

While they are the most popular plunger-type available, cup plungers are only helpful if your clogged drain is surrounded by a flat surface, as found in sinks, bathtubs, and showers. When most people picture a plunger, it’s this guy that they’re thinking about. Good For:Bathroom sinks, shower, and tub drains. There are three different types of plungers, and each one has a specialized purpose: There’s a reason you can find a plunger in just about every bathroom in the country they do their job well. It’s also a good idea to let the hot water run in the sink or tub for a couple of minutes, just to allow any residual muck to be flushed away. Let the mixture do its work for at least fifteen minutes, then follow it up with the pot of boiling water to move that clog into the sewer main. Pour it into the mound of baking soda and watch the magic! Once it starts to fizz, the mixture will work itself into your drain and expand as it does, breaking the blockage apart from the inside. Don’t worry if it doesn’t all fit that’s where the vinegar comes in.

Remove as much water as possible from the basin and pour the baking soda directly into the drain. The same formula you used to make your mini-Vesuvius erupt is what you’re going to use in your clogged sink or tub drain. This method will take you straight back to the days of middle-school science class, and that time you built a papier-mache volcano. Next time you find yourself staring into a disgusting drain clog, try Nick’s Plumbing’s & Air Conditioning’s Secret Clog-Busting Recipe: On extremely dense clogs that may take several minutes to dissolve, the chemical drain cleaners will be “off-gassing” sulfuric acid or lye fumes into your kitchen or bathroom.Ĭhemical drain cleaners are just a bad idea. These potent acid compounds basically melt their way through the hair and soap scum clog, and at the same time, they are also breaking down your pipes. It’s not that chemical drain cleaners aren’t effective. Many of our customers have faced a tough drain clog and reached for a chemical-based drain clearing product, like Liquid Plumbr® or Drano™. Nearly every DIY website has a method for clearing drains of relatively minor clogs, often made up of items you already have in your home. Stuff To Keep Away from Your Drains:Ĭhemical Drain Cleaners Method #1: Try a Homemade Drain Cleaner Even if you have a garbage disposal, putting cooking grease and sticky food like rice and pasta isn’t advisable, as it gets stuck to the inside of the drain, it will inhibit water flow and start to stink sooner than later. The best method for maintaining clear drains is always to be aware of what you and your family are introducing into the drain system. Garages often have floor drains, and most homes have at least one French drain on their property to control standing water in the yard. Laundry rooms need access to the home’s drain line for sinks and washing machines. In a typical home, in addition to sinks, tubs, and toilets, we have air conditioning systems that produce condensation that must be routed away from walls and ceilings into an AC drain. Drain locations aren’t limited to sinks and bathtubs. Quite frankly, the subject can be draining.ĭrain maintenance is easily the single most crucial task of keeping your home’s plumbing systems flowing correctly. We’re always posting something about drain lines, sewer drains, French drains, shower and sink drains, laundry room drains, sump pump drains, and the list goes on. It seems like we post pretty often about drains.
