All plumbing systems develop blockages from time to time. With the right tools and techniques, however, you can easily unclog stopped-up drains yourself. Here are a few things to try before calling John the Plumber for professional drain cleaning Ottawa.
Tools You’ll Need to Unclog a Drain
- Plunger
- Cable auger (plumber’s snake)
- Closet auger (for snaking toilets)
- Electric power auger (for very large clogs)
Below, you’ll find a few simple techniques for clearing drain clogs in sinks, toilets, bathtubs, and fixtures. Follow the steps below before calling a plumber to perform drain cleaning in Ottawa.
Sinks
Minor sink clogs can be dislodged with a plunger. Fill the sink with water and then plunge vigorously a few times. If you have a double-basin sink, block the drain of one basin with a rag while you plunge the other one. If plunging doesn’t remove the clog, try using the cable auger. To do this, you’ll need to remove the sink trap under the sink using a pipe wrench. After removing the trap, feed the cable auger into the trap stubout on the wall and crank the handle of the cable auger until the blockage loosens up. Plunge again while running hot water to clear away remaining debris.
Bathtubs
Start by unscrewing the screen from the tub drain. Remove any hair and soap scum you find in the drain. If the tub has a pop-up drain, remove the stopper to clear the drain of hair and soap. Next, cover the holes on the underside of the overflow plate and start plunging the drain. If the clog doesn’t clear, remove the overflow plate and feed the cable auger down the overflow tube to remove the blockage.
Toilets
While a plunger usually works to clear toilet clogs, some blockages will require the use of a closet auger. Place the auger into the bowl with the bent tip pointing upward. Hold the auger shaft steady and start cranking the handle, pushing down at the same time. Continue cranking until the entire cable – about 3 feet – is dispensed. Remove the cable by cranking and pulling upward, then flush the toilet to clear the drainpipe.
The above tips should help you clear minor clogs in sinks, toilets, fixtures, and tubs. If the above steps don’t work to clear a blockage, it’s time to call a John the Plumber for professional drain cleaning in Ottawa.
John The Plumber
1541 Riverside Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1g 4E2
613-227-7465
john@johntheplumber.ca
