Do-It Yourself Plumbing Tips

Hey now, let's be honest: plumbers are not cheap. While there are definitely times when nothing short of a professional will do, there really are a lot of simple plumbing jobs that you can do without dishing out the serious money for a real plumber. So, if you find yourself staring back at a drain that simply will not drain, here are few simple ideas to keep in mind to help you get it flowing again.

Before starting any plumbing project, it is a good idea to first know where the main shut off valve is just in case things take a turn for the worse. Plus, know where the shut off valve is on whatever it is you are working on too.

For a stopped up kitchen drain, it is always possible that a grease build up is the cause of the problem. A simple way to fix this clog is to pour scalding hot grease down the drain. This will help dissolve the grease and flush the grease down. If this does not work, you are most likely dealing with a blockage of some kind.

Begin with the basics by examining the drain for minor blockages like food. Remove the sink stopper and strainer to give them a thorough cleaning. Check to see if quickly cleaning these materials fixes the problem. If not, you will need to work with stronger plumbing tools like snakes and plungers.

First try using a snake tool. It works quite well when trying to unblock a drain. A snake is made up of a long thin piece of corrugate pipe. It is inside of a device that fits in your hands. The snake extends and retracts the pipe so you remove just about anything blocking your drain.

Using the snake is as easy as sticking the end into the drain a couple inches. Turn the handle to change the direction of the snake head. This will allow you to catch whatever is blocking the drain. Keep proceeding down the drain until you find a blockage. Repeat this process by turning the handle until you find the culprit.

Sometimes a snake will fail to unclog your drain. When this happens you need to try a chemical drain cleaner. Make sure to first try a plunger before you use any chemical drain cleaner. You don't want to use a plunger after using chemical drain cleaner because the chemical drain cleaner might splash onto your face and eyes causing injury.

When plunging the drain it is crucial that water covers the drain. This will help you to have a good seal to aid with the plunging action. Make sure to place a cover or seal over any drain vents or other sink drains. Plung 15-20 times in a row before stopping and removing the plunger. If the sink still will not drain then repeat this process another 2-3 imes. Use the chemical drain cleaner next. If all of this doesn't work then you will have to get out your phone book and call a professional plumber.