Drain Cleaning Service

 

If your tub or sink is draining slower than usual, or won’t drain at all, your drain is either clogged or damaged. iSky plumbers are happy to unclog a drain, and are available for kitchen drain cleaning, bathroom drain cleaning, and basement drain cleaning. Or if your basement has flooded, iSky's water damage restoration services can help.

However, sometimes there are simple steps you can take yourself to clear a clogged drain. Read on to learn more.

​

How to Clear a Clogged Drain Yourself

If you have standing water in the sink, attack the clog with a sink plunger. Fit the plunger cup over the drain and plug the overflow hole with a finger. Plunge the drain using four or five rapid thrusts at a time. Repeat the process several times. If the clog clears, you’ll notice the sink draining very quickly.

Next, see what cleaning solutions you have around your house. Vinegar works well for clearing clogged drains, as does lemon juice. Baking soda, Borax and even salt can be mixed in for extra potency with one of the liquid ingredients. Once you’ve decided on a cleaning solution (of vinegar or lemon juice and one of the other dry powder ingredients), put on some eye protection and begin pouring the baking soda, Borax or salt down the drain. About a half cup should do. There’s no need to mix it with the vinegar or lemon juice beforehand, as the two ingredients will react with a foaming action as they come in contact with one another. This chemical action will help dissolve many normal drain clogs. Cover the drain with a cloth for 15-30 minutes, during which time the solution should begin to dissolve or loosen the clog. Repeat the process at least one more time. Sometimes this is all that is necessary to clear a simple clog.

​

How to Remove a Clog from a Drain Yourself

If the above remedy fails to work, get your sink plunger out again and form a tight seal around the drain opening. Again, use a finger to cover the overflow hole, and begin plunging to dislocate the weakened clog. For more effective plunging, fill the tub or sink with hot water to increase the pressure on the clog. If you believe the clog to be in the sink’s P-trap, put a bucket beneath the trap assembly to catch water and remove the trap. You can then clean the trap manually over a garbage can using a piece of stiff wire or a coat hanger.

If you don’t want to remove the P-trap, take a metal hanger and stretch it out with one end curved like a small hook. Begin to feed the hanger into the drain until you come in contact with the clog. Try to position the hanger so that it can penetrate the clog and twist repeatedly. Once you’ve snagged the clog, begin pulling it back up the drain. Have paper towels and cleaner nearby, so the dripping clog doesn’t stain your floor, tub or sink.

If a hanger doesn’t work, or you don’t have one available, you can purchase or rent a plumber’s snake, otherwise known as a cable auger. This is a long coil of steel wire designed to reach deep into a drain to remove clogs and obstructions. The hand crank models are safe for novices to try but the electrically powered mechanical snakes can be very dangerous for the inexperienced. Once you have the hand crank auger, feed it into the drain until you feel it stop at the clog. Try to feed more cable in so that it pierces the clog. Then begin turning the crank handle on the auger and attempt to chew through the clog. You can reel the snake back up and dispose of the obstruction connected to the end.

Once the clog is removed from your drain.  flush very hot water down the drain until the water is draining normally. If none of these remedies works for you, keep in mind that nothing is more thorough that a professional drain cleaning, so for the most serious clogs, call your local iSky professional at 416 528 7645.