Chemical concentrations, food product buildup and grease accumulation are the most common causes of drain clogs
in Toronto homes. At their worst, these clogs require professional
cleaning, or even repairs, which may not be possible given certain
budgets or plumbing systems.
In the best-case scenario, however, you
may be able to eliminate these clogs with several at-home methods and
tools, before the need to contact a professional Toronto plumber ever
arises. In this article, we’ve compiled the most effective, DIY drain cleaning techniques homeowners can use to mitigate the effects of clogs, and return their drain pipes to top performance.
Hot Water Could Do the Trick
Often overlooked due to its simplicity,
sometimes a simple hot water cleanse could be all your clogged or dirty
drains need to return to peak performance. Flushing your drain pipes
with hot water can often dislodge clogged materials and buildup gunk,
through a simple combination of water pressure, force and heat.
For the best results, try running hot
water through your clogged or dirty drains for about 15 minutes. If all
goes accordingly, the bare heat and force of the water will dislodge any
buildups affecting your drain, and return your pipes to optimal working
condition at no cost to you. As this flush requires nothing other than a
working faucet, it’s the simplest potential drain cleaning techniques
you can do.
Use Tools You Already Have
Other simple techniques you may not have
considered for cleaning your drains can be done with tools you already
own; before going out and purchasing DIY drain cleaning tools, or
calling a professional Toronto plumber to assess your drains, try using
these tools to perform easy, quick drain pipe fixes.
Your plunger; the bathroom plunger you
already own may be the perfect solution for your clogged or poorly
performing drains. Even more effective for sink drains are specialized
sink plungers, which feature optimized designs ideal for sink
applications.
Whichever plunger you have on hand, the
technique for clearing a drain is essentially the same: just cover the
entire drain opening with the plunger, and press back and forth in a
continuous, fluid motion for about 1 to 2 minutes. Don’t jam the plunger
down with excess force or speed. It’s the steady buildup of pressure
from fluid motions that can remove significant pipe clogging.
Also, if the fixture in question is
equipped with an overflow vent (such as those on most conventional
sinks, which prevent overflows), be sure to cover these vents
beforehand; otherwise, all the air and pressure you force into the drain
will escape, rendering your efforts meaningless.
One way to get the best seal over a drain
opening is by applying petroleum jelly to the rim of the plunger; this
jelly temporarily seals your plunger to the fixture, preventing an air
from escaping.
Home-made Liquid Cleaners
When the above techniques are
impractical, or otherwise don’t work in your unique situation, you may
want to try clearing your drains with homemade mixture solutions. Like
commercial, chemical cleaners, these solutions can break down and
dislodge any drain pipe buildup affecting your pipes; however, unlike
commercial cleaners, these solutions do not come with the risk of pipe
damage or deterioration after extended use.
The most common of these at-home mixtures
is a simple vinegar and baking soda concoction; these products, which
you may already have in your home pantry, react when combined to break
down loose materials within pipes, and have no effects on the structure
of the surrounding pipe walls.
Pour one cup of each down your drain pipes,
and follow it after a short, 3 to 5 minute time-span with boiling
water. If all goes well, this drain cleaning technique will remove any
clogging in your drains, for a fraction of the price and danger risk of
commercial chemical cleaners.
Use a Drain Snake for DIY Plumbing Service
One tool you may not have handy yet, but
should if clogged drains or gunk accumulation are a common problem in
your home, is a plumber’s drain snake. These tools are what professional
plumbers typically use to relieve standard clogs and excavate drain pipes,
and can be found at your local home improvement store for an affordable
price (roughly $25 to $50) that can return on its investment after a
single use.
While you may think these tools can only
be properly used by the pros, Toronto homeowners have increasingly begun
using snaking techniques to clear their own drains. DIY drain snaking
techniques are as simple as 1-2-3:
- Begin by feeding the snake through your drain pipes, turning the handle clockwise until you encounter resistance
- Rotate the snake against the blockage, so the snake latches onto the clogged materials
- Pull the snake from your drain slowly, removing the clogged material, and reassemble your drain cover
Just like that, your drains clog problems
can be entirely eliminated without the need to contact a Toronto
professional for help.
Sugared Sodas and Drain Clogs
This drain cleaning trick is often
overlooked just for its strangeness; but it’s so unconventional, it just
happens to work. Soft drinks and sugary sodas, such as Pepsi and
Coca-Cola products, can resolve common drain clogs much like the home-made solutions featured previously in this blog.
Significantly safer than commercial drain
cleaners, like the baking soda and vinegar solutions, soda applications
can break through clogged debris thanks to the dissolving agents
included in these sodas; most notably, phosphoric acid. These agents,
surprisingly, may even be more effective than chemical, commercial
cleaners. It just goes to show, when it comes to effective drain
cleaning, sometimes the unconventional solutions are the best ones out
there.
Prevention Tips to Keep Your Drain Running Well
As you may expect, one of the best ways to eliminate the problems drain clogs
cause is by avoiding clogging altogether. Here at Mister Plumber, we
suggest performing monthly performance checks on your drains, and having
a professional plumbing inspection at least once per year. By taking
proactive measures, you can limit these clogs altogether, or catch them
in their early stages before they develop into more severe and costly
problems.
Beyond regular self- and professional
inspections, simply knowing what your drains can and cannot process is
one of the best ways to limit clogging. Avoid putting stringy, fibrous
foods through your drains and garbage disposal, as well as food
wrappers, animal bones, paper products and kitchen grease; these are the
most common clog-causing agents.
If you are still looking for trusted plumber, Mister Plumber in Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York specializing
sewer repair, upgrade waterline, water service upgrade, drain cleaning,
backwater valve installation,
lead pipe
replacement, re-piping and emergency plumbing, Mister Plumber uses the
latest technology to effectively troubleshoot and quickly repair any
plumbing problem and offers a fast response and free estimates.
Reliable and Trustworthy Plumbing services.
Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530