4 Simple Ways to Unclog a Drain Without Harmful Chemicals
There’s nothing worse than the frustration or dread you experience when watching your toilet or sink backing up. Clogs happen from time to time, but they’re annoying to deal with, and calling a plumber every time can add up.
Pouring harmful chemicals down your drain isn’t good for the pipes or the environment either.
As it turns out, there are a few DIY options you can try first that are safe and easy. These range from homebrewed safe de-cloggers to fishing for the clog yourself. You can give these a try, and if all else fails, plumbing in Toronto is easy to find.
Read on to learn why you shouldn’t use harmful chemicals and four alternative ways to unclog your drain.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Harsh Chemicals
Dealing with a clogged sink is more trouble than it seems. There are times when it seems like something simple. Depending on the issues you’re facing, you might need professional help from a plumbing service.
That said, when trying to deal with it alone, choosing a DIY method is most people’s go-to. Often, this involves a trip to the store for a plunger and the standard unclogging chemicals. The thing is, it’s easy to buy products that do more harm than good.
While industrial-strength de-clogging chemicals look like they work, they aren’t always the best. More often than not, they do serious damage. Some of the common problems these causes are eating the sealant away, dissolving pipes, and even eroding the sink.
Not to mention how harmful they can be to your health. If you look at things closely, you’ll see a warning after warning on the bottle. This comes as no surprise, since if it can go through food debris, metal, plastic, and rubber, what more is your skin?
You’ll find that your hands will feel dry or even itchy after using such chemicals and cleaners. Their fumes can also result in breathing problems and irritated eyes. Making sure you have the right protective gear before using them is important.
Finally, they’re bad for the environment. Such chemicals aren’t as sustainable as they should be as they come in one-use plastic bottles. These products usually end up in sewer systems and water sources and can even leach into groundwater.
1. Use Safe Home-Brew De-cloggers
This should be most people’s initial go-to approach before they run to the store to buy anything. Start by looking at your sink and drain and determining what materials you’re working with. A pot of boiling water poured slowly down the drain can be pretty effective.
You want to check your sink and pipes because boiling water can sometimes cause damage. If your porcelain sink is ancient or your PVC pipes are super old, you should dial back the heat a bit to be safe. If the heat isn’t enough to dissolve the clog, move on to another old favourite.
Baking soda and vinegar are some of those magic potions that can clean almost anything. Start by pouring 1/3 of a cup of baking soda down the drain, and follow it up with an equal amount of white vinegar. The reaction will be pretty foamy and scary, but it’s effective.
The longer you leave it to work, the better the chance of dissolving the clog. An hour is a bare minimum, but leaving it overnight will yield the best results. When you’re ready to give the drain a try, pour some boiling or hot water into it to get rid of the foam and test the flow.
If all else fails, you might want to start looking at plumbing in Toronto.
2. Get Physical
This is one of the least favourite approaches to unclog a drain. It’s also one of the reasons why many opt for finding the best plumber they can instead. If the baking soda and vinegar didn’t do the trick, time to roll up your sleeves and put on some gloves.
You can start with a plunger to see if you can get anything going that way. Chances are you’ve already tried that, though, before you reached for the water or baking soda. The next step is to unscrew the drain cover, remove any major obstacles, and go fishing.
A lot of the time, the clog isn’t that deep. Hair, dried toothpaste, or other debris can somethings get pulled out by hand. It’s gross and uncomfortable but could save you a drain services call.
Make sure to disconnect the garbage disposal first if it’s messing with the kitchen drain. The last thing you want is to add yourself to the clog.
3. Try a Snake
This is one that many plumbing services will have in their arsenal. A plumbing or drain snake is a flexible wire used to fish through and unclog drains. Alternatively, they’re known as drain augers.
These can range from a normal wire you feed into the drain yourself to electric or motorized ones. The standard wire is safer for beginners looking for a DIY solution at home. You can feed the snake down the drain or unscrew the sediment trap under the drain or sink and feed it in that way.
When you hit the clog, you’ll feel it. From there, it’s only a question for elbow grease while you break it up.
4. A Wet Vacuum
A wet and dry vacuum is situational since not everyone has one or can use it where it’s needed. Those lucky enough to have one can use it to suck up the clog from the drain without getting their hands dirty. You’ll need to switch your vacuum to water mode and create as tight a seal around the drain as you can with your hose.
Depending on the power of your vacuum and the position of the clog, you should have little trouble.
When to Call Plumbing in Toronto
Having a clog doesn’t mean you have to run to the plumber right away or spend tons of money on harmful chemicals. There are DIY solutions that are effective, safe, and better for the environment and your wallet. When you’ve run out of options or are in over your head, calling plumbing in Toronto is your best bet.
At Anta Plumbing and Drain Services, we’re proud to serve the Toronto area. We have the knowledge and experience to tackle any of your plumbing issues. If you have any questions or want to learn more, give us a call today.
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