Easy Ways to Unclog a Blocked Drain

By Nivi Watson

Unclogging a drain can be one of the most terrifying things for the home owner if you have neither done it on your own, nor experienced it. A new house owner may not experience this problem immediately on settlement. But after a few months or years, the heavy usage drains may show signs of blockage. Gurgling noises, reverting back of drained water from drain pipe opening, pooling of stagnant water at the drain opening, foul odor from drain mouth, are all signs of drain pipe blockage, which needs to be treated immediately to avoid further troubles. Simple tips and tricks which you may practice at home will help you to get sorted if the drain is not severely blocked.

# Vinegar and Baking Soda- One of The Most Practiced Methods

The method of using vinegar and baking soda is one of the most popular, most favored, and very effective methods for DIYers who prefer doing the job on their own. You will have to follow these simple steps to remove all obstructions from a clogged drain.

• You would need vinegar and baking soda, and boiling water.
• First pour a pot full of boiling water in the drain mouth and let the water get in.
• Pour half cup of baking soda, and allow it to sit for a few minutes.
• Now mix a cup of vinegar, and a cup of boiling water, and pour this down the drain.
• You should cover the drain mouth with a plug or cover etc, so that the fumes and bubbles from the vigorous reaction do not come indoors.
• After about 10 minutes, pour another pot full of boiling water in the drain.

# Why This Solution Works Great

Vinegar and baking soda combines to react explosively. This reaction creates enough pressure to loosen all the slug, grease, dirt, and small obstructions in the drain pipe. As a result the dirt and grease, slug and slime comes off the drain pipe wall. When the boiling hot water passes through the drain for the first time, it creates the environment for a reaction while washing much of the grease. The next time, after the reaction, when the boiling water is again poured, it washes off all the dirt and slug out already loosened out of the drain. Thus, the drain pipe becomes clean and the environment inside gets much better for future smooth passage of drain water.

# Other Inexpensive Methods to Try at Home

Besides this, the other inexpensive techniques you may use are with drain cleaning vacuum plugs, plungers etc. A plunger is a strong and flexible long strip, which you may push in the drain till you feel the obstruction. You can pull out the gooey blockage ball out the drain mouth with it, or may push it further to the wider part of the drain, so that blockage is removed.

# When the Problem is Solvable by Free Home Tricks

Sometimes the drain may be blocked because of other reasons which are out of your control. This may be a chunk of metal or cement block stuck somewhere. Or a tree root ingrown inside the drain, or a portion of the drain pipe broken and bent inside somewhere etc. In such cases, the above methods may not work, and you will have to call for professional plumbing help.

Professional plumbers come with a lot of tools to clean blocked drains, and can even see the insides of pipes by special camera and light fitted cables which can be plunged in through the drain pipe. That’s why they can detect the exact point and object of blockage, and clean things expert handedly.