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Five Methods of Unclogging a Drain
Most of the time when your sink stops draining properly it isn’t a structural problem with the drainage system, there is just something blocking the pipe. The first thing to do when this happens is to attempt to unclog it yourself, in order to save you the money and hassle of calling out a team of professionals.
Here are five methods of unclogging a blocked drain, and any benefits or negatives which apply!
1 – Plunger
The good old-fashioned way – whip out the plunger!
While this might take some elbow grease and persistence, it is also one of the cheapest ways to get your pipes back in working order. It is also totally harmless to your system, unlike some other methods of clearing your piping.
The one thing I would say is to make sure you get a quality plunger! It is the kind of object you only have to buy once, so make sure you get one that has a good action and gets a good seal. If you skimp and get a Poundland plunger it might not do the job, costing you much more in the long run.
2 – Enzyme Waste Remover
If you know for a fact that the object blocking the pipe is organic, then an enzyme remover can break it down allowing water to wash it away quite quickly. This kind of chemical is available from most big supermarkets or DIY shops and is preferable to more general drain-cleaning chemicals as these can cause damage to the very system you are trying to fix.
3 – Chemical Drain Cleaners
While the nature of these destructive chemicals means that they can cause significant damage to your pipes over time, they can be used very sparingly to get rid of stubborn inorganic blockages.
Not only are these chemicals toxic and dangerous to pets and small children, but they are bad for the environment and will corrode your pipes while they corrode whatever is blocking them. However, when you are in a real fix, get to your local supermarket and pick up some drain cleaner.
4 – Augers
I hadn’t heard of these strange tools until I was doing research for this blog. However, they are apparently quite good for clearing stubborn blockages – especially around complicated toilet piping.
You can pick these snake-like wire tools off of Amazon or in any big DIY shop/tool store, and you can find a lot of good tutorials on how to use them on YouTube!
5 – In a Real Pickle… Use a Wire Hanger!
Again, this was not a method I was familiar until I was researching for this blog, but with a little arts and craft with a wire hanger you can unclog your drain without the need for a special tool!
If you get a wire hanger and cut it, you can wind and bend it through the pipes to push the blockage through or break it down enough for the water to wash the rest away.
One thing I would say is to wrap the end of the wire in order to protect the porcelain!
And there we have it, five ways to unclog your drains when something has blocked them. If after all your efforts things still aren’t functioning properly then the problem may lie elsewhere; check out my blog on six ways to tell if a pipe has collapsed and maybe you can diagnose the problem yourself.

Welcome to The Plumbing Network

Welcome to The Plumbing Network, a blog about how you can keep your drainage systems in proper working order. This might seem incredibly niche as a topic for a blog, but as someone who has suffered severe damage to my home twice in the last five years, the information that will be discussed in this blog is of the utmost importance!

My Story

Around five years ago the water in my sinks and bath started to drain away more slowly. I didn’t understand what the problem was and tried unclogging the drain through various methods, but the situation didn’t improve. One day, after coming home from a weekend away, my garden was entirely sodden and flooded leading to expensive landscaping and weeks of work.

Around a year ago, after moving house damp began to appear on the ground and walls. I knew there was a leak in the roof and thought it might be related to that, however the damp continued to spread even when it was dry outside. As it turns out, part of my drain had actually collapsed, and the water had been routed to inside my home instead!

From this moment I vowed to maintain my drains (or indeed, have them maintained by professionals), from that point onwards. I’m here to give this information to you, too, so you can avoid what I went through!

Avoid Expensive Professionals

There are some drainage problems which don’t require a professional. For example, a blocked sink often won’t require a full team of experts and all their complicated equipment. It will usually just take some effort, a little time, and the right technique from you!

By fixing your own drains when the problem is simple you can avoid costly callout fees and have everything running in perfect order quicker than they would arrive in the first place.

Recognise Critical Issues

Sometimes, especially when it comes to things as critical as a drainage system, there are jobs which should be left to the professionals. There are a few signs that your drainage might be in a state of disrepair that is beyond your capabilities. Recognising this early and calling in professionals to fix the problem can save you a lot of money and a huge headache in the future.

This blog will cover a few of the problems that will require expert support and can give you some information on what they might do to fix it.

The second time I had a drainage issue, I had a wonderful experience with Gordon Evans Drainage. They kept me in the loop of what was happening throughout the entire process and had the technology to get the job done quickly!

Good Luck!

Drains are something that we take for granted – until they go wrong! I wish you all the best in looking after your drains and hope that you don’t experience the flooding I went through!

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