A common plumbing problem is clogged up drains. There are ways to clear them without breaking your budget.
-One of the most common plumbing problems that most homeowners will face at some point is the clogged drain. This can occur in either a sink or a toilet. When a person is on an extremely tight budget,
he or she may freak out and wonder how the repair bill will be afforded. There are various ways to take care of these problems before calling in the big guns. Here are some tips for inexpensive remedies:
- Household products that can turn into drain cleansers in a pinch: Baking Soda and white vinegar are two humble products that can be used in a variety of ways. Not only to bake cakes and make salad dressings, these dandy items also have the strength to eradicate clogs. Another item that may be used in conjunction is washing soda. You can make your own by baking small amounts of baking soda in your oven on a cookies sheet. Open the windows, if possible, and bake at 200 degrees as you monitor it carefully. The baking process should take approximately 60 minutes.
-Tools to have on hand: Plunger, rubber tubing and a metal plumber’s snake are all useful items to have in your tool box. When using a metal snake, a DIYer must be cautious and have some skill level. Too much force can rupture pipes and make the problems even worse.
-Rubber tubing trick: With the rubber piece of tubing, try to force the clog through. Poke, pour hot water in, and repeat till it hopefully dislodges the culprit item.
-Vinegar and baking soda trick: Pour half of a cup of baking soda in, followed by the white vinegar. Heating the vinegar can add power to the punch. Be prepared for foaming action and interesting smells, but it just might work.
-Washing soda trick: If the regular baking soda didn’t work, the amped up baked version which is referred to as washing soda just might do it. Pour in a cup, let it set for approximately half an hour. Pour in a pitcher or two of hot water and hope for the best. Repeat as necessary.
-Commercial drain cleaners: These products can be toxic and even destroy certain types of plumbing pipes. Read the instructions on the backs of the packages with extreme care. Protect your eyes, hands, pets and children when handling these substances.
- Metal snake: Crank it in cautiously and see if you can release the wedged in item. If not, you may have to call in a plumber.
Homeowners on a tight budget might need to call in a professional to handle this plumbing snafu if all the DIY tactics fail. Some preventative steps that individuals might want to think about include making sure that all family members are aware of what can be flushed into the toilet or poured into sinks.
Households with children have the vast majority of clogs because the kids aren’t aware that they shouldn’t be flushing entire rolls of paper or broken toys. Bacon grease should never be poured down kitchen sinks and vegetables such as potatoes or carrots should be peeled into the trash rather than the disposal.
