Learn how to unclog drains yourself with this Do-It-Yourself plumbing article. Unclog a sewer, floor drain, or washer drain all by yourself.
The following will be some techniques that the professionals at Advocate Master Plumbing have been using for over 25 years that you can try to unclog drains yourself. If you find you need a professional feel free to look at our drain cleaning service page and give us a call.
What causes blocked drains?
The culprit of your clogged drain is probably one of the following.
Grease, oils, and fat.
This is one reason to avoid pouring grease into your garbage disposal. If you’re a double-cleanse girlie, yes, that jojoba rinse will eventually muck up your drain. Sorry to say.
Sediment build up.
Buildup of dirt and sand can lead to drain blockages, particularly floor drains.
Tree roots.
Tree roots follow water, meaning any small leak in your drain line can attract roots. Penetrating tree roots can contribute to clogs in your basement floor drain.
Hard water.
Hard water is water rich with various minerals, like calcium. When dehydrated, this water will leave a light film of powdery minerals behind. Overtime, these mineral deposits can build up in your plumbing systems, leading to clogged drains.
Improper flushing.
Flushing non-optimal items is quick to lead to drain blockages. Hair, menstrual products, paper towels, and personal wipes are among the more common items to avoid.
Soap scum buildup.
Soap scum is another common suspect for clogged drains. Combine it with hard water, hair, and a little oil from your bathroom products, and you’ve got a blockage.
Heavy rain.
Now, this isn’t one you can really control. Sometimes water backup from a lot of rain will overwhelm your sewer line, pushing it up into drains.
Quick Tips to Unclog Drains
Before we get into more specific cases of clogged drains, let’s cover these four simple potential fixes for smaller clogs.
First up, be sure you’re wearing rubber gloves and any other relevant PPE before you begin.
1. Vinegar and baking soda
To clear minor clogs in drains, pour in a cup of baking soda, then a cup of white vinegar. After letting that sit for about twenty minutes, pour boiling hot water slowly into the drain. This should clear you right up.
Sometimes, it only takes the boiling water. It can be enough to break down residual grease and grime, clearing your pipe.
2. Plunger
If the above trick didn’t work, the second thing to try is a plunger. A plunger can be used to create pressure waves that may break up the clog.
I usually keep a clean plunger on hand for sinks. You can also make your own in some cases. For example, if a sink is clogged, I’ll fill it with a few inches of water, then secure the rim of an air-filled plastic bag around the drain. A couple pumps usually does the trick, no plunger needed!
3. Check the P-trap
You can find the P-trap under your sink. If the above two steps didn’t help, carefully disassemble the P-trap to clear it out. Be cautious in putting it back together, and always check for leaks before you call the job done.
4. Drain snake
A plumber’s snake or drain auger are flexible coiled wires used to pull hair and other debris from your clogged pipes. They are fed through the drain opening and snake down until they hit your clog. If you don’t own one of these tools, you can probably rent one from your local hardware store, BUT it will cost about as much as hiring a professional to deal with it for you.
If the above methods don’t work, call your plumber!
How to Unclog Sewer Drains
When advising customers about sewer issues, there are a few do’s and don’ts when telling them how to unclog drains.
DON’T rent a sewer drain cleaning machine yourself.
It costs almost as much to rent a machine as it costs to have a professional do it. Leave it to them. The machines are dangerous, cumbersome and dirty. And there are many ways to get the cable stuck in your sewer. Plumbers know the tricks to getting it in and out without a problem and can diagnose the sewer by feel.
DO use a drain cleaning water bladder to temporarily unclog drains.
The correct size is 3 to 4 inch. I like the GT Water Products Drain King. It is used only for sewers because of it’s size. You attach it to a garden hose and then insert it into your sewer at a point that has no other drain connections attached. This is very important. When you turn the water on, this bladder will swell and seal itself to the inside of the drain. Then it will pressurize your sewer with water and hopefully blow the blockage out.
If there’s a floor drain or a toilet connection beyond the point of insertion, water will start bubbling up from these fixtures. Only do this if you’re sure there is no possibility of that happening. And remember, this isn’t fixing the drain clog. It’s only allowing you some time before hiring a professional. Don’t do this if you’re unsure of what you’re doing.
DON’T put chemicals in your sewer.
Enzyme treatments such as Bioclean work great. Acids hurt more than they will ever help. They will eat through metal and get completely diluted if you’re sewer is holding water. Save your money.
As soon as you can afford it, call a professional.
How to Unclog Basement Floor Drains
Clogged floor drains are a little easier…usually.
First, let’s look at the anatomy of your standard floor drain.
In the photo to the left, you’ll see the part labeled “main clean out”. This isn’t the drain. It’s an access point for plumbers to unclog the pipe to which the floor drain is attached, rather than trying to make their cables make the turn through the trap way.
The hole in the bottom is the drain. It should always have water in it to prevent sewer gases from entering your home. The trap way under is usually the point of your clog.
The first thing to do is remove the clean out plug. If it’s metal, you’ll usually need a hammer and chisel. Replace it with a 1-1/2 expansion plug from your local hardware store if you damage it (you will likely damage it).
If the water drains out when you remove the clean out, it means the trap way is clogged. Get a long screwdriver, wet vacuum and a pale of water. We’re gonna unclog a drain.
Wiggle the screwdriver around in the drain portion of your floor drain to loosen the sand and other debris that builds up. Then vacuum it out.
Do this a few times until you feel it will drain.
Put the clean out back in and try pouring water down the drain slowly.
If it’s still clogged, repeat the process until it drains.
Once it does drain, fill your bucket with lots of water, hold the pale up as high as you can and pour the water into the exact center of the drain. This will blow the last of the debris out.
If this is unsuccessful, use a 1-1/2 to 2 inch water bladder in the trap to unclog the drain. If the floor drain doesn’t empty when you remove the clean out, use a water bladder sized for 1-1/2 to 2 inch pipe.
Follow the instructions for unclogging sewers. If this works, I always advise attaching a hose to your hot side washer hook up and running lots of hot water through the drain to heat the pipe and flush out grease and scum build up.
How to Unclog Washer Drains
If the clog is in the washer drain only and not backing up when you run any other fixture, then refer back to the floor drain unclogging section with the water bladder. After you get it flowing, flush it out with lots of hot water.
How to Unclog Dishwasher Drains
First, check for debris. Take out removable parts to clean them out. Then, pour a cup of baking soda and a cup of white vinegar into the dishwasher drain, then run it on its hottest setting.
I hope these tips have been useful. Remember, when learning how to unclog drains yourself, you have to see the whole plumbing picture. When in doubt, just give Advocate Master Plumbing a call! We’ll be happy to help you sort out the issue and provide top of the line drain cleaning services.
