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Are you dealing with a clogged drain?  NuvoH2O is here to help. As a water-softening equipment supplier, we understand the importance of having clean, flowing drains. Read on to learn how to clear a stopped drain and what you need to do the job.

What You Need

Here are a few things you will need to unclog a drain:

Boiling water can be an excellent remedy for a clogged drain. The heat can help break up the clog and soften any grease that has built up. It's a simple and effective way to help your pipes flow again. Boiling water is a wonderful solution for a clogged drain, melting grease, and breaking up new clogs.

A plunger is a great tool to have around the house. It can clear clogs in your toilet and kitchen sink, but be sure you're using the right one for each job. Plungers are easy to use and can help take care of minor plumbing issues without the expense of calling a professional drain cleaning service.

If you notice a slow flow in your drains, dish soap may be the solution. Dish soap is excellent for breaking up greasy compounds that tend to clog kitchen sinks, making it easier to clear the blockage. So the next time you're dealing with a clogged drain, try pouring a bit of dish soap down the drain and see if it helps the situation.

Mixing baking soda and vinegar is a great way to help clear out simpler drain blockages. When you combine the two, the fizzing of the rapid creation of carbon dioxide gas can work to break up the clog, making your drains work more effectively.

If you've tried all the DIY methods to unclog your drains without success, it's time to reach for the drain snake or auger. This last-resort tool is long and flexible and winds into the drain to find the clog. Depending on its design, it can either break up the clog so it can flow through your pipe or hook onto the bulk so you can pull it out.

Boil Your Water

Heat a kettle of water to a boil and carefully pour it down the drain. Hot water will melt or break up the obstruction, hopefully unclogging your sink.

Add Cleaner And Plunge

If the boiled water didn’t unclog the sink alone, add some dish soap which breaks down the clog, making it easier to plunge. After adding a few tablespoons of dish soap to your kitchen sink and letting it sit for a few minutes, flush it out with boiling water. Bathroom sink clogs are more likely to be caused by hair or fibrous material. In this case, use baking soda and vinegar in the same process as kitchen sinks. If the clog is still present, it’s time to use a sink plunger.

Snake The Drain

If the earlier methods of clearing a clogged drain aren't successful, it might be time to fish for the clog directly. To do this, you can use a drain snake. These flexible, narrow devices are designed to fit down the pipe and manually break up or fish out the clog. Drain snakes are usually made of thin, flat plastic and have small spines on their surface, making it easier to slide past the obstruction and hook it. This is particularly useful when the blockage is made up of something clumpy and fibrous like hair stuck high up in the pipe.

Clearing a stopped drain can be daunting, but with a few simple steps, it can be done quickly and easily. Boil your water, add cleaner, plunge, and snake the drain. If the blockage is too difficult to clear, you may need to call a professional plumbing service for assistance. NuvoH2O is here to help with all your water-softening needs!  Contact us today!

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