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Poll: What’s the Best DIY Way to Unclog a Drain?

There are a number of do-it-yourself ways to unclog a drain, ranging from manual solutions (such as using a coat hanger or plunger to remove the clog) to household or store-bought chemical methods (e.g., pouring Coca Cola or Drain-O down the drain).

While a snake is probably the most effective method to remove a tough clog, most people don’t have one of their own.

We’re curious – which of these methods have you found most effective for treating stubborn drain clogs (without having to call a plumber)?

• Store-bought chemicals
• Boiling Water
• Snake
• Cola
• Vinegar
• Plunger
• Other

 

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The Unclog Blog is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

 

Avoid Putting Chemicals Down the Drain

When a drain in your home gets clogged, it’s easy to resort to chemicals that promise to clear it. However, these chemicals are toxic and wind up mixing with our water supply, and then be sorted, processed, and eliminated.

There are several other natural options you can try.

A plunger. You can purchase and small, drain sized plunger (known as a sink plunger) and use this to rid a drain of a clog. If this method works, you’ll have avoided using chemicals altogether.

Boiling water. This is as natural as gets. Pouring a kettle full of boiling water down the clogged drain can loosen debris and hair that might be causing the clog.

Denture tables and vinegar. Sounds like an interesting combination, but when you put these together, they work great for eliminating clogs. Drop three or four tablets down the drain and immediately follow it up with one cup of vinegar. The bubbling action will work its magic to get rid of the clog.

Cola. As you may know, Cola has a high acidity content and lots of fizz. This is what helps break down tough clogs. Pour it down the drain, let it sit overnight, and rinse with hot water.

Using these healthier options will still rid your drain of the pesky clog, and leave our water cleaner in the end.

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The Unclog Blog is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Signs of a Clogged Septic Tank

A clogged septic tank is never good, and it’s not something you can wait to address. If you catch the signs early, it might not be as bad.

If you’re starting to notice sewage odors, several wet areas on your property, slow fixture drains, gurgling drain noises, or backup and overflow around plumbing fixtures, these are the sad signs of a failing septic tank.

Of course, there are several reasons why a septic tank can clog, but there are two very common ones: solid waste and solid waste levels.

Pouring food, or grease, or oil down the drains in your home can easily result in a clogged septic system.

Another reason for a clogged septic tank is if the solid waste inside the tank reaches a level that is blocking anything going in and out of it. This can happen due to using lots of antibacterial soaps, since the bacteria can’t eat the waste. When this happens, the solution is to pump and clean the tank.

If it’s too late to prevent a clog, you can try a few solutions yourself before going to a professional.

Start by snaking the drain between the house and the septic tank to see if there are any obstructions causing the problem. Next, try opening the tank. See if any of the intake or outlet drains are blocked. If so, it might be time to have the tank cleaned. Finally, check the distribution box. If it is flooding, the absorption system is blocked or not working.

Hopefully there is still time to prevent a clogged septic tank, but if not, keep an eye out for the warning signs and get the problem fixed as soon as possible.

 

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The Unclog Blog is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Creating the Perfect Tool Box

If you’re a handyman, or a handywoman, around the house, you need the perfect set of supplies in your toolbox or fix-up bucket. Take a look at the list below to find the recipe of tools for fixing any clog in your home.

• Rubber gloves: purely for cleanliness and safety, you’ll want a fresh pack of rubber gloves in your toolkit so you won’t have to worry about harmful chemicals or rusty handles.
• Basic plunger: might seem like a no-brainer, but a basic plunger will solve a light toilet clog in seconds.
• Snake: professionals aren’t the only ones that can handle these things. A snake will solve most problems that a plunger won’t.
• Sink plunger: this handy tool looks like a basic plunger, only smaller to work its magic at your sink drain.
• Closet auger: this is similar to the snake mentioned above, but it’s made just for toilet clogs.
• Pipe wrench: this piece of metal is essential in plumbing, and is used in pairs to maximize leverage on pipe fixtures.
• Spud wrench: this is a larger version of the pipe wrench, made for working on sinks and toilets.
• Gaskets and O-rings: these tools might be simple, but they prevent water from leaving the faucet once it’s been turned off.

 

Once you create your perfect toolkit, your neighbors might be calling you for their next plumbing job!

 

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The Unclog Blog is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

 

(Photo By: Elyob)

When Do You Need a Sump Pump?

A sump pump is a very effective method of preventing basement floods – they’re even more effective than basement waterproofing systems. Sump pumps collect excessive groundwater through a series of pipes which empty into a sump pit that is strategically located at the lowest point in the basement. Excess water collects in the sump pit and can then be removed from the home. So how do you know if you need a sump pump?

Has your basement ever flooded? If he answer is “yes”, then you probably need a sump pump. Houses built in flat or low-lying areas are especially in need of sump pumps as they are particularly vulnerable to basement flooding. Rain and melting snow saturate the ground water and seek the path of least resistance – which, unfortunately, may be through cracks in the walls and floors of your home.

There are two main types of sump pumps: pedestal pumps and submersible pumps. Pedestal pumps use electric motors attached to a column (or pedestal) and an impeller which is located in the sump pit. Pedestal pumps are often noisy because of their electronic motors.

Submersible pumps, which are designed to work beneath the water, are a better choice of sump pump. Besides being quieter than pedestal pumps, submersible pipes generally last longer than pedestal pumps because they’re watertight.

A sump pump is your best defense against a flooded basement. However, sump pumps may fail under unusual circumstances, including improper installation, neglect, overwhelming amounts of water and power outages.

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The Unclog Blog is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

 

(Photo By OsbornB)

Tips to Prevent a Clogged Toilet

Anyone who has unclogged a toilet knows it’s not a fun job, but sometimes it happens. However, there are some steps you can take to prevent a common toilet clog, giving your plunger a bit of a break.

Start by doing some rearranging. Place a garbage can right beside your toilet to prevent any urges to toss items that don’t belong into the toilet. This includes items such as cotton swabs, wet wipes, diapers, or any heavy paper items; throw them all away into the garbage can.

Use a simple trash bag, such as a grocer’s plastic bag with handles, to line the garbage can to make it easy to keep clean and empty often. Stock extra garbage bags in the bathroom, so maintaining the mess is as easy as possible.

Next, purchase and install light toilet paper beside the toilet. This will prevent a clog better than heavy or thick toilet paper would. It is also a smart idea to use less toilet paper if you can. If the situation calls for lots of paper, flush twice.

If your toilet still clogs, stop flushing and bail out water if needed. There should be just enough water to cover the plunger’s opening. Insert the plunger at an angle, start pumping, with force. Pull the plunger upward, if the water goes down the toilet, the clog is free.

Pour water into the toilet before flushing, and make sure the toilet flushes and refills properly. If this doesn’t work, it’s probably time to call the plumber for a professional solution.

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The Unclog Blog is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

How to Clean Up a Flooded Basement

We sincerely hope that you never have to deal with a flooded basement. With the cleanup work involved, the potential damage, and the costs it may require to ensure that it doesn’t happen, basement floods are nothing short of a nightmare.

Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling customers probably know a thing or two about flooded basements, as the Greater Cincinnati area gets a lot of rain and has many older homes – creating the perfect storm for flooded basements. If it ever happens to you, use these tips to properly clean up a flooded basement:

• Buy or rent a sump pump, and, if the water level inside is higher than it is outside, start pumping the water outside until most of the water is evacuated. Continue to keep a close eye on the water levels outdoors while pumping.
• Shovel out any residual mud.
• After most of the mud is out, use a high-pressure hose to blast away any remaining dirt and silt.
• Scrub walls, from the top down, using a household soap or detergent with a stiff brush.
• Air out the basement by opening doors and windows and running fans (check for shock hazards before plugging in fans).
• After the basement is aired out, run a dehumidifier. Continue running the dehumidifier until the water collection tub doesn’t collect any more water.
• To combat odors and microorganisms, use a bleach solution to mop your concrete floors. Make sure your windows are open when applying the bleach. Rinse with water and dry after five minutes.

Once you’ve dealt immediate cleanup, you might want to give Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling a call so that we can help you figure out why your basement flooded and what you can do to prevent this, and other plumbing catastrophes, from ever happening again.

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The Unclog Blog is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

How the Plunger Was Born

A plunger is such a common and helpful tool around the house, it’s easy to take it for granted. It seems so necessary, that it must have always been around, right? Wrong. Although no one knows exactly who invented the plunger, we know they have saved us and many others from many a plumbing problem.

The origin of the plunger lies sometime around 1850 and 1900, the same time wood and synthetic rubber was being used more often. The suction cup was also invented in the 1850s, which supports this theory.

Then, there were two basic types of plungers. They either had a flat suction cup or a cup with a funnel, known as a sink plunger. Traditionally, plungers were offered in either black or red.

Today, bathrooms and the appliances in them have evolved, and so have plungers, as there are several options to choose from.

Did you know that in history, plungers have been used for more than just plumbing? Jazz musicians used to take the suction cups from plungers and use them to modify the sounds of their instruments, particularly for trombones and trumpets.

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The Unclog Blog is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Keeping Pipes Clear

A clogged pipe is inconvenient for you, and for plumbers everywhere, yet it’s what they get calls about the most. On the other hand, keeping your pipes free from clogs is actually pretty easy.

For starters, you can use a strainer over your bathroom drains. This product, usually made of plastic or rubber, has small holes that will let liquids pass, but not any debris that could cause a clog.

The strainer will keep hair, soap scum, and any other potential clogs out of the pipe. To keep the drain working smoothly, remove the strainer after each use, clean it, dispose of any debris, and replace it over the drain before using the shower or sink again.

As for the kitchen drain, utilize your garbage disposal to help prevent clogs. However, don’t put items such as grease or fibrous foods in the disposal. You can also use a strainer over this drain, too, to prevent too much from going into the pipes.

Another good preventative measure is to pour at least two gallons of boiling water down each drain about once a month. It will clear the pipe of small hair and grease particles before they build to a clog.

If you do get a clog, it’s better to use a natural solution than a commercial, chemical product that could weaken the pipes. Try pouring a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar to try and free the clog.

Using these tips, hopefully you can avoid calling a plumber for something you could have prevented.

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The Unclog Blog is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling