Err, it happened again, you are taking a shower or doing the dishes and the water just will not go down!  This can be very frustrating and annoying and can make you want to pull your hair out. What do you do?

Here are some steps that you can take to help rid whatever is clogging your drains!

1. First, remove everything that is located from under your sink.  This will help you gain better access to the pipes and keeps things a little less frustrating!  This also helps to protect the items in case of a leak.

2. Make sure you cut off the water!  This is very important to remember.  Located the water shut off, usually at the back of the wall.  It will be a silver knob and you need to turn it clockwise to close off the supply.  If there is standing water in the sink you should remember to plug it before you remove the pipes.

3. You can place a towel or a small pan under the sink to catch any leaking water and then remove the pipes.

4. Newer homes that use PVC pipes will not require any tools to remove them but older homes may need a large pipe wrench.  Remove the pipe at the elbow and try to find the clog.

5. Once the clog is found you can now place the pipes back on.  Be sure to tighten them gently but firmly to assure there are no leaks.  You may want to test the water slowly with a bucket underneath to make sure that the pipes are screwed on properly. 

It can be very annoying when your sink is clogged and it can seem like a difficult thing to fix.  However, it is fairly simple and does not usually require the help of a plumber.  Doing it yourself could save you time and money!

There are some steps that you can take to help remove the odor from your drains without much effort! 

1. If you have a garbage disposal, start by running water along with it to try and rid some of the smell debris or water buildup left inside your disposal.  Things like milk can cause a bad odor after some time. Make sure you always run the water for a few moments after you have turned off your garbage disposal. For more maintenance tips on your garbage disposal check out our “Quick fixes for Your Garbage Disposal”

2. If you have a lemon, squeeze half of one down the drain and cut up the remainder into smaller pieces and place inside the disposal.

3. Now, turn on the disposal again and let the grinder do its magic.

4. If you do not own a disposal let the lemon juice sit in the sink overnight without running the water.  Do not put the rind down the sink unless you own a disposal as this will cause a clog.

5. You can also try ½ cup of vinegar and let it sit for a couple of minutes.  After, run very hot water down the drain for about two minutes.  After that, add some baking soda and leave it sit for at least an hour or more.

6. Run hot water.

This is usually all it takes to get the smells out of your drains.  If you are still struggling, perhaps purchase a commercial drain cleaner.  Bleach is another alterative to the vinegar but it is much stronger and should be used in a well ventilated area.  This is sure to do the trick!  Your kitchen will be smelling great again in no time.

•  When winterizing your pipes you will need to turn off the main shut off valve or have the water company turn off water service to the home.  From the top floor and working down, open all of your faucets inside and outside of the home.

•  Once all the water has dripped for the taps, open the plug from the main water shut off and let it drain. Turn off the power/gas to the water heater and open the water heater drain valve.

•  To freeze proof the water system of your home, make sure to empty toilet bowls and tanks, remove the cleanout plugs on all the sink traps or remove the traps completely.

•  Once emptied, fill with low temperature windshield fluid. Repeat the same step with the basement floor drain and main house trap.

•  For tub and shower traps, add at least a quart of RV antifreeze or windshield fluid.

*Never place antifreeze or windshield fluid in a dishwasher or clothes washer.

Preventive maintenance around your home is to keep your home in good  repair.  Such routine home maintenance will avoid major repairs in the future. Below is a list of the most common year round home maintenance work you should do around your home. The chart is simply a guide. If you notice a problem developing take action immediately.

CAUTION: Before inspecting or working on any electrical system or on any device connected to it, shut off the power and check to make sure the circuit is dead with a circuit tester. Unplug any device you plan to work on. For maintenance or repairs to plumbing fixtures or water using appliances you should shut off the water before making any repairs. Follow safety tips when on the roof.

Hot Water Heating System

Forced Warm-Air Heating System

Evaporative Air Conditioner

Heat Pump

Refrigerated Air Conditioner Make sure extinguisher is fully charged and recharge if necessary.Test batteries with a lit cigarette or incense. Replace  batteries if necessary.Clean out debris, such as hair, from the sink and tub stoppers.Flush with hot water and baking soda to clear out the garbage disposal.Check safety valve and steam pressure gauge. Check water level gauge and add water if water level is to low. Drain water until water runs clear of deposits.

Test relief valve and replace if needed. Check pressure gauge and drain expansion tank if necessary.

Clean or replace air filter.

Check or replace blankets; check air flow; clean unit if necessary.

Clean or replace air filter. Clean condenser, evaporator coils and condensate drain. Remove any snow or debris form the unit.

Clean filter, condenser and evaporator coils and condensate drain or replace if necessary. Every 2 Months Oil BurnerWall FurnaceDishwasher Inspect and clean oil burner.Clean Grills from wall furnace.Clean grease filter in dishwasher. Every 3 Months FaucetTub Drain AssemblyFloor Drain StrainerDishwasher Clean aerator portion of the faucet.Clean out debris and see if rubber seal need to be replaced.Clean out debris and scrub strainer clean.Clean strainer, spray arm, and air gap within the dishwasher. Every 6 Months Basement and FoundationToiletInterior CaulkingWater HeaterGarbage Disposer

Clothes Washer

Clothes Dryer

Refrigerator

Wiring

Exhaust Fan

Range Hood Fan Check for cracks and moisture and repair if cracks or moisture is found.Check for leaks.Inspect caulking around tubs, showers, and sinks to see if any  are deteriorating.Drain and flush hot water heater tank until is clear of sediment. Inspect flue assembly.Tighten drain connections and fasteners from sink to disposer.

Clean water inlet filters and check hoses for leaking.

Vacuum lint from ducts and surrounding areas.

Clan drain hole and pan. Wash door gasket and vacuum off condenser coils.

Check for frayed cords and wires. Repair any damages at once.

Clean grill and fan blades from dust and debris.

Wash fan blades and housing off.

Preventive maintenance around your home is to keep your home in good  repair.  Such routine home maintenance will avoid major repairs in the future. Below is a list of the most common year round home maintenance work you should do around your home. The chart is simply a guide. If you notice a problem developing take action immediately.

CAUTION: Before inspecting or working on any electrical system or on any device connected to it, shut off the power to your home and check to make sure the circuit is dead with a circuit tester. Unplug any device you plan to work on. For maintenance or repairs to plumbing fixtures or water using appliances you should shut off the water before making any repairs.

Plumbing Repair Tools

Tools you’ll need for plumbing repairs include some that are part of your homeowner toolbox collection and some you may want to add to it. Among the basic tools that you should have on hand are Standard/Phillips screwdrivers for faucet screws, adjustable and open-end wrenches for nuts and bolts, and rib-joint pliers to remove some fixtures. You may also need a set of Allen wrenches for setscrews and a hacksaw blade to cut off any rusted on bolts.

 Additional plumbing tools fall into three categories: Drain-clearing tools, Wrenches and Job-specific tools.

Drain-Clearing Tools: These three tolls are used to clear plumbing clogs, like hair clogs, in fixtures and drains:

1. Plunger: A plunger uses exchangeable pressure and suction to unclog drains and plumbing fixtures. The funnel cup types are intended for toilets, but it can fold flat for drains as well.
2. Snake: A snake, drain and trap auger, comes available in lengths from 10-75 feet. The snake stretches into a drain and clears deep clogs within pipes. By locking the snake’s thumbscrew and tuning the handle will drive the corkscrew-like tip into the clog and releasing the blockage.
3. Closet Auger: A closet auger is designed especially for toilets; it’s bent into the toilet’s trap.

Wrenches: You may need some addition wrenches then what you have that are specialized for plumbing:

1. Spud Wrenches: With its wide, smooth jaws, this wrench is useful for unfastening extra large nuts and fixtures on sinks and toilets.
2. Pipe Wrenches: With serrated jaws for gripping fittings and galvanized or cat-iron pipe. Use them in pairs on pipes. One wrench holds one section of pipe as the other turns the pipe or fitting.
3. Basin Wrenches: With its long handle you can reach out-of-the-way couplings and nuts. Its jaws allow you to tighten or lessen nuts as well.

Job-Specific Tools: Certain jobs call for very specialized tools:

1. Valve-Seat Wrenches: And valve-seat dresser is tools you will need for compression faucets. A valve-seat has both a hexagonal and a square end to remove valve seats. A valve-seat dresser cleans corroded seats and smoothes pitted non-removable seats.
2. Deep-Socket Wrenches: This wrench will remove the hard-to-reach packing nut on a tub or faucet.

Clean floor drain strainers. Some tubs and showers have strainers that are screwed into the drain opening of the tub. Remove the strainers with a screwdriver and reach down into the drain with a vent wire to clear out accumulated hair. Make sure to scrub the strainer clean before putting it back in place.

Clean pop-up stoppers. Clean pop-up stoppers in the bathroom sink and tub frequently. Lift out and rinse the sink pop-ups at least once a week. This will also remove hair that is attached to the pop-up and will stop the hair from accumulating down within the pipe.

Clean out spring or rocker arm. Every few months remove the pop-up assembly to reach the spring or rocker arm. Remove the buildup of hair and rinse well with warm water to flush away any soap buildup.

If you find you have a hair clog within your drain you can use a plumbers snake or chemical drain cleaners to clear out the hair clogged drain.

To unclog the toilet, first dump out or add water so that the bowl is half full. Then use a funnel-cup plunger, this is specifically designed to fit the bowl’s trap. If the plunger does not clear the clog, use a closet auger. The closet augers curved tip reaches more deep-set clogs and its protective cover won’t scratch the bowl.

Funnel-Cup: Use a funnel-cup plunger to free a clog in the toilet trap. Swiftly pump the plunger a dozen times or more to push the clogged obstruction through the toilet trap.

Closet Auger: Use a closet auger to break up a deep-set clog in the toilet trap. Maneuver the auger while simultaneously pushing it and turning the handle to push out the clogged trap.

Quick Fix-Up:

Preventing an Overflow: If a toilet is about to overflow, swiftly reach into the tank; push the tank stopper down into the valve seat and hold it as you turn off the water valve.

If plunging the drain is unsuccessful, and the water is draining slowly, using a chemical cleaner is a logical next step if you think the drain may be clogged by food, hair, or toilet paper.  Drain cleaner will not unclog solid objects like toys.

Do’s Of Using Chemical Drain Cleaners

1. When using chemicals, do so only in a well ventilated area.  Chemicals produce dangerous odors.
2. Wear rubber gloves to prevent the chemicals from burning your skin.
3. Read and follow the instructions found on the product labels.
4. Match cleaners with clogs.  Not all cleaners are made for all types of clogs.  Alkalis cut grease and acids dissolve hair and soap.

Don’ts Of Using Chemical Drain Cleaners

1. Don’t splash or breath in the fumes.
2. Don’t use a chemical cleaner if the drain is completely blocked.  You run the risk of an even greater problem of the blockage cannot be removed – how to remove the caustic chemicals from the sink, tub, or shower.
3. Don’t use a plunger if chemicals exist in the drain.  You risk splashing chemical water on yourself, the walls, or the carpet.
4. Don’t mix chemical cleaners together.  Mixing an acid with an alkali may cause an explosion.
5. Don’t look down the drain after pouring in the chemicals.  The toxic solution gives off noxious fumes and may boil up.
6. Don’t ever use a chemical cleaner in a garbage disposal.

The most practical way to snake out a clog is to disassemble the trap and snake directly through the drainpipe.  If you would rather not remove the trap, you can attempt to snake through the sink drain.  CAUTION: If a metal trap is thin or overly corroded, you might puncture the pipe.

Plumbers snake without a handle

Plumbers snake with a handle.

To use the plumber’s snake, feed it down the drain, trap, or pipe until it stops.  If the snake has a turn handle, position it about six inches above the opening and tighten the screw.  Then rotate the handle to break up the clog.  If there is no handle, move the cable by pushing and twisting at the same time, until it contacts the clog.

The first time the snake stops, it has most likely hit a turn in the pipes and not the clog.  Maneuvering the snake past sharp turns takes patience and continued attempts.  Continue pushing the snake forward and backward, while turning it.  When the tip of the snake hooks the blockage, pull the snake back a short distance to free up some of the clog; then push the remainder on through.

If using the snake isn’t successful, the clog is most likely too deep in the pipes to reach it from the sink area, in which case you’re probably dealing with a main-drain clog.  A main-drain clog will need to be addressed through the soil stack, the main cleanout, or the house trap.