Plumbers prefer to use tools over chemicals when cleaning drains and pipes because they are more effective. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Homeowners can repair a clogged drain by using a disposable plastic auger that can pull hair and soap scum out of the drain. Getty Images
A plunger is very effective at cleaning sink drains. Getty Images/iStockphoto
The funny thing about plumbing disasters is that they're actually pretty funny – unless they happen to you. There's a wild world full of hilarious clogs: deodorant sticks, underwear, children's toys – you name it, plumbers haven't just seen it, they've pulled it out of a pipe.
Of course, we all want to avoid a plumbing disaster, and who better to give us advice on how to pamper our pipes than the experts themselves? We spoke to plumbers about the most common (and some of the strangest) clogs, how to prevent them, how to deal with them, and how to know when to call a professional.
Know your drains – and their blockages
Strange clogs have the best stories, but most clogs that plumbers have to fix are actually quite predictable. “We can usually determine the culprit based on the type of clogged drain,” says Docia Boylen, owner of Handyman Connection.
• Toilets: “With a toilet, toilet paper and flushable wipes are obviously the most important thing,” says Roy Barnes, partner at Service Force Plumbing. Man, there are times when we snake these pipes and pull out a few hundred of them.” He says that tampons and “sometimes condoms” are the three most common causes of toilet clogs.
• Tub and shower drains: Hair and soap residue mix in the tub and shower drains, forming an unholy compound. “In the shower you use soap, shampoo, conditioner,” Boylen says. “This stuff can clog drains.” To prevent clogs in the first place, experts recommend placing a hair catcher in the drain.
• Sink drains: In the bathroom, sink drains suffer just as much as bathtub and shower drains, namely from hair and soap residue. In the kitchen, oil and fat from cooking are the number one enemy (they are an inseparable pair). Another example is fibrous vegetables that wrap around garbage disposal blades like hair wrapped around the beater bar of a vacuum cleaner. Things that clearly don't belong down the drain, like cutlery or melted wax, are not uncommon. And starch, especially potatoes, expands in pipes and creates massive clogs that can require extreme measures to repair.
• Washing machine standpipes: The placeholder entry in the list is the drying rack pipe, which connects to the drain hose of a washing machine. “There's a lot of oil saturation there,” says Barnes, “and when you add the lint from clothing, it becomes like Velcro.” He recommends placing a metal lint sock over the washer's drain line to catch dirt before it falls enters your plumbing system and clean it every three to six months.
Avoid drain chemicals
Please put down the bottle with the liquid drain opener! “The first thing I want to tell you is that as plumbers, we don’t use any chemicals when it comes to clogs of any kind,” says Barnes.
The experts we spoke to agreed that when it comes to clearing a clog, drain-opening tools are the way to go – chemical drain openers just aren't as effective as augers, plungers, and those little zipper tools that trap hairballs .
If you need to pour something down a clogged drain, do it with boiling water, says Boylen. “Boil water in a kettle and pour it slowly and gradually down the drain. “You'll be amazed at what boiling water does—basically it heats up anything that's stuck there because it got cold.” She says this technique is particularly effective for a clogged kitchen sink drain.
One chemical agent recommended by plumbers is an enzyme-based product called Green Gobbler. “They come in strips that you throw down the drain,” Boylen says. “The strips break down and the enzymes break down organic matter, such as fat or food particles.” Enzymes work slowly, so these products won't provide constipation relief, but they can help prevent clogs from forming. Unlike other chemical drain openers that should never be used to clean a pipe that drains into a sewer system, they are also safe to use in sewer systems.
When it comes to clogged pipes, Tools > Means
Once you've put down the chemical drain openers, it's time to pick up some tools: a plunger, an auger, or one of those little nimble things (technical term).
• Pistons: Of course, you know about flushing a toilet, but plumbers want you to know that vacuums can handle all types of clogs – including clogs in sinks, bathtubs, and showers.
“I love sink plungers because they can provide back pressure and pull out a stubborn clog,” says Boylen. “For a sink, the old-fashioned round plungers work best.”
When submerging a sink or tub, block the overflow by holding a wet washcloth over the opening.
“If you block that overflow and create pressure with the plunger as you plunge it, it can be very effective for smaller clogs,” says Nathan Hudelson, owner of Schlueter Plumbing.
• Snails: Drain augers or drain snakes are tools for removing clogs from drains. Power drills should only be used by professionals, but hand drills can be a useful tool for amateur use – be careful when working with them, especially if you don't know what you're doing.
“We see more problems with hand slugs among homeowners than we see things being fixed,” Hudelson says. “Of course, they might not call us when sorting things out with them.”
• Zipper snakes: Plastic drain snakes with zipper-like teeth to capture hair and other clogging debris are a fantastic tool for the home plumber.
“If it's a bathtub or sink,” says Hudelson, “I always recommend using the zipper bar first.”
Think about the plumber
You've given away the chemicals, picked up a plunger or a snake and still the blockage remains. When do you call a plumber? Boylen says if you don't know how to use a snake properly, you shouldn't risk damaging your pipes: “I always say, when in doubt, call a plumber.”
Another thing plumbers want you to know is about telling the truth: Don't lie to your plumber – if you poured a chemical drain opener into your pipes, tell the plumber for his safety (he promises you won't get in trouble) – but be aware that your plumber may be willing to lie for you!
Hudelson tells the story of a customer who poured a box of instant mashed potatoes down the sink and ran just enough water to flush it out of the sink – but not nearly enough to keep it moving through her plumbing system. “She made mashed potatoes in her pipes,” he says, “the whole basement was completely filled with mashed potatoes. I couldn't open it with an auger because if I put the auger in, the mashed potatoes behind it would collapse.” The solution was to cut the tube apart and suck out the mashed potatoes with a vacuum cleaner. “She made me promise not to tell her husband. She said, “Please don’t write that on the service ticket.” The drain in the kitchen was just blocked. I'll pay the bill.' So I did this for her.”
Children are the enemy of toilets
Here's what would be annoying if it weren't so cute: “For some reason, kids love throwing things in the toilet and watching them sink,” Hudelson says. “Many of the big things we see in clogged toilets are toys. We pulled out stuffed animals, Matchbox cars and Superman.” Poor Superman.
Children's toys aren't the only toys that find their way into the toilet. Other strange finds include deodorant and tiny cups used to gargle mouthwash, says Barnes.
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