by Joe Brooks

Created on: January 10, 2010

A clogged drain can be anything from a minor annoyance to a major disaster. You may be able to fix it yourself. Or the situation may be beyond your control and require professional assistance. Before you get to the point of calling a plumber, let's discuss some preventions and cures that you can take care of yourself.

There are different ways to approach the clogged drain problem, depending on where the clog is and how bad the situation is. For a completely stopped-up drain, you can start with a plunger, then progress to a snake or plumber's auger. If that doesn't work, you may be ready to call the plumber.

In the case of a lavatory or sink drain, you may be able to remove the strainer or other cover and fish out the clog with a wire or even your finger. If it is not that easy, you might take off the p-trap under the sink and clear the clog located there. If the clog is beyond the trap, the auger may come into play.

Bathtub clogs may be more difficult, as there is likely to be less easy access to anything beyond the drain hole. You can try hot water, that can work. You may wish to use a chemical drain cleaner, though those need to be used with caution. A plunger may work here too.

A clogged toilet is a nuisance that is bound to happen from time to time. You can start with the plunger here, then progress to the snake if no relief is found in the plunger. Anything beyond the reach of your plumber's auger is probably best left to a plumber, unless you are a very adept handy-person.

For drains beyond the reach of home tools, it is best to call in a professional home plumbing contractor. They will know what they are doing, and they will have the tools and equipment to do the job right. There are all kinds of sophisticated cameras and such now, to help locate the problem without digging up the landscape.

To prevent the clogged drain problem from ever coming your way, be careful what you put in there. Don't flush things that should be flushed, and don't dump things down the sink that don't belong there. You can clean your drains periodically with home remedies. Baking soda followed up with hot vinegar will do a lot to keep things flowing.

So keep it clean, be careful what you send down the drain, and be prepared with home tools like a plunger and a snake. These measures will take care of many clogs. Because serious clogs can cause serious problems, when things get beyond the home maintenance point, it is best to call in the local plumbing expert. They will have the personnel and the expertise to clear your clog and reduce your emergency to manageable level.

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