What is in My Drain? How do I Get it Out?

By Maid Brigade of Northern CT

All of a sudden, your sink is clogged and won’t drain. 

Did little Johnny drop something down it? Is it just from normal buildup?

I’m sure you’ve asked these questions before. Clogs happen when hair, grease, or random objects go down the sink and obstruct the flow of water. 

The first thing you’ll need to get the clog out is a plunger. It’s your first line of attack against nasty clogs, and is not meant to shove the clog further down the drain. It’s meant to pull it out, or at the very least, dislodge it so that it can go down the drain the right way.

A plumbers’ snake or cable auger is a flexible steel cable that you can use to dislodge clogs that are down lower in the drain.

For tougher clogs, or toilet clogs, a closet auger is what you’ll need. It’s specially designed to get around the bend in the bottom of your toilet bowl. 

The idea behind using an auger is to “hook” the clog and pull it out.

If this sounds like too much for you, a little maintenance each week will save you all the hassle of having to unclog your drains. As you use your sink and tub and washer and toilet, debris and soap scum and other things cling to the sides of the pipes and form a buildup.

The buildup narrows your drains, making them drain more slowly, and making it more likely that clogs will happen. 

To prevent clogs, use a screen or guard over your drains to prevent things from dropping into them.

You will also want to use a drain cleaner on a regular basis. Whether you buy a drain cleaning product or make your own drain cleaner recipe, you should use it at least once a month to keep the sludge from building up around the inside of your pipes and blocking the drains.

Need help around the house? Give us a call at 860-645-6243 and we’ll do it for you.