A gurgling sound coming from your drains could mean that there is serious blockage in your sewer line. This is an issue that only a licensed plumber can solve.
Try pouring boiling water down the drain if using a plunger doesn’t work. This will help boost the flow and may clear a minor clog. Reach out to Plumbers Spring TX for expert assistance.
A clogged drain is one of the most common plumbing issues. It can start out as a minor nuisance, but can quickly turn into a major problem that causes sewage backups, water damage, and other costly problems. Clogged drains are caused by many different things, including hair, food scraps, soap residue, and other debris. Many of these problems can be easily fixed with DIY methods, but it’s also important to have a plumber inspect your plumbing system and fix any problems as soon as they occur.
A simple, cheap way to prevent clogged drains is by regularly cleaning them with baking soda and vinegar. This method is very effective and can be used in any sink, bathtub, or shower. Simply pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes to an hour, then flush the drain with hot water. This should help clear most minor clogs. If not, try repeating the process or calling a plumber.
Another preventative measure is to never pour grease or oil down the drain. These substances are liquid when they enter the pipes, but they can solidify when they cool down, causing severe clogs that are difficult to remove. Additionally, you should always use paper towels to wipe up any greasy or oily dishes before throwing them away.
If you have a serious clog that doesn’t respond to the baking soda and vinegar method, it may be time to call in a plumber. A professional can use more advanced tools to clear clogs in hard-to-reach places.
If you have a drain snake, you can also try using it to unclog your pipes. Plug in the snake, then feed a few feet of cable down the drain. Push the snake down the pipe and twist it gently to dislodge any clogs. Once the clog is gone, flush the pipe with hot water to ensure that all the grit and gunk has been removed. If you don’t have a snake, you can still use a wire clothes hanger to pull out any debris stuck in the pipe.
Clogged Pipes
Your pipes don’t just run through your walls and floor in stick-straight lines. They wind and twist, creating ‘traps’ that collect water and waste material. The u-bend at the base of your toilet and the p-trap under your sink are common places where hair, soap residue, food scraps, grease and other materials build up and harden into clogs. While simple clogs that affect only one drain or toilet can often be solved with a plunger or plumbing snake, larger ones may require more advanced tools.
Most household clogs can be fixed with a bit of patience and some basic DIY plumbing supplies. For example, pouring boiling water down the drain may dissolve a solid mass of hair or grease. Alternatively, try the baking soda and vinegar trick: Pour in half a cup of baking soda, followed by half a cup of vinegar, then cover the drain and wait. The chemical reaction should break up the clog and allow the pipe to clear.
If these solutions don’t work, it’s time to call a plumber. A professional can use more advanced (and powerful) tools to clear even the most stubborn clogs without damaging your pipes or your home’s plumbing.
Sometimes, it’s not the inside of your pipes that are the problem: Outside plant roots can grow into and wrap around sewer pipes, and they can also punch holes through your home’s plumbing and sewage lines. If your clogged drain is caused by tree roots, a professional plumber may recommend trenchless repair methods to restore your pipes.
If your clogged drains are accompanied by other warning signs, such as slow-flowing toilets or standing water in your home’s plumbing fixtures, it’s time to call a professional. Leaving these problems unattended can lead to serious — and expensive — damage to your plumbing system. The longer you wait to call a plumber, the more extensive the repairs will be. Contact your local plumber for fast, affordable plumbing service. They’ll get your clogged drains and pipes back in working order before the problem worsens. And they’ll give you peace of mind knowing your plumbing is in good hands.
Clogged Toilets
If your toilet is constantly clogging, it could be due to the presence of waste that shouldn’t have made its way into your home plumbing system. The simplest way to prevent this is to be more mindful of what you flush down your toilet. Toilets were designed to handle only human waste and toilet paper, so anything else should be disposed of in other ways. This includes tissues, paper towels, napkins, wet wipes, and even oils and grease, which can create the infamous “fatbergs” that plague municipal sewer systems.
Another common cause of constant clogging is children’s toys and other foreign objects that make their way into the drain. Keeping bathroom counters as free of clutter as possible and reminding children of what toilets are intended for can help keep this from happening. Also, consider switching to thinner toilet paper, as thicker varieties are more likely to cause clogs.
For clogs that cannot be solved with the aid of a plunger, try using a plumbing snake or chemical drain cleaner. If your clog appears to be in the main sewer line, however, it’s likely more of a serious issue that will require professional intervention.
If you have a clogged toilet that keeps coming back, check the sinks and tubs in your home to see if they are experiencing drainage problems as well. The toilet’s trap is located underneath these fixtures, so if they are fine, the problem lies elsewhere.
If you’re at a loss, try this easy DIY fix: Pour one cup of baking soda into your clogged toilet and follow it up with two cups of vinegar. The chemical reaction between these two ingredients will often dislodge and break up even the most stubborn clogs. After the mixture has dissolved, use a flanged plunger to remove it and watch as water rushes down your drain. If this does not work, call a plumber for assistance. If the clog appears to be in your main sewer line, you may need to get a new toilet that is better equipped to deal with this type of issue.
Clogged Showers
A clogged shower drain can be more than just a nuisance. It can cause foul odors to flow up from the drain, water damage on the flooring, and even promote mold and mildew growth. Fortunately, it is usually fairly easy to determine whether a shower drain has become blocked and, if so, how to fix it.
If you notice that your shower is draining slowly or not at all, the first thing to do is to remove the drain cover and take a look. Hair and soap scum can often get trapped under the cover, so this is a good place to start. If you see a lot of debris, then you may need to use a wire coat hanger or other tool to pull it out. If not, then you might just have a hair clog near the top of the drain that can be easily removed with your hands.
Once you have removed the shower drain cover, try pouring some hot, boiling water down the drain to break up any accumulated grime. This is a simple and inexpensive troubleshooting step that can help to clear most minor clogs.
Another easy way to try to clear a clogged shower is by using a homemade solution of baking soda and vinegar. To do this, first pour a cup of baking soda down the drain, then follow it with a cup of white vinegar. The chemical reaction between these two ingredients is often enough to dislodge any clogs that were caused by hair, soap scum, or other debris.
For more serious clogs, you may need to use a professional plumber’s snake or a drain auger. These are specialized tools that can be used to dislodge larger buildups in the pipes. If you are going to try this method, it is best to wear rubber gloves and make sure that the room is well-ventilated, as these chemicals can be quite strong and corrosive.
If you have tried all of the above methods and are still experiencing a slow, or even completely blocked, draining shower, then it is probably time to call a plumber. If the problem is affecting multiple drains in your home, this could be a sign of a deeper issue and you should contact a plumber right away.