There's a chance you can clear clogged drains yourself without calling a professional. You can use a store-bought drain cleaner or a plunger on clogged drains. Don't use a drain cleaner on a drain with standing water, as it might splash up on your face and cause burns or skin irritation. Likewise, if you have poured a drain cleaner into a drain with standing water, don't use a plunger on it. If you try these methods and still have clogged drains call us for drain cleaning services. Follow these steps for clearing a clogged sink drain with a plunger:
- Use a cup plunger rather than an accordion plunger or toilet plunger.
- If there is no water in the sink, add enough to cover the drain.
- Place the plunger over the center of the drain and plunge a few times very forcefully to create a strong seal.
- Remove the plunger to see if the water goes down. If it doesn't, re-center the plunger over the drain and plunge up and down quickly for one or two minutes. Creating enough force to suck debris out of a drain usually takes much longer than you think.
- If plunging doesn't clear the clogged drain, use a plumbing snake or auger. Thread the snake or wire into the drain while twisting it counterclockwise. Keep going until you feel too much resistance to continue. Then pull the snake or wire back up while turning it. This should remove hair and debris from the drain. Continue doing this until the water goes down the drain without pooling up.
Fixing Clogged Kitchen Sink Drains & Clogged Shower Drains
If you have a clogged kitchen sink drain or clogged shower drain, you may not be able to use a drain cleaner. If your kitchen sink has garbage disposal installed, you shouldn't use a chemical drain cleaner. If you have a clogged shower drain, a store-bought drain cleaner might be unable to cut through the hair, soap, and other debris well enough to clear the clog. The drain cleaner will then sit in your pipes, causing corrosion, damage, and breakage. You also shouldn't use a drain cleaner on a clogged toilet. Call us, and we'll quickly clear clogged kitchen sink drains, clogged toilets, and clogged shower drains.
