How To Clear a Clogged Drain in Acworth, GA

Absolute Solutions for Your Home

Property owners can handle some minor drain clogs; however, it’s key to use safe materials and methods to make sure you don’t do more harm than good. 

Acworth’s drain line cleaning company, Absolute Plumbing Services, trusted by locals for many years, delivers this post to share some basic tips on how to clear a clogged drain. In the event these steps don’t handle the problem, we’re ready to help at any time.

Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners

There’s a whole bundle of commercial drain cleaning products available at your hardware or grocery store. While these can look like an easy solution, they are not always effective and can do more harm than good.

Many of these products contain corrosive materials, and they can react with each other or other normal household chemicals. In addition to causing potential plumbing damage, they can produce harmful fumes. They leave a residue that can make working on your pipes later hazardous. 

Safe Drain Cleaning Methods

These are the things you can safely attempt that don’t require disassembly with a pipe wrench or potentially harmful materials.

Start With Boiling Water

An often effective method uses boiling water, which sometimes works on clogs caused by smaller amounts of soap scum or grease

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Boil a pot of water.
  2. Carefully pour the hot water into the clogged drain in two or three stages. Give the water time between pours to work through the clog. 
  3. After a few minutes, run some moderately hot water from the tap to see if it drains.

Use a Plunger

Plungers are the classic plumber’s tool, and they use the power of vacuum suction to break up and dislodge smaller clogs in sinks and tubs. 

Use your plunger this way:

  1. Make sure the basin has enough water to cover the plunger cup.
  2. Center the plunger over the drain and press it down to create a seal.
  3. Pump the plunger up and down rapidly for a few seconds
  4. Take the plunger away and see if the water drains properly.  

Try Baking Soda With Vinegar

A combination of baking soda and vinegar is a natural alternative to those harsh chemicals we warned you about.  Here’s what to do:

  1. Pour a half-cup of baking soda into the drain.
  2. Follow it with a half-cup of vinegar.
  3. Let the solution sit and work for about 20 minutes. The fizzing reaction can break up many types of simple clogs naturally.
  4. Flush the drain with the hottest water your tap produces to clear debris and see if it drains.

Use a Drain Snake

Bathroom drains are where hair clogs occur most often. Drain snakes are simple tools to consider when thinking of how to clear a clogged drain, especially in showers and tubs.

Use the drain snake like this: 

  1. As you Insert the tool into the drain, twist the handle as you push it down.
  2. When you feel a blockage, continue turning the tool to break up the clogging material.
  3. Pull the drain snake back out and run some water to see if the drain is clear. 

When To Call a Professional in Acworth, GA

While some of these basic steps work on minor clogs, there are times when calling a professional plumber is the best option. 

Call for professional plumbing assistance if you are dealing with:

  • Repeated or severe clogs: If the same drain repeatedly clogs back up, continues to drain slowly, or will not clear at all, there could be a more significant blockage that could be deeper in your pipes.
  • Multiple drains clogged: If more than one drain clogs or drains slowly at the same time, there may be a deeper blockage affecting your entire plumbing system.
  • Foul odors: Any rotten egg odors are major red flags. Waste material or decomposing food can produce hazardous hydrogen sulfide, so call for professional help as soon as possible. 

Absolute Plumbing Services Is Your Best Option in Acworth, GA

Absolute Plumbing Services is the professional option that Acworth property owners trust. Our family-owned and -operated company has deep community roots and provides reliable, high-quality service with your complete satisfaction as our goal. 

We enjoy sharing useful information, like how to clear a clogged drain. Take a look around our other blog posts for discussions of plumbing topics like the hydro jetting vs. snaking debate for handling severe clogs.

Contact us today to schedule service and experience the Absolute Plumbing Services difference — we will be there when you need us!

Call (678) 499-2124