Blocked Drain Advice
When a big pool of water collects around the sink, its normal to begin to feel annoyed and concerned and you might need some blocked drain advice. Typically, it can cost you some money to call out a plumber but the easy on the ears news is blocked drain are easy enough to unblock on your own. A normal home occupier can usually unblock a drain in about a couple of hours. This obviously depends on how much the sink is blocked. The article below will give you a couple free advice points to unblock it without calling a professional plumber.
Clear the Strainer or Stopper
Most blockages happen around the strainer or stopper in the sink, shower or bath. To get the drain hole unblocked, all you may need to do is remove the strainer to clean out the blockage.
- When a strainer has been placed over the blocked drain, you need to remove the screws holding the strainer in the sink and then lift the strainer up with the tip of a standard screwdriver. If the strainer has been loosened somewhat, remove it and wash away anything that has collected around the strainer. Be sure to also clean around the top of the drain.
- It is recommended that stoppers should be cleaned on a frequent and timetable basis because hair tends to twist around their base. Commence or start the cleaning process by removing the sink stopper. A lot of stoppers can be removed by being turned using your fingers. Some other stoppers require you to use a screw driver to help you unscrew a pivot rod that is connected to the sink opener. The rod is is most commonly located under the base of the sink or basin. If you are going to use a handy tool such as a pliers to remove the stopper, make sure to put padding on them so you don’t chip the chrome finish. Furthermore, be sure to clean and wipe out the base of the drain at completion.
Using a Normal Household Plunger
One of the most trusted and common tools around for unblocking drains is definitely the plunger. It can usually clear the blockage if it is not too far down into the main drain. Follow these easy plunging tips:
- Make certain you block off the overflow holes, other drains in close by sinks, or any other openings by stuffing wet towels into the holes.
- If water is not present in the sink, place three to four inches of water over the drain hole. The water will help to force the blockage out of the way and lets you know when you are successful in clearing the blockage out.
- More over, place a thick layer of petroleum jelly on the rim of the plunger. The petroleum jelly helps to create a secure seal, thereby producing better suction when you are using the plunger.
- Force the plunger handle downwards with significant force a few times. After plunging for a short while (a couple of minutes), stop to test whether water will drain from your sink. Be sure to plunge a few times if the drain is slow.
For more information, look at our blocked drain page.
