No homeowner would like to deal with blocked drains in their home. Unfortunately, not many homeowners know how to spot the signs early enough so as to prevent having to deal with major blockage in their plumbing system. If you begin to notice signs such as foul smells from your drains or slow-draining water, chances are there is a clog that is forming within your drainage system. Typically, the plunger is the go-to tool for homeowners when it comes to minor blockages. Nevertheless, this tool does not guarantee total unblocking of your drains all the time. Here are some other methods for unblocking drains that homeowners ought to know.
Unblocking a drain using an auger
Augers are also commonly referred to as drain snakes. Augers are characterized by their spiral cable that is maneuvered down into the drain. The most common type of auger will have a handle that is shape like a Z to facilitate cranking the spiral cable while it is within the drain. This cranking motion is supposed to break up any blockages within your drain, making them easy to wash away. Professional drain snakes, on the other hand, will typically come with a drill attachment. This drill attachment will spin the coiled cable much faster and is suitable for longer cables that need to travel further down the drain.
Drain snakes are suitable for kitchen sinks and bathroom drains. If you are dealing with a blocked toilet, you would have to get a specialised auger known as a closet auger. This is specifically designed to travel down toilet drains, as it is much more rigid than its regular counterpart is.
Unblocking a drain using chemicals
Another alternative for drain unblocking you could consider is the use of chemicals. These chemicals tend to be much heavier than water. As such, they will be able to sink down the drain and engulf the blockage within the drainage system. It should be noted that different chemicals are suited to tackle different types of material that are causing the blocks in your drain.
For instance, if you are dealing with hair clogs in your bathtub, you should use chemicals that contain thioglycolic acid. This acid will start dissolving the hairballs within your drain, thus clearing the clogs. On the other hand, if you are dealing with clogs caused by grease, you should opt for chemicals containing potassium hydroxide. The potassium hydroxide will transform the clogged grease into a soft soapy consistency that can drain away.
