When should you call a plumber for a clogged drain?

Is a clogged drain an emergency?

This could be a matter of opinion when you’re the one with a backed-up sink flooding your kitchen. For the most part, a clogged drain is considered a minor problem and can usually be resolved easily. However, there are times when it can become an emergency requiring a professional drain cleaning service. 

A flooding sink is definitely an indication of a clogged drain. That clogged drain can be a simple overflow or it could be a main sewer line that’s backed up. If you’re having recurring clogs, even with routine drain cleaning, you need professional drain cleaning services. You may even need the main line to your home cleaned. 

What is main drain cleaning?

The main sewer line is where everything that goes into your drains and toilet ends up. This single drain line handles everything from the smaller lines in your home. Every home has a drain cleanout, anywhere from 3” to 6” round, white, pipe that is typically located outside near the bathroom or kitchen area. 

This is primarily used by plumbing professionals, as it provides easy access for drain cleaning services. This drain cleaning point allows them to reach the clogs in the main sewage line underground from the foundation to the municipal sewage system. This drain cleaning service can be semi-expensive, but not as much as the potential damage that can happen from severely clogged main drains. 

How do you know if your main drain is clogged?

There are some early indications of a main drain clogging like bubbling or gurgling noises in any of the drains. If your toilet bubbles when flushed is another indication that you’re going to need professional drain cleaning services sooner than later. A common indicator, common in homes with a lot of trees and cement foundation, is when wastewater backs up into the shower or tub from the toilet or the washing machine. 

How do you unclog a severely clogged drain?

When the bathroom or kitchen sink is draining slowly, there are things you can do that can get it moving again without having to call a professional for drain cleaning service. Some of these ways are all natural ingredients you probably have in your home now and others may take some certain drain cleaning equipment. Keep reading and consider printing this out for future reference: 

Kitchen Ingredients 

Two standby ingredients every home should have is baking soda and vinegar. Pour equal amounts of both into the slow or clogged drain and follow up with boiling hot water. Wait 20 to 30 minutes and then add more boiling hot water. Other methods using basic kitchen ingredients include:

• Baking Soda and Salt – Again, equal parts of each ingredient poured down the drain and wait 20 to 30 minutes with hot water.
• Lemon, Salt and Vinegar – In a bowl, mix together equal parts of salt and vinegar then half as much lemon juice. Pour this mixture in the drain and wait 20 to 30 minutes. Follow up with boiling hot water.
• Salt and Hot Water – Pour half cup of salt then follow with boiling hot water in the drain. Wait the standard 20 to 30 minutes and add more boiling hot water. 

If the drain clog is from FOG (fat, oil, and grease), the hot water will melt the clog, but distribute it further down the drain to cause a clog later. Getting a professional drain cleaning service may be needed when you know that is what caused the clog.

Household Items or Auger, Drain Snake 

Take a wire clothes hanger and straighten it out, leaving a small hook shape on one end. Then stick the hook end in the drain and fish around for anything that may be obstructing the drain.

Or you can purchase a household auger or drain snake at the local hardware store or home improvement center. Follow the same steps of fishing around in the drain. These store-bought items will go further than a wire coat hanger and have better flexibility.

A Shop Vac 

You can use a wet and dry shop vacuum and see what you can get sucked up from the clogged drain. 

A Plunger 

Basic household equipment no home should be without is a plunger but note: there are different types of plungers! One for toilets is different from one for sinks. Having one of each is not a bad thing for any household. Consider them as small investments in plumbing prevention. 

 Hydrogen Peroxide and Other Chemicals 

If the all-natural household methods didn’t work, time to get the chemicals out. With eye protection and rubber gloves, the room well-ventilated, try these methods.

• Hydrogen Peroxide – Mix together 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide with 1 quart of water and pour down the clogged drain. Wait 20 to 30 minutes. 
• Caustic Soda  – Also known as sodium hydroxide, an active ingredient in most OTC drain cleaners. Using a wooden spoon mix 3 cups of the soda with 3/4 gallon of cold water and when it begins fizzing and heating up, pour into the clogged drain and wait 20 to 30 minutes. Then pour in boiling hot water. This should be a last attempt because the sodium hydroxide can damage pipes with overuse. 

How do you clear a completely clogged drain?

Trying the methods we just discussed first could be the solution. If none of these work, you’ll need the drain cleaning services of a professional plumber. This could be from the main drain as we discussed earlier. 

How do you clear a clogged drain naturally?

 The following drain cleaning methods will work on regularly clogged drains. The best part of these methods, most homes have them in their kitchen already! 

• Baking Soda and Salt – Again, equal parts of each ingredient poured down the drain and wait 20 to 30 minutes with hot water.
• Lemon, Salt and Vinegar – In a bowl, mix together equal parts of salt and vinegar then half as much lemon juice. Pour this mixture in the drain and wait 20 to 30 minutes. Follow up with boiling hot water.
• Salt and Hot Water – Pour half cup of salt then follow with boiling hot water in the drain. Wait the standard 20 to 30 minutes and add more boiling hot water.