions and keep your drains free flowing. 

Unclog a Drain with Salt 

Along with its many uses in the kitchen, salt can also be used as a natural and non-toxic drain unblocker. Salt is a great cleaning ingredient because of its abrasive and antiseptic properties. To unclog your drain with salt, simply make a 50/50 solution of salt and water, heat to the point of almost boiling, and then pour the saltwater down the drain. Repeat this a couple of times and then flush the drain with cool water. Learning how to unclog a drain with salt is extremely easy and doesn’t require a trip to the shop for all the ingredients. 

How to Unclog a Drain that Has Hair in it 

Hair is one of the most common causes of blockages in UK drains and it can also be one of the most frustrating things to remove. However, as experts in blocked drains, we have discovered that the best way to unclog a drain that has hair in it is to use a drain snake. These little tools are very affordable and an easy way to unclog your drains at home. 

Simply insert the drain snake into the drains, twisting as you go, and then hook the hair to pull it out. Unclogging a drain in it is actually very easy and it will help restore the flow of water down the pipes once again. 

Top Tip: we recommend clearing your drains of hair every month to ensure optimum water flow is encouraged. 

How to Unclog a Grease Clogged Drain 

If you know anything about drain care, you know that pouring grease down the drain is a big no-no. However, unfortunately it is not always possible to prevent all grease from making it into your drains and grease is well-known for building up over time. So, even a little bit of grease getting into the pipes will stick to the edges and build up over time, leaving you with a slow draining sink and a clog that is only getting bigger. 

So, if you suspect this is happening, the best solution is to learn how to unclog a grease clogged drain. It is possible that small grease clogs might be fixed by flushing hot water down your drains regularly, but only if the grease build-up isn’t extensive. Often, most people find that chemical cleaners are far more effective at dissolving grease build ups in drains. 

Top Tip: If you find that you have recurrent problems with grease clogs, the best solution is to be more cautious of what you are putting down your drains. As we often say at Coastal Drains, prevention is always better than cure. 

Unclog Drain with Baking Soda and Vinegar 

Using a combination of baking powder and vinegar is a popular way to unclog drains. Baking soda and vinegar, when mixed together, cause a reaction that bubbles and fizzes in your drains, helping to break down blockages. 

To unclog your drains using a combination of baking soda and vinegar, start by running hot water through your drain and then follow with half a cup of baking soda. Leave the baking soda to sit in your drains for 10-15 minutes before following with half a cup of vinegar. As these two ingredients combine, watch the bubbles build up in your drains, working to dislodge those nasty clogs, before following with hot water to flush out your drains. 

Unclog Drain without Chemicals 

Sustainable and natural cleaning methods are becoming increasingly popular around the world as we’ve all started making changes in our homes to help save the environment. So, to continue this trend, we thought we would list a couple of cleaning methods to help unclog drains without chemicals. 

Boiling Water: one of the best ways to clear blockages from your drains and keep them running properly for years is to pour boiling water into the pipes at the end of each day. Hot water helps flush any nastiness out of your drains so that grease, food, and other debris doesn’t have a chance to attach to drain pipes, causing clogs. 

Drain Snake: we recommend drain snakes a lot on this blog and that’s because they are one of the most effective ways of unclogging drains naturally. The great thing about drain snakes is that they can be operated manually and they are a quick and easy solution to solving blocked drains. Using a snake to unclog a drain is extremely effective and will help clear the majority of household drain blockages.  

Dish Soap: another chemical-free way to unclog drains is to use dish soap and hot water. Dish soap is one of the best ways to clear your drains of clogs caused by grease build-ups. Simply pour dish soap into the drain, let it sit for a while and then following with a kettle full of hot water. This should help get rid of any grease sitting in your drains. You can use this method at least once a week for the prevention of drain clogs. 

Unclog a Drain with Standing Water 

It can be difficult to know what to do when your drains are blocked and you have a sink full of standing water. Do you plunge the blockage free? Do you pour cleaning products into the standing water and hope for the best? Or do you just call out a plumber? Having a clogged drain with standing water is never an ideal situation, but there are ways you can unclog drains like this. 

The first thing to do is (wearing gloves) remove all visible blockages from the drain. Often, standing water is caused by a build-up of debris and sometimes this can be removed by hand. Next, if your drains are still not draining properly, use a plunger to plunge your drain and loosen the blockage. Once the standing water has started to drain, clear the blockage completely by cleaning out your drains using the methods listed above. 

Clean the P-Trap 

If you find that the water is still not draining correctly, it might be that there is a block in the P-trap (the elbow-shaped pipe under the sink). Often, grease, food, and other debris become stuck in this pipe, causing your sink to drain slowly or not at all. So, if you have a clogged drain, the P-trap is a great place to check.

To fix the problem, place a bucket underneath the pipe to catch any water, unscrew the connectors that hold the pipe in place and remove it. Clean the pipe thoroughly, removing all debris, grime, and food residue. Reconnect the trap and turn on the tap. This will wash water down the drain and flush away any remaining debris. If you find that removing and cleaning the P-trap has still not fixed the problem, we have one more solution to share with you below. And if that doesn’t work, it’s time to call in the professionals. 

How to Unclog Drain Line 

Sometimes, you might find that using the methods above to unclog your drain isn’t actually making any difference and this is probably because the blockage is very extensive. If you find that none of the drain unblocking methods we have mentioned above are working, it’s likely the blockage is further inside the drain line. In instances like this, it is best to call in the professionals. 

Our team at Coastal Drains are experts at unclogging drain lines. Using our professional drain jetting services, we can clear even the most stubborn drain blockages. In fact, the drain jetting we provide is so strong that it has even been known to dislodge tree roots! With a drain unclogging method that strong, you really don’t want to miss out! So, if you suspect your drains have a blockage that is very far down the drain line, call us today. We would be more than happy to help get your drains flowing properly again. 

Call in the Experts 

If you are struggling to clear your blocked drains, it is possible you are dealing with a more serious issue than a simple clog. Sometimes, blockages in drains build up so extensively over time that they cause pressure on the drain pipes, causing cracks to appear and sometimes pipes to break completely. If this is the case, it’s very likely you will experience a number of broken pipe symptoms. If you do have a broken pipe, it is important to call in the experts at Coastal Drains as soon as possible.