What Does Every Homeowner Have in Common?

If you have a home with indoor plumbing, which most of us do, then you will know something about drain clogs. There are many causes, which we won’t get into here because some of them can be quite yucky.

There are all kinds of wives tales about magical ways to unclog a drain. But when it’s your time to experience a clogged drain, how do you know if it’s the type you can fix yourself, or, if you should call in an Arizona plumbing services expert?

First, let’s understand how the drain works. Despite what it seems, the sink drain is not just a hole in the bottom of the sink that the water goes down. Under the strainer that you see when you look into the drain is a rubber gasket and a locknut. These connect to the strainer sleeve which connects to a tailpiece. This leads to the trap. The trap is what it sounds like – it takes the things that aren’t supposed to go down a drain and traps them. The trap winds back up and connects to the pipe that takes the water out to the septic or sewer.

Do-It-Yourself Drain Cleaning

Before you reach for that liquid drain cleaner – stop! Drain cleaners can cause more harm than good because they contain a lot of fairly corrosive chemicals that can damage fragile or older drain systems.

Instead of using that drain cleaner you’ve had under the sink for years, try the old vinegar and baking soda method. Remove any standing water from your sink (you may want to scoop it out with a cup). Then, push one cup of baking soda down the sink drain. If necessary, use a spatula to force the baking soda down into the opening. Pour one cup of vinegar into the drain opening, putting the stopper into the sink so that the vinegar is forced down. Wait about five minutes to allow the solution to work on the clog and then run warm water into the sink to see if the clog disappears.

Work With an Arizona Plumbing Services Professional

If that DIY solution doesn’t work, it’s time to call a professional plumber for some Phoenix emergency plumbing efforts. When it comes to unclogging drains, the professional plumbers at Chas Roberts Air Conditioning & Plumbing have several possible options. A Chas plumber can use sewer machines or sewer snakes to mechanically remove sewage particles; do hydro-jetting, which his using high-pressure water to spray the inside of the tank and lines; or use Bio-Clean, a natural product that contains living bacteria that eat organic waste.

The good news? Chas Roberts offers Phoenix emergency plumbing assistance, 24 hours a day, seven days a week! For a limited time, Chas Roberts is offering $50 off a plumbing repair valued at $200 or more – but only through August 31, 2015. To schedule an appointment, visit ChasRobertsPlumbing.com or call (602) 943-3426.