Clogged Drains in Kitchener, Ontario

Kitchener, Ontario is famous for its German heritage and fun events like Oktoberfest. It also has art galleries, museums, and a historic market with local crafts.

Blocked drains can be unpleasant when you come home. Water can back up in sinks or showers. In severe cases, floors can flood. Wondering if it's time to enlist professional help?

While calling in plumbers might seem necessary, there's a chance you could tackle the clog yourself.

Causes of Clogged Drains

Pouring bacon grease down the sink after breakfast may seem convenient, but it can lead to clogged pipes. This happens when the grease hardens.

Moreover, various food remnants contribute to clogged drains. Garbage disposals work well, but things like eggshells, nuts, seeds, onion layers, and potato peels can cause problems.

In shower drains, hair stands out as the primary culprit for clogs, closely followed by the accumulation of soap scum. Meanwhile, items like baby wipes, sanitary products, or paper towels cause blockages in toilets when flushed down.

Preventative Measures

To prevent clogged drains in the kitchen, don’t pour food down the drain that your garbage disposal can’t handle. If you’re unsure, check your disposal’s manual. Grease and foods that are stringy or starchy can clog your drains quickly. Make sure to take the proper steps to clean your drain.

In the bathroom, clean fallen hair out of the drain after every shower so it doesn’t have a chance to build up. If you don't do this, hair makes its way down into your pipes, where it gradually forms a large, tightly-packed ball.

Also, it's a good idea to brush your hair before showering, especially if you have a long mane. This way, you can dispose of loose hair in the trash instead of letting it wash down the drain.

Vinegar and baking soda can prevent buildup in your drains. Mix equal parts of each and pour the solution down your drains every few weeks.

DIY Solutions

If you suspect a hair clog, using an auger or snake is the best way to remove it. However, you must use the snake properly to avoid damaging your pipes.

Here’s how:

1. Insert the metal tip of the snake into the drain. Turn the crank to feed the snake further down into your pipes.
2. When the snake stops moving, you may have hit the clog. Twist the snake a bit to catch it.
3. Slowly turn the crank in the other direction to extract the clog. If you don’t pull the clog out on the first attempt, try again.

Plungers can resolve many simple clogs, and they’re safe for your pipes. Just press the plunger firmly over the drain and push up and down for 20 seconds. The water should start bubbling, indicating that the sink clog has loosened.

You can also mix a cup of baking soda with an equal amount of vinegar. Pour it down the drain, then cover the drain for about five to 10 minutes. This should dissolve any obstruction in your pipes and push the clog through the drain.

Chemical vs. Natural Remedies

Chemical drain cleaners may not always work well for big clogs, despite their claims of quick results. Moreover, these cleaners pose serious safety risks.

Inhaling the vapors of drain cleaners or getting them in your eyes can result in serious health crises, requiring medical attention or even a trip to the emergency department. Moreover, homes with kids are at an increased risk of lethal poisoning from these substances.

Opting for natural remedies like baking soda, vinegar, or biodegradable drain cleaners presents a safer alternative. Not only are they safer for household use, but they are also more environmentally friendly.

When To Seek Professional Help

Despite your best efforts to unclog your drain, you're still left with a sink or bathtub filled with water. If that clog just won’t budge, it’s probably time to call our professional plumbers for clogged drain repair.

We also suggest calling the experts if you have clogs in more than one drain. This could signify a more serious problem with your house's plumbing system that necessitates expert assistance. You could have a broken pipe or tree root intrusion that prevents water from draining properly.

No matter the cause of your clogged or slow drains, Mr. Rooter can help. We offer reliable local drain cleaning in Kitchener and nearby cities.

To get an estimate for clearing clogged drains, call Mr. Rooter. See how we can help today.