Unclogging Drains

Have you ever noticed just how nasty a clogged sink can get? I mean really, clogged sinks are one of the nastiest things that a person may have to face in their lives. That being said, it doesn't need to stay that way. In the past, unclogging a sink would usually require a lot of frustration, and typically a call to an expensive plumber. Now, instead of calling plumber as your first option, you can save it for those truly dire emergencies when nothing else seems to work. Until then, all you need to do is follow these simple guidelines to get your sink unclogged.

• Diagnose the problem. When unclogging drains, before you do anything drastic, you should first try to diagnose the problem. Sometimes what we think of as a clogged drain is actually a sink that is simply slow to drain. Try running hot water (the hotter the better) for a little while. This often will open up the drain again, particularly if the clog is due to grease or a similar substance.
• Use a chemical opener. For those times when hot water will not open a drain, you will want to try a chemical opener. The best kind of chemical openers to use are those that will be both environmentally safe, as well as effective. Such openers typically have caustic soda and bauxite among the main ingredients. Simply follow the directions as listed by the manufacturer for best results.
• Use a plunger. Another option for unclogging drains is to use a plunger. Plungers work well on more than just a toilet drain, and can be extremely effective in removing a clog from other kinds of drains as well. Keep in mind that if you use a plunger in a bathroom sink, that you will need to block the overflow drain. Otherwise, you will severely limit the effectiveness of the plunger.
• Snake your drain. You can also snake your own drain as a method for unclogging. This is the same type of thing that a plumber would do, and is easily done yourself. You can purchase a home snake kit at most grocery stores, as well as at all home improvement stores. Simply follow the directions when you are doing this, and exercise care since if you are not careful and use too much force you can damage the pipes in your home. Since the home snake kits are usually of limited length, if the drain still persists after snaking, you may have no other choice than to call a professional plumber.