Do it Yourself Drain Cleaning

Posted by Peter Simpson on June 17th, 2019

Standing in a bathtub taking a shower and the drain isn’t draining fast enough is just not fun! No one like to stand in the ankle deep water. The problem is not hard to diagnosis. The drain is partially clogged. You’ve tried those drain cleaners at the supermarket, but they don’t seem to make a dent in the problem. You think you’ll need to call in one of the plumbers in Colma. Before that, here’s a home remedy idea using a household item to try.

 Clearing the Drain

 First remove the strainer with a screwdriver. If you’re a germaphobe or just don’t like the slimy feeling of things, invest in some latex gloves. They’re a good thing to have around the house. The strainer will be slimy to the touch. Soap scum, hair, and other unmentionables get pass through or get caught in the strainer.

With the strainer out of the way, set the screws in a place they will not roll on the floor and get lost. You’ll need them later. Now, remove the stopper. That’s what plugs the drain. Twist and lift and the stopper should come right out.

Now for the not so fun part. With the latex gloves on your hands remove the slimy gunk around the strainer and stopper. You may need to scrape or scrub it away. Place the gunk in a plastic trash bag. Then rinse of the gunk residue that is still on the strainer and stopper in the bathroom sink.

 Go back to the tub. Take a metal wire hanger (the kind you get at the dry cleaner) and with pliers bend one end in the shape of a fish hook. You’ll want the hook about ½ inch in diameter so it will be easy to maneuver inside the drain. Then slide the hanger down the drain until you hit the trap. The trap is a curved part of the drain that holds water. The water prevents sewer and other gases from coming up through the drain. It’s a simple solution to what could be a big problem. Keep pushing the hanger down inside the drain. It may take a little pushing for the hanger to bend through the trap.

 Next move the hanger around, pushing and pulling, and then pull out the hanger. Attached to the curved hook will be more hair and gunk. Clean off the hanger and go at it again and again and again. Then test the drain by filling the tub with a little water. Did it drain faster? If not, continue to push the hanger down inside the drain and twist and pull out. Then fill the tub again with a little water and see if it drains faster.

 From here you can use a drain cleaner. Sometimes drains get so clogged the drain cleaner cannot penetrate through the clog. If the drain cleaner doesn’t speed up the draining, then call one of the plumbers in Colma.

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Peter Simpson

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Peter Simpson
Joined: November 16th, 2017
Articles Posted: 8

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