Perhaps the most frustrating home issue you can have is a clogged drain. From a dripping kitchen sink to water in your bathroom, it is in the way of your routine and can even become a health hazard if not addressed in a reasonable amount of time.
Whereas minor blockages are dealt with by yourself at home, a fully clogged drain is left for the professionals. What follows is a step-by-step explanation of how to deal with your drain when it is fully clogged—and when to let the plumber do the professional drain unclogging.
Avoid Using the Clogged Drain at Once
The initial thing that you should do if you see a drain completely blocked is not flush the shower, sink, or toilet. Repeated pouring of water onto the blocked drain will result in overflow, and thus, water damage, hence exposing your home to bacteria-infested wastewater.
If the blockage is severe, it may also affect connected plumbing systems. For example, a clogged toilet might cause water to back up into your shower or bathtub. Avoid making the situation worse—pause all use until you have investigated the issue.
Try a Plunger
Try the plunger first rather than turning to chemical solutions. A cup plunger is ideal for a sink and a bathtub, and a flange one for a toilet. Get a good seal on the drain and then apply hard pressure. This will dislodge small clumps of hair, food, or grease.
If plunging doesn’t solve the problem, and water remains stagnant, it is a sign that the blockage is deeper within the pipes. At this point, you will need more advanced drain cleaning in Marana, AZ—or professional help.
Test Other Drains in the House
When you block off a drain, test your other plumbing on-site to determine if the problem is isolated to one fixture or happening to multiple fixtures. Is water creeping up in the other drains? Are your toilets draining slower? When you run the other drains, can you hear a gurgling sound?
If two or more of your drains get clogged or slow down at the same time, then it is likely a main sewer line problem. It is one that must be solved right away by an experienced veteran plumber who’s well trained in full-system drain cleaning.
Use a Drain Snake (With Caution)
For those comfortable with DIY tools, a hand-crank spiral drain snake or auger is an upgrade from plunging. Insert the spiral down into the drain and crank to dissolve or trap the clog. Try this approach with caution, however—if you have no clue what your pipe configuration is or have very vintage pipes.
Unless properly done, your pipes can be broken with a drain snake or push the clog farther into the pipes. A licensed plumber with better quality diagnostic equipment and professional grade drain cleaners can accomplish this in this situation.
Call a Licensed Plumber
If all of this fails and your drain remains clogged, the time has come to call a professional plumber in Marana, AZ. A completely clogged drain typically means there is some significant obstruction—most often tree roots, cracked pipes, or grease blockage—that will have to be professionally repaired.
A professional plumber can:
Conduct a video camera inspection to identify the clog
Implement high-pressure water jets for effective drain maintenance
Repair shattering or rusting pipes
Make your system secure and code compliant
While it may seem like the last resort thing that comes to mind, calling a professional can prevent you from much worse (and costly) plumbing catastrophes in the future.
Preventing Future Clogs
Once your drain is clean, it is a good thing to do things to prevent it from clogging up again. Keep in mind these easy maintenance tips:
Don’t pipe grease, coffee grounds, or food scraps down the drain
Put hair-catching drain screens
Swirl hot water through drains every week to drain the buildup
Get professional draining done regularly for older homes or big families
Having a good plumber on call for maintenance will get your drains running like new and avoid the frustration of possible clogs.
Final Thoughts
A clogged drain is not only inconvenient—it is a sign that your pipes require attention now. Home fix tips are temporary relief, but chronic or deep-seated clogs require the services of a professional.
Don’t wait until there is a crisis plumbing situation. If water cannot pass through your totally clogged drain, have a professional plumber clear your drain safely and efficiently and restore your comfort—promptly and professionally.