Do-It Yourself Plumbing Tips

Hey now, let's be honest: plumbers are not cheap. While there are definitely times when nothing short of a professional will do, there really are a lot of simple plumbing jobs that you can do without dishing out the serious money for a real plumber. So, if you find yourself staring back at a drain that simply will not drain, here are few simple ideas to keep in mind to help you get it flowing again.

Plumbing involves water and water can suddenly spew all over your house when you are fiddling with the plumbing. So verify that you know where the main shut off valve is located in case you spring a leak. Also figure out where the shut off valve is on the pipes you are currently working on.

Kitchen drains tend to clog up due to a buildup of grease over time. One way to fix the issue is dump hot grease down the drain. It will cause the hardened grease to liquify and move down the pipes. If pouring grease does not do the trick then you might have something blocking the drain.

Begin with the basics by examining the drain for minor blockages like food. Remove the sink stopper and strainer to give them a thorough cleaning. Check to see if quickly cleaning these materials fixes the problem. If not, you will need to work with stronger plumbing tools like snakes and plungers.

First try using a snake tool. It generally works well when trying to unblock a drain. A snake consists of a long thin piece of corrugate pipe. It is inside of a device you hold in your hands. The snake extends and retracts the pipe so you remove any blockage.

You stick the end of the snake into the drain for a few inches and then start turning the handle. This moves the head of the snake around so that it can grab hold of anything that is blocking the drain. If you find nothing, then you extend the snake further into the drain and turn the handle some more. You repeat until you find the source of your clogged drain.

Once in awhile a snake will not unclog your drain. When this happens you need to try a chemical drain cleaner. Make sure to first use a plunger before you use any chemical drain cleaner. You don't want to use a plunger after using chemical drain cleaner because the chemical drain cleaner might splash onto your face and eyes causing harmful irritation.

When plunging the drain it is crucial that water covers the drain. This will help you to have a good seal to aid with the plunging action. Make sure to place a cover or seal over any drain vents or other sink drains. Plung 15-20 times in a row before stopping and removing the plunger. If the sink still will not drain then repeat this process another 2-3 imes. Use the chemical drain cleaner next. If all of this doesn't work then you will have to get out your phone book and call a professional plumber.

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About the author: Dwight Nga is the chief writer at For Plumbing, visit there today for the latest Plumbing advice, and their free newsletter is well worth signing up for too. If you want to read more Plumbing articles go to: www.forplumbing.com/articles
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