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Of all the plumbing problems that a household can face, probably the most common one is a blocked drain. The signs of a blocked drain are all known; slow draining of water, weird gargling noises and the most formidable one of them all is the odor. The odor is enough to know that it is the good old blocked drain. So in-case such a scenario occurs, one should always be prepared beforehand to tackle it.
4 ESSENTIAL PLUMBING TOOLS TO CLEAR BLOCKED DRAIN:
Apart from the set of the basic standard tools, like the wrench, screwdriver etc. certain other assail tools are required to clear a clogged drain. One never knows when these will be needed while repairing a blocked drain. Therefore, having a set of these essential tools apart from the basic tools will be always helpful and useful. A list of the essential tools required to clear a clogged drain is mentioned below:
The Drain Snake: This equipment is one of the handiest tools to keep in your home when in case of a blocked drain. It is a long plastic or metal rope with spiral metal at the very end or has thorn-like protruding structures all along its length. All that needs to be done is to insert it in the pipe and the thorn structures or the spiral metal at the end will bring out whatever is blocking the pipe. It is easy to use and is most effective if the blocked drain is caused by hair.
Plungers: Different blocked drain situations will require different plungers. For toilets, one would require a flanged plunger whereas for sinks the plunger may be large or small. However, a large plunger will work more effectively. A plunger works on the mechanism of vacuum. Make sure that the plunger fits properly at the mouth of the pipe so that it sets properly, creating a proper vacuum, and start making swift plunging movements. Due to the vacuum and the pressure created, whatever is blocking the pipe will be removed. A plunger indeed is an important tool to have in any household for blocked drains.
Wire Brushes: Another tool to keep handy is the wire brush. With a long handle which can easily be lowered down into the pipe and having metal or plastic bristles at the other end which can easily scrub away anything that is blocking the flow in the pipe, wire brushes are one of the easiest tools to handle. However, wire brushes are most efficient for sinks as they cannot reach the blockages that are too deep into the pipe.
Chemicals: Sometimes, the above-mentioned tools may not be enough to repair a blocked drain. In those situations, it is always recommended to have a few chemicals at home like the Caustic soda (Sodium Hydroxide), common acid, bleaching powder etc., Not only do they unblock the drains but also kills germs and gets rid of nasty odors. If one does not have these chemicals, one can create DIY products to get rid of a blocked drain like a mixture of table salt and baking soda, vinegar and baking soda, dish detergent or pouring hot water in the blocked drain.
One can easily take care of blocked drain with the tools mentioned above. However, if the drain still remains blocked, it is advised that a professional is called to handle the rest. After all, they are professionals for a reason. Other than that, one way to keep away from a blocked drain is to clean the bathroom every once in a while, putting metal strainers on top of drains to accumulate hair on the top itself and disinfecting the bathroom every now and then. Another advice to remind that while using chemicals it is important for one to read the instructions given properly because they might cause harm if handled carelessly.