Nothing is more burdensome than a clogged drain. Whether it be in the shower, bathtub, sink or toilet, a clog can quickly wreck havoc on daily life. This is especially true during a time as trying as the Coronavirus pandemic. With new social distancing laws and restrictions on travel, making a trip to the store for the supplies needed to unclog a drain can be hectic. That is where SOS Drain & Sewer comes in. With our no contact estimates & repair service in Minneapolis, achieving a drain cleaning during Coronavirus isolation rules should be a breeze. However, try out some of these tips for unclogging drains yourself at home before giving us a call.
Add Some Soda (Pop)
Soda typically contains phosphoric acid, which is present at a high enough concentration to unclog a clogged kitchen sink drain. Pour room temperature soda into the clogged drain and allow it to sit for an hour or two. This tip also works well for cleaning any stains in your kitchen sink if added to water and allowed to sit covering the stain.
Try A Baking Soda and Vinegar Combination
While it is not recommended to mix stronger acids and bases due to the potentially explosive chemical reaction, combining baking soda and vinegar, which are respectively a weak base and a weak acid, can yield potential results in fixing a clogged kitchen sink drain. According to The Home Depot, ”
A baking soda mixture offers a way to unclog a sink naturally, as it proves gentler on your pipes compared to chemical drain openers.
- Pour one cup of fresh baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of white vinegar.
- Place a rubber stopper or other sink hole cover over the drain opening.
- Wait 15 minutes to allow the vinegar and baking soda to unclog your drain, Then take out the drain cover and run hot tap water down the drain to clear the clog. “
Investigate Chemical Methods
There exist a variety of chemical solutions for a clogged drain. Should a plumbing snake or plunger fail to get the job done, addition of an acidic or basic drain cleaner solution should help dissolve the clog. The chemicals used for these solutions are typically sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide. Make sure to not mix an acidic cleaner with a basic cleaner, as this can created an unwanted chemical reaction. Also, be sure to wear the appropriate PPE which includes gloves and eye goggles in the case of any spillage. There are also some enzyme based product formulations that dissolve clogs through the use of various enzymes if you would like to avoid some of the hazards associated with chemical based drain cleaners. Another reason a homeowner might choose to utilize an enzyme based solution is if they have a septic tank instead of city based drainage plumbing. Chemical based drain cleaners could cause problems with a septic tank system since they can change the pH of the waste water discharge.
Drain Maintenance
Maintaining your drains is a surefire way to avoid the inconvenience of an inevitable clog. Put a strainer over the top of your drains to catch particles such as hair or food bits, making sure to empty the strainer after every use. Turn on the hot water and let it run for a few minutes after using the drain. This tip is especially useful after any amount of grease is poured down a drain, as solidified grease is one of the most common causes of drain clogs.
Although some clogs can be remedied individually by the typical homeowner, it is sometimes best to leave this job up to the professionals. Feel free to contact us at SOS Drain & Sewer for a no contact estimate & repair in Minneapolis cleaning during the Coronavirus in Minneapolis.
