Get Your Drains Cleaned Now
The holidays are just around the corner and there’s a good chance you’ll have company for a few days. There’s nothing worse than a clogged drain when there are guests in your home. Unfortunately, it’s something that happens to just about everyone at some time. A lot of things go down our drains without our even knowing it—hair, soap scum, toothpaste and grease are the main culprits.
Why not take the time now to clean the drains so you don’t have to worry on Christmas morning? Here are some strategies for cleaning your drains:
- Pour boiling water down the drain—This is most effective in kitchen sinks, where the problem is likely to be grease. Don’t pour all the water down at one time. If you have a full teapot, pour about one third down, wait 5-10 minutes, pour another third down and repeat.
- Use baking soda and vinegar (instead of a commercial chemical drain cleaner)—The commercial cleaners have some pretty nasty chemicals. Put 1/3 of a cup of baking soda in the sink and then pour 1/3 of a cup of vinegar into the drain. You should hear the chemical reaction, as the concoction fizzes and (hopefully) breaks up the clog.
- Use a shop vac—Set the shop vac to suck up water. Create the tightest seal you can around the drain and turn the vacuum on. A plunger can also have a similar effect.
- Use a wire coat hanger—Particularly if the drain is plugged with hair, a bent wire clothes hanger can do the trick. Put a little hook on one end and fish it down the drain. When you feel resistance, turn the coat hanger and try to hook the mass. You might be able to pull it up or you might be able to break it up. Caveat: If you bring the hairball up, expect that it will have a disgusting smell!
- Remove the pipe and clean it by hand—The clog may be in the sink trap, immediately beneath the bowl. Put a bucket under the sink, remove the trap and clean it.
To be certain that the job is fully done, though, it’s always best to hire a licensed plumber.
Contact Public Service Plumbers
To learn how we can help you, call (214) 753-4633 or contact us by e-mail and we’ll schedule an appointment.
At Public Service Plumbers, we answer our phones 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can send our service personnel to your home or business anytime, day or night. All of our plumbers are factory-trained and factory-certified.
Public Service Plumbers
5610 Dyer Street
Dallas, Texas 75206
(214) 753-4633
We offer plumbing installation and repair services to individuals and businesses throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Highland Park, University Park, Preston Hollow, Lakewood, Lake Highlands, Richardson, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Coppell, Garland, Mesquite, Addison, Kessler Park, Farmers Branch, Grapevine, Southlake, Flower Mound and Lewisville.
