Shower drain clogs, sink drain clogs, and toilet clogs are some of the most common plumbing problems in the home. All these types of clogs usually occur due to negligent waste disposal habits. This means that you can prevent most of these drain clogs simply by minding what you flush down your drains. When it comes to the toilet, you should always avoid flushing solid waste in the bowl. You should also avoid disposing sanitary and other hygiene products in the toilet. One of the main causes of shower drain clogs is the accumulation of small bits of soap and hair in the shower drains. You can prevent this problem by installing a shower drain cover and a screen trap to catch all this clogging muck. Sink drain clogs are mainly caused by the disposal of solid food waste in the sink drains. You can avoid this problem by disposing food waste responsibly. You should also install a sink drain cover or strainer to prevent all solid food particles from going down the drain.
But as much as you can try to prevent drain clogs, you will suffer one from time to time. You should not rush to request for a San Diego plumbing service any time you have a drain clog. You can use the following DIY remedies to try and unclog your drains before you call a professional plumber.
Use A Plunger
One of the most effective tools for unclogging your drains is the plunger. You can use a plunger to unclog any type of drain or toilet clog. You just need to push the rubber part of the plunger inside the drain and pump up and down. The plunger uses a sucking and releasing technique to dislodge the clog. You can buy a plunger from any hardware store in San Diego.
Pour Boiling Water
Many drain clogs are caused by the accumulation of fats, oils, greases, and soap residue inside the drainage pipes. This is one of the main causes of sink drain clogs and shower drain clogs. If you repeatedly dispose of fats, oils, greases, and solid soap residue inside your drains, these substances will coagulate and form a cloggy muck in your drain pipes. You can try to melt this muck using boiling water. You need to heat water to its boiling point and then pour it careful down your drains. With any luck, the water will melt the muck and clear your clogged drains.
Baking Soda And Vinegar Solution
You can also use your chemistry knowledge to unclog your drains. You can create a very effective reactant of vinegar and baking soda to diffuse whatever muck is clogging your drains. Pour equal parts vinegar and baking soda, about a third cup of each, in a container and let the mixture react. Pour this mixture down your drains and inspect the clogged drains after some time.
Snake The Drain
You can also clear your drains using a plumber’s snake. You can buy a snake from your local hardware store and then use it any time you have a clog. You just need to push the snake through the clog to clear the drains.
Use A Liquid Drain Cleaner
If all these simple DIY solutions fail, you can always pour a liquid drain cleaner down you clogged drains. You should be very careful when buying a commercial drain cleaner to ensure that it’s safe and nonabrasive. Consult your local plumber regarding the best type of commercial drain cleaner to buy.