Express Sewer & Drain Blog

Whether it's in the sink or in the shower, we've all experienced stubborn drains that just won't unclog. Maybe the drain is partially stopped up, and water seems to just be pooling, or perhaps if you left the faucet running long enough, water would certainly fill up the sink or the shower, and eventually overflow onto the floor. 

What to do in such a situation? Well, while plumbing contractors certainly have their formal methods, there are a few things you can do to get those pipes cleaned out and flowing effortlessly, once again. Get yourself ready for some drain cleaning in Sacramento. 

Hot Water

The simplest, and least risky procedure you can employ for cleaning a drain is just to run the hot water for a few minutes. Turn your sink's hot water to its highest level, and let the sheer temperature work its magic. 

The goal is to have the hot water breakdown any gunk or crud that might be lodged in, or just below the drain. Usually, this procedure isn't as applicable to shower drains, as showers receive a consistent enough flow of hot water. Still, since shower heads are high above the drain itself, don't point directly at the drain, and don't have a super focused stream, it might work better to run the bathtub faucet (as opposed to the shower faucet) on hot scorching water, as it usually flows directly down into the drain.

Of course, with this method, you'll find out very quickly whether or not your drain is completely clogged, or just partially clogged. If it is completely clogged, you definitely won't be able to run the water for long, and another method might be your best bet for liberating your piping.

Drain Auger

If your drain is completely clogged, you can try using a drain auger to clean it out. For those of you who aren't aware, a drain auger is a simple snake-like device made of metal and its quite flexible, as it has to be able to wind through the curvatures in piping systems. Simply stick the device down into the drain several inches, move it around to attempt to dislodge debris, and pull it up. This procedure definitely has a high success rate, and its only flaw is that there's a possibility that the auger gets stuck in the drain, making your problem worse.

A Liquid Solution

Pouring some kind of liquid solution down the drain is another popular "solution" to your dirty drain problem. While some people stand by the homemade baking soda and vinegar solution (which creates an intense fizzing action great for unclogging), others opt for chemically-based solutions. People have used caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sodium hypochlorite, as well as specific enzymes that digest waste. 

This type of drain cleaning practice is almost certain to be successful, but the downside is that you're dealing with very powerful chemicals, which can be hazardous if you don't quite know how to handle them. Remember to always wear gloves, goggles, and a mask, whenever you're working with such chemicals.

A Professional Will Always Keep Your Drain Clog-Free

All in all, the drain cleaning method you employ in Sacramento, really all depends on the specific needs of your sickly drain. Each practice obviously has its pros and cons, and unfortunately, there's really no one-size-fits-all solution.

If you're interested in learning more about different drain cleaning procedures, or if you're hesitant about taking care of your drain problems on your own, we encourage you to contact a professional, today. Having a clean drain all the time, no longer has to be a mere pipe dream.