Posted on June 4, 2015 Out of sight, out of mind is the way most of us approach maintenance in our homes. To be honest, even as plumbers, we are guilty of this same thing. Drains are something that are never thought about until they become a nuisance. A clogged drain causes huge problems for your home’s plumbing, from raw sewage backing up to leaking in the foundation slab. Best way to stay ahead of a drain leak? Watch out for the signs! Clogged Drain Tips Listen to your house Okay. That sounds like a hokey HGTV show slogan. But we’re serious! For instance, let’s say that after getting done with the washing machine you hear the sound of your toilet draining (it sounds just like the sound of a coffee pot draining). On the other hand, you might notice water around the floor drain in your basement. Your house is speaking to you (in the most non-creepy way you can imagine)! Pay attention to the way your drain lines are affecting one another. If you suspect something fishy going on behind your walls in your drains and pipes, get in touch with the best drain services in Phoenix AZ. Isolate the Clogged Drain If there is a problem with the main line, everything will start acting up; however, if there is a secondary line problem, only that area would be affected. For instance, if the problem lies in the main line, then everything you run will cause your toilet to drain and come up to the bath tub or the basement. If there is a problem with only the bathroom sink, then either it will not go down, or it will come up in the bathtub (but your toilet will have no problem flushing). There are various ways you can try to fix a clogged drain before you make that call for drain services in Phoenix AZ. Many people try industrial chemicals for unclogging, but these can be dangerous for your health and can damage the plastic pipework. How to Repair a Clogged Drain At first, it is always a good idea to try unclogging the drain with a plunger (obvious). Let’s say your basin has been clogged; try to block the overflow vent of your basin with a piece of cloth for the plunging to be effective. If possible, apply petroleum jelly to the lip of the plunger to create a better seal. Fill the clogged basin or bathtub with enough water to submerge the head of the plunger then pump the plunger up and down. This will put water pressure on whatever is blocking your drain. After a few movements, quickly pull the plunger up. This should cause the water to rush out and dislodge whatever is blocking the drain. If this method doesn’t work, try it a few more times to achieve the desired result. If the plunging method remains unsuccessful in dislodging the clog, you can use other household substances to unclog your drain. One method is using baking soda as a drain opener. Take a cup of baking soda and add three times the amount of boiling water. If it doesn’t work the first time, try a few more times; it usually clears the drains because of its alkaline nature! However, be forewarned that the baking soda method might not work well for completely blocked drains and/or toilets. Clogged Drain Services in Phoenix AZ Other methods of fixing clogged drains require equipment and are perhaps best done with the assistance of a trained professional. Get in touch with Deer Valley through our website or over the phone for 24/7, same-day drain services in Phoenix AZ. 602.832.8418
