Troubleshooting a Clogged Drain
A plumbing drain clog is one of those pervasive issues that every homeowner has to deal with at one time or another. They’re gross, they’re obnoxious, and sometimes the just won’t stop happening! Want to know how to diagnose your particular clog issue, and how to stop it from happening in the future? Then follow along with Schneller Knochelmann Plumbing, Heating & Air to find out!
Need drain clog repair services, or drain cleaning in Cincinnati? Contact Schneller online today to set a date for your service!
The Right Way to Rid Your Home of a Clogged Drain
How you handle a clog has a bit to do with where the clog happens to be. This is mostly because certain drains routinely handle certain materials. For example the toilet is seeing a completely different kind of traffic from a kitchen sink (we hope), and so the clog will be comprised of different materials.
First off, put those industrial drain clog removers out of your head! Commercial drain cleaning chemicals are extremely corrosive, and can do a lot of harm both to you and to your piping. It’s best to tackle these with more mundane means, and if those fail, it’s best to call in a service expert, lest you melt your piping and start needing plumbing replacements.
Dealing with Kitchen Sink Clogs
A kitchen sink is likely to be dealing with the somewhat standard clog-causers. These include soap scum, bits of food, oils, and similar things. Your best bet in dealing with these is simple enough: invest in a good quality plunger, use plenty of hot water to soften the clog, and go to town.
Handling Toilet Clogs
Toilets handle some stuff that might be impolite to discuss, but thankfully clogs are more commonly caused due to too much paper, or the placement of things that shouldn’t be in there in the first place. A plunger will handle most of what you encounter here, but it’s not a bad idea to get your hands on a simple electric or hand auger, sometimes called a closet auger. These are very simplistic and short sewer snakes that can handle a lot of smaller clogs without breaking your wrists or wallet.
Fixing Shower Drain Clogs
Start off handling a shower drain the same way you do a kitchen or bathroom sink. The only worry here is that the clog will almost certainly be hair, which can be a huge pain in the foot to unclog. That auger might come in handy here, too, but the hair could be too far down for the auger to reach, which may necessitate calling in for drain clog repair.
Perfect Drain Clog Prevention
Want to know how to keep clogs from ever even happening in the first place? First off, only put appropriate items in the appropriate drain. Avoid these:
- Meats
- Oils
- Fatty foods
- Cotton products
- Paper towels
- Hygiene products
However even with avoiding these, you’ll likely encounter a good bit of trouble due to mineral deposits and soap scum. This is why drain cleaning services are very, very important! Preventative service is cheaper than clog repair, less frustrating, and ensures your drains flow free, helping to clear up any slow draining or persistent clogging.