A blocked drain is one of the most troublesome plumbing issues that you can get in your household. A toilet that is slowly draining or water not flushing down, water pooling up every time you take a shower or the kitchen sink not draining . These are plumbing issues that need immediate attention.
Here Are Some Tips On How You Can Unblock Your Drain The old Fashion Way
1. Handy Plunger
If we are talking about old fashioned way, nothing beats the handy plunger (a must have for every household). If your sink or toilet drains slowly, try first using the plunger on it. If attempting to plunge a sink or bath that may have have an overflow, make sure to cover cover it so as to use the plunger effectively. This allows air or pushes the water to unclog the blockage inside. If you got the double sink, put the plug in one whilst  plunging the other to get a good pressure going inside. Take note though that you might need to give this a try several times before you get some results.
2. Try Using A Wire Coat Hanger
Straighten out the wire and then bend the end like a fish hook. You can use this to remove debris like hairs, toilet paper or food residue that has caused the blockage. Just be careful in using it since it may cause damage to the pipes. Also, if you feel resistance when trying to use this improvised tool, do not aggravate the problem by pushing down the blockage further down the pipes.
3. Pour A Kettle Of Boiling Water Inside The Blocked Pipe
Question:
What are the signs I should be aware of to determine that there’s a possible blockage?
Answer:
Use your senses, look, smell, listen.  If you notice any of the following signs, you may have  a possible blockage.
- If you see a puddle of water or overflowing water coming out of your drains, or your toilet won’t flush properly.
- Is there’s a foul odor coming out of your drains or toilet.
- Or you hear a gurgling sound coming from your drain pipes/drainage system or toilet.
4. Use A DIY Solution Or Cleaner
5. Remove The U-Shaped Pipe
If you want to get down and dirty, you can remove the U-shaped pipe (s trap) underneath the sink. This is where most food scraps and food residue gets stuck and can cause a blockage inside the pipes. Just take a spanner or Multi grips and unscrew the nuts on both ends of the pipe to remove it. Make sure you have a bucket ready underneath the pipe to catch the water and waste inside. Thoroughly clean the pipe of any food debris or grime that may be stuck inside. While on it, make sure to also check and clean the connecting pipes to ensure that no other debris is inside that may cause a future blockage.
Here is another article that you may find interesting in regards to “Do I call a Plumber or a Drainer to clear my drains?
If all your old-fashioned ways do not work, then it would be time to contact us at 13 10 91 in cleaning your blocked drains. We are serving areas in Canberra, Newcastle, Central Coast, Hunter Valley, Lake Macquarie, and Port Stephens.
At The Plumbing and Electrical Doctor we have made these articles downloadable to PDF for our customers convenience.
