Do-It-Yourself Drain Cleaning

Is your sink backed up? Does the water take far too long to go down after running it for a short time? If so, then you probably need to look into a drain cleaning service. Before you do this, however, there are a couple of things that you do on your own. First, there are many cleaners that can be purchased at your local hardware store that will often do the trick. If these don't work, you can always do some minor plumbing on your own by looking under the sink. However, if this still doesn't take care of your clog, professional help is likely needed.

Over-The-Counter Cleaners

If your sink is clogged, one good solution is to start shopping for over-the-counter drain cleaning products. These come in many different forms, but the most effective options are the gel cleaners. These simply require you to pour the gel down your sink, allow it to sit, and then rinse with hot water. The chemicals in these cleaners eat away at the clog in your pipes, and the water simply washes them away. This is a very effective and cheap solution for minor clogs.

Take A Look Under Your Sink

If an over-the-counter drain cleaning product does not do the trick, then you might need to do some amateur plumbing to fix your clog. If you look under your sink, you will see what is known as a "u-pipe." This u-shaped piece of pipe will have fittings on either side that can be easily unscrewed with a pair of channel locks or a wrench. Simply remove the u-pipe, and look inside of it. In many cases, this is where your clog will be located. You can usually use a wire hanger or brush to remove the clog. Then, simply screw the pipe back in place, and you will be set. Be sure to have a bucket handy to catch any excess gunk or water, as this can be a messy process.

Call A Professional

If neither of these options works, you will likely need to call a drain cleaning professional. He or she will be able to remove your clog in the event that the above options do not work. In many cases this will simply involve the use of a plumbing snake - a long wiry instrument that is pushed through your pipes and which has hooks on the end for pulling clogs out. This is an easy solution, but you will need a professional to do it for you.

There are numerous do-it-yourself drain cleaning solutions, but in many cases you will need the help of a professional. If over-the-counter products or a simple check under the sink are not effective, then you should call a plumber for help.