A clogged drain can be one of the most inconvenient household problems. Luckily, plumbers have several ways to clear blocked or clogged drain.
Before you hire a plumber to fix your clogged drain, it's helpful to understand what tools they use for this task. They may break up or dislodge the blockage in clogged pipes with small hand-held devices that insert into the pipes inside your home called a plumber's snake. This is ideal for cleaning drains. If these methods don't work, they bring in larger machines called hydro jets or harsh chemicals which are capable of cutting through almost any material and address even severe sewage backflow problems even in smaller drains. Finally, if these methods still fail, some plumbers will cut out sections of blocked piping before reassembling them to fix drain clogs or slow drains.
The hand auger is more effective at removing root mass than pipe plungers are. These devices de-pressurise the pipe with compressed air to dislodge gunk that has accumulated inside, then vacuum it all up with a hose attached to its end and send the trash to the garbage disposal.
A cable auger or plumber's manual drain snake works much like a traditional auger, except that it uses coiled cables instead of rigid metal teeth on the end of its shaft and sends the entire cable down the p trap to the clog. The tubing that connects the manual drain snake head to the machine outside your home is flexible, so you can snake it through tight spaces. Now there are motorised drain snake available too.
Instead of trying to clear drain clogs with these devices in drain pipes, a licensed plumber instead opts for hydro jetting in floor drain especially for the kitchen drain to prevent future clogs. The hydro jetting machine shoots pressurized water through a hose at very high speed. Hydro jets are capable of cutting through tough clogs far better than traditional hand augers because they not only break up debris but also force them into the main sewer line. Some machines have one or more jets that shoot water out in different directions, widening their effective cleaning range.
Sometimes one cup of vinegar in hot water can also work if you are trying to do it on your own and if the build-up is not too much. It can flush the clog without even using the right tools. Most plumbers also use this process to unclog the place without using the small auger in clogged drains
Since standing water doesn't affect hydro jetting machines, they can start working immediately upon arrival. All of these methods allow plumbers to provide you with a price for your job even before they begin work, so you know how much you'll have to pay upfront. They are also capable of repairing damaged drain lines if necessary of the pipe walls.
The cost of draining and removing the clog from drain areas ranges from about $90 to $300, depending on the specific work that needs to be done. The average price for drain cleaning is around $185. Using more sophisticated equipment and spending more time on the job increases plumbers' charges.
Pipe plunges are only effective at dislodging light clogs, such as hair, toilet paper or soap scum in the sink or toilet drain from the drain pipe. They can also be used to apply a sealant to clear up slow-running drains that drain very slowly because they have a small amount of material further down the drainpipe.
Some plumbers charge a flat fee instead of an hourly rate for plumbing services, which can bring down your bill if they're able to implement a fix that requires less time than anticipated.
Plunging a drain is a relatively simple process even with drain snake-like motorised drain snakes. You'll need to prepare a solution of dish soap and water, which reduces the surface tension of the standing water so it moves more freely past its clog. Then, you'll have to insert the pipe plunge into your pipe, cover its overflow holes with your hand, and pump it up and down vigorously to create suction that dislodges whatever has gathered inside your pipe. Continue plunging until no more material comes out from the drainage openings. If you are stuck, contact one of the many plumbers around Australia.Unblocking a kitchen sink drain can be trickier than unblocking other types of drains because the trap and P-shaped curve underneath which makes it difficult for the plunge pipe to fully seal off. A drain auger is good for these types of clogs. With these drain augers, the plumber can fix the problem quickly. Many people use baking soda and vinegar instead of chemicals in their pipes so they won't have to worry about toxic gases being released when waste water is broken down by these substances. The ionic components present in vinegar substantially reduce surface tension in standing water, reducing its resistance to moving through the pipe. Using baking soda and vinegar can be safer than using hot water or chemical drain cleaners, but it takes a little more time to clear out stubborn clogs with this method. Although most sinks have two holes on either side of their P-shaped curve, some only have one sink hole on the opposite side of the overflow opening. The process for unblocking these types of drains is almost exactly the same as unblocking other double sink drains except you'll need to insert your plunger or drain auger into the empty opening instead in the blocked drains. If there's no secondary drainage hole, you'll want to check your trap for any openings where wastewater might escape with drain snakes. If you find such an opening, which will likely be partially hidden by gunk, cover it with your hand to prevent the waste water inside from draining.
If you want to avoid accidentally clogging up your pipes, it's important that you don't dump fat or grease into your kitchen sink or drain system. If there is a layer of grease on top of standing water in your sink, pour some soda and vinegar down it before using a plunge pipe. Once the drain is unclogged, treat it with an enzyme-based cleaner so its pores remain open and free of hair and other debris.