Plumbing Issues - Unclog Drains Naturally

Whenever you find a blocked drain in your house, most likely you would want to fix it yourself thinking that it’s just a simple task that you can do quite easily. You would probably just race down to your local supermarket or hardware store to get a bottle or two of ready-to-use unclogging chemical, pour it down the annoying drain, and voila! - the clog is gone. However, these chemical drain "uncloggers" are oftentimes not able fix the issue thoroughly and it will only be a matter of time before your drain gets clogged again. Needless to say, these chemicals are also harmful to the environment and to your health.  

The good thing is, there’s a natural way of fixing your clogged drains effectively (and safely!).

Unblocking Your Drain Naturally in 6 Easy Steps

Check this natural and economical solution to unblock your clogged drain, and give it a try.

1. Before anything else, if there’s standing water in your sink, you would need to remove it all. You may scoop it out using a cup or a bowl;
2. After getting rid of all the standing water, measure a cup of baking soda and tip it into the clogged drain;
3. Then, pour 2 cups of boiling water into the drain;
4. Next, measure another cup of baking soda and pour it in as well (just like in Step 2);
5. After that, pour a cup of white vinegar down the blocked drain and attach the sink plug to the drain hole. As the vinegar and baking soda mixes, you will hear a fizzing sound. This means that the mixture is reacting with the mass that's causing the blockage, breaking it up and eventually clearing the drain;
6. When the fizzing stops (after about five minutes or so), remove the sink plug and pour a cup of boiling water into the drain to further loosen the clog and flush it out.

What If You Can’t Unclog Your Drain Yourself?

This is the time to call an expert!

Professional plumbing services are well-equipped with modern tools that could unblock clogged drains fast and effectively. If you are around Brisbane, Australia, there are plumbing service companies that you can call anytime to deal with your blocked drain issue.

Professional plumbers have two primary methods in unblocking clogged drains:

1. Electric Cleaning

Plumbers use a special electric tool that basically looks like a steel rod with a set cutter at one end. This is most effective in clearing out leaves and tree roots that usually block stormwater pipes.

2. Hydrojet Cleaning

Hydrojet plumbers or ‘Jetters’ shot a high pressure jet of water through a hose which is inserted into the drain pipe to dislodge the blockage and flush it off. It practically works like a water cannon.

To help determine the exact placement  of a drain blockage, professional plumbers use drain cameras. This special equipment is extremely helpful especially in cases where excavation is necessary to fix a blockage. By knowing exactly where the blockage is, excavation can be planned well so as not to cause much damage and to get the issue fixed quickly. That way, you will be able to save time and money.