A Look At Different Kinds Of Clogged Drains And How They Can Be Cleared
If you keep having a problem with clogged drains, and you've started being careful about what goes down your kitchen drain and toilet but clogs still happen, the problem might be buildup on the sides of the drainpipe.
Using a plunger might just push through loose debris, but stuff stuck on the sides remains to build another clog fast. When this happens, your plumber might need to clean the drain with a hydro jet. Here's a look at different types of clogged drains and methods for clearing them.
Toilet Clogs
Toilets can get clogged easily due to wads of paper that you flush. If things get jammed up, you may need to use a plunger to push the clog through. A plunger often works well on toilet clogs, but if the problem is with buildup in a sewer drain, the plumber might need to use a drain auger or hydro jet to clear the clog.
An auger and a water jet are both effective at busting through clogs, but a hydro jet has an advantage. It also washes the sides of the drain clean so another clog doesn't build up so fast.
Bathroom Sink Clogs
Bathroom sinks can be challenging to unclog. The way the faucet is positioned in the sink may keep you from using a plunger. If you have a pedestal sink, you might have difficulty reaching the P-trap to unscrew it and then put it back on. One thing you might try with a clogged bathroom sink, since the clog is likely to be near the top when the sink clogs off suddenly, is to use a wet vac.
Put the hose over the drain hole, close off the overflow hole above it, and then turn on the wet vac power. The suction might dislodge the clog so you can pull the item or hairball out the top of the drain. If that doesn't work, you'll probably need to call a plumber to fix your clogged drain.
Bathtub Clogs
Bathtub clogs are also challenging for the same reason bathroom sinks can be difficult to unclog. You can try fishing a hairball out of the top of the drain, or you might try plunging if a plunger can get good suction. However, if a bathtub is clogged because of the sewer drain, you'll need to call a plumber to clean the drain to get the bathtub flowing again.
Kitchen Sink Clogs
Kitchen sink clogs are common and frustrating. Fortunately, they can often be cleared with a plunger, and getting a good seal with a kitchen sink plunger is usually easy to do. If you can't get the clog moving along with hot water and plunging, then call a plumber before thinking about using chemical drain openers, which might harm you or your drain.
The plumber can clear the kitchen sink drain or the main sewer line to open up the clog, wash out the drain, and put an end to your frustration. You can reduce the risk of clogged drains by keeping grease and food out of the drain, but clogs can still happen.
No matter what causes the clog or what drain it's in, a plumber can fix the problem even if all they have to do is use a plunger with a lot of vigor. However, once a clog forms, hydro jetting or using an auger could be necessary.