Does My Drain Clog Require a Plumber?

Unfortunately, clogged drains are inevitable. As a homeowner, you can contact a professional for help or try to fix the issue independently. Sometimes, all it takes is a little elbow grease and determination to handle the problem quickly. However, if you have a bigger mess on your hands, a pro will gladly do the dirty work so that you don’t have to!

At Earl’s Plumbing, our team comes equipped with the skills and tools necessary to give your drains a thorough cleaning and clearing. Our certified professionals will also inspect your drains to locate any serious issues that may cause frequent clogs. By addressing the areas of needed repair, we can help prevent such hassles down the road.

When in doubt, getting an expert opinion is always a good measure. However, you can also try resolving the problem on your own first with the help of a few guidelines listed below:

DIY Fixes For Minor Drain Clogs

Before contacting a plumber, there are a few do-it-yourself tricks that can help clear your drains. It can be hard to decipher the severity of your drain clog, so employing these quick and easy techniques helps determine if professional help is needed. If it’s a surface-level issue, one of these tactics is sure to clear your drain right away — and if it doesn’t, it’s time to call in the big guns!

Manually Remove Clog

As a first approach, you can try pulling out the blockage by hand. Roll up your sleeves and grab your gloves because this is definitely messy business, but certainly worth a shot.

Remove the drain cover and reach in to locate any masses of hair, food and other matter. Pull out whatever you can reach and see if that does the trick.

If you’re trying to unclog a sink drain, you can manually remove the U-shaped pipe in the cabinet beneath to clean it out. Make sure to place a bucket or bowl underneath to catch any liquids and materials that may leak out. With gloved hands, push out any debris and secure the pipe back in place.

Use Bio-Clean Or Boiling Water

As tempting as it is to reach for the drain cleaner, chemical solutions may actually cause more damage to your pipes down the line — no pun intended. The chemicals in drain-clearing liquids can cause severe damage to pipelines, which can lead to costly repairs later on.

These solutions only shrink blockages at best, providing a quick, short-term fix. However, the goal is to free your drain of any clogs completely. Instead of Drano and other popular cleaners, opt for enzyme and bacteria-based Bio-Clean for PVC pipes.

For those with metal pipes, try slowly pouring boiling hot water down the drain to loosen whatever matter is caught inside.

Use A Plunger Or Auger

Every home should be equipped with a plunger as they are a handy plumbing tool. They effectively remove blockages, specifically clogged toilets.

Place the cup of the plunger directly over the clogged drain and begin pushing down, applying a rapid thrusting motion for about 20 seconds. Be careful not to accidentally lift the plunger while doing so as this will break the seal. When performed correctly, this technique should clear a clog — if unsuccessful, the next option is a drain auger.

An auger is a more advanced form of a drain snake. It operates by manually cranking the coil down the drain until it reaches the blockage. A piercer at the end drills through the material creating the clog, breaking it up and driving it through the sewage system.

When Clogged Drains Require A Professional

If DIY troubleshooting fails, you may have a more severe problem that will require a plumber’s help. A professional has access to more advanced tools, such as a hydro jet and electric auger, which are strong enough to tackle more stubborn clogs.

They can also determine whether your clogged drain results from a more serious issue, like a main line sewer stoppage or compromised pipes. In such cases, a trained plumber will be able to perform the repair.

It’s never a bad idea to schedule an inspection, even if the clog is seemingly minor. However, a few instances indicate a professional examination and cleaning are needed. Call a plumber immediately if you experience any of the following:

• Multiple drains in your home are clogged or constantly clog after treatment.
• Nasty sewage smell is coming from clogged drains.
• Your home plunger and auger prove unsuccessful.

Contact Us For Frisco Drain Cleaning Services

Earl’s plumbing takes pride in serving the Frisco, McKinney and Allen areas with expert plumbing services. We’re here to handle all your drain cleaning and repair needs, so if you find yourself in a stinky situation, call us!