Blocked drains are a common occurrence in any household. Daily use or misuse can result in a buildup in the drain. This is unseen and very seldom noticed until the drain is blocked. Then what do you do? Here are some tips for blocked drain repair.
Tricks and Techniques
There are many tricks and techniques that people use to fix their blocked drain. Some of these tricks include pouring chemicals or boiling water in the drain. With either of these techniques, you will need to use caution. Boiling water can be dangerous not only to you but also to your drain. Depending on the type of drain you have, boiling water can loosen some types of adhesives on PVC pipes. Chemicals also pose a risk to your pipes as well as the environment. There are many homemade drain cleaners that can be made. These may or may not serve your blocked drain repair needs. If these techniques do not work, you may need to use something stronger.
Tools
The next step most people try for their drain repairs are tools of the trade. This can include pipe snakes, plungers and electric snakes. You should try the plunger first as it is safer for your drain. If the pressure of the plunger is unable to move the blockage and clear your drain, you can then move on to the other tools. Either one of the other tools will need to be used with care. Pipe snakes are good for clogs that are close to the surface, while an electric snake may allow you a further reach. Both are going to work by eating slowly at the blockage until it is removed. You will want to be careful with these methods as while they are eating away at the blockage, they can also be chipping away at your drain pipe.
When to Call a Professional
When you have tried all of these other techniques and tools to no avail, it may be time to call a professional for a repair. A plumber will come in and assess the situation and your needs. With their expertise, they will know which tools to use and how to use them safely. They may use many of the same tools you have tried with techniques that they have learned through practice. For other occasions, they have larger and more powerful tools at their disposal to be able to fix even the toughest blocked drains.
So, when it is time for a blocked drain repair, you can try all of the usual tricks, techniques and tools. If these are unsuccessful, you may need to call in a professional for your drain repairs and get back to life.
