How to Clear a Tough Drain Clog in Lomita

Tough drain clogs are a big problem. They can be difficult to remove and often result in a more expensive repair than necessary. Fortunately, there are some DIY solutions to tackle tough drain cleaning in Lomita without having to call in a plumber.

Avoiding a Tough Drain Clog

The best way to avoid a tough drain clog is by keeping your plumbing free from build-up and other items that can impede drainage. It’s also a good idea to use a preventative drain cleaner to keep your pipes free of debris and grease.

Cleaning Your Drains Every Month

Regularly removing clogs can help keep your pipes in good shape, which can save you from the expense of drain repairs or replacement. This simple, once-a-month maintenance routine can keep your clogs at bay and your sinks, toilets and showers working smoothly.

Unclogging Your Sink and Garbage Disposal

When you’re done with your kitchen sink or garbage disposal, it’s easy to accidentally dump some food scraps down the drain. But you should always make sure to run a little extra water to push these things down the pipe. This keeps them from clogging your drain and will prevent your disposal from catching on a foreign object.

Depending on your specific plumbing situation, you may want to buy an inexpensive drain snake to clear the clog. These are available at any hardware store and work well on shallow clogs, such as hair or paper towel entanglements.

If you’re trying to clear a deeper clog, though, you might need to consider investing in a drain auger, which is a powered plumbing tool that uses an electrical cable to break up clogs. Most of these tools come with a foot-pedal switch that lets you feed the cable down your drain pipe, then step on the switch to start the motor.

A power auger can break up clogs, especially those involving grease and other oily substances that build up over time. Once you’ve pushed the auger down the drain, reverse the rotation and feed a few feet of the cable back up until it stops spinning.

Another clog-removal tool to try is a wire hanger that’s commonly used to clear a clogged toilet or drain. Using needle-nose pliers, twist the hook end of the hanger into the drain to form a long single wire, making sure to keep the hook intact on one end. Rotate the hanger around as you go down the drain, wriggling the hanger and easing the clog out of the pipe.

Alternatively, you can pour boiling water down your sink or drain and let it sit overnight to loosen the clog. This is a popular choice for those with basic clogs, but it’s not an effective solution for stubborn ones.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Those two common kitchen ingredients can help break up and dissolve the clogs that may be lingering in your pipes. Mixing baking soda and vinegar can create a fizzy solution that can unclog a drain. Just be sure to use a drain cover so the mixture doesn’t leak out onto your counter or floor.

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