When a foreign object is lodged in a place it does not belong, problems usually arise. Millions of homes in America deal with clogged sinks and drains periodically. Most homeowners take it as part of the routine and miss the point entirely.
The messy situation in the kitchen is a result of a foreign object lodged where it does not belong. The most effective solution is preventing blockage to occur. However, if you are elbow-deep in a backed up sink, we’d better give you a list of the most reliable quick fixes for clogs, and talk about prevention later.
Instruments to Deal with Clogs
Look inside the toolbox in the garage. Check if you have standard tools such as screwdrivers and wrenches. You might have to remove the top of the drain, and you cannot do that with your bare hands. Now, let’s move on the three most essential drain cleaning tools—the plunger, the snake, and the wire brush.
Oftentimes, the pressure difference created by the plunger is enough to loosen a clog. Always keep one in handy for exclusive use in the kitchen sink. The grip handle of the snake allows you to hold onto the tool as the long wire pushes the clog down the line. It’s better if you can find a snake that has an implement allowing it to pinch and grab at material so that you can also remove gunk at your end of the pipe. Meanwhile, a wire brush is handy towards the end of the task, when you need to remove bits and pieces of material cleared out from the pipes.
Remember that if your efforts are not producing results, stop and put the tools back in the garage. Keep your cool and call a plumber in St. George. One will come to your aid and resolve the issue.
Main Cleaning Formulae
Our task here is to prepare you for the next drain clearing session you are like to face. Before you argue that baking soda and vinegar are all you need, consider reading about the three different classes of drain cleaners available from the supermarket today.
Caustic cleaners are alkaline solutions that create a reaction which releases heat, dissolves the offending blob of grease, and eventually clears the clog. Acid drain cleaners contain hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid which has the ability to melt the clog as well. Meanwhile, nitrates, peroxides, and bleaches cause an oxidizing reaction that acts on the organic components of the clog. When the reaction releases gas and heat, the blockage clears away. Caustic and oxidizing drain cleaners are accessible to all, but only plumbers have access to acid drain cleaners.
Nobody likes gunk and nobody wants to spend hours unclogging a blocked kitchen sink. As mentioned above, you must implement measures to prevent clogging from forming in the first place. But for now, make sure you have the basic three tools we described, and one of the three types of chemical drain cleaners stored under the sink.
