Clogged drains in your sink and bathtub stop more than dirty water from leaving your home. They clog up your entire day. If your sink is clogged, you’re going to have difficulty doing the dishes or even getting a quick glass of water.

If your tub drain is clogged, say goodbye to baths and showers, too. Even if your drains aren’t fully blocked, and the water still drains (albeit slowly), you’ll be quick to find how inconvenient a clogged drain is to deal with.

Don’t let clogged drains control your life. Let’s explore all of your drain cleaning options, how to know your drains are clogged, and what you can do about it.

Signs That Your Drains Are Clogged

Sometimes spotting a clog isn’t as apparent as your sink or tub won’t drain water. There are other symptoms to look out for that can indicate more serious issues with your plumbing. Below are some of the most important signs to be aware of that show your drains are clogged.

Water Drains Slowly

If you’re washing the dishes or just hopped out of the shower and you notice that water is pooling up and standing for a little while before draining, a clog is most likely starting to form, and it’s time for a drain cleaning. Sink and tub drains should drain water very quickly.

Multiple Drains Seem to Be Blocked

Discovering that multiple drains in your home are clogged is a sign of a much deeper problem. When multiple blockages exist, it may indicate that your main water line is severely blocked. In this case, you will most certainly need professional drain cleaning.

Recurring Clogged Drains

If you’ve recently discovered that one of your drains has clogged, and removing debris seems to have only temporarily fixed the problem, something is wrong. Most likely, the clog is much more severe than you know. It could be that there is more debris further down the line or a more severe clog that will need professional drain cleaning to unblock.

Disturbing Smells

Clogged drains can lead to the development of some genuinely foul smells in the home. The smell can be sharp, intense, and impossible to ignore. Most likely, the smell is coming from old, rotten food clogging your sink drain, but it may also indicate an issue with your sewage line. After a drain cleaning, if the smell persists, call Paul the Plumber to inspect the problem.

Flooded Basement

Certain severe clogs can result in water damage in your basement. Make sure to check your basement for flooding or flooding near a floor drain. If you don’t clear the problematic clog in time, your drain could get backed up and contaminated water could flood your home.

What You Can Do

You can do a few things to give your sink and tub a good drain cleaning by yourself.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar are two things you might find at home right now. If not, they’re simply a single trip to the grocery store away. With a mixture of 1/3rd cup baking soda and 1/3rd cup vinegar down the drain and an hour to sit, it will clear all types of gunk away.

You can let the mixture sit in your drain for an hour or overnight for better results. Either way, follow up by pouring boiling water down your drain to wash it all away. Don’t pour down all of your boiling water at once, though. For best results, you’ll want to take five- to ten-second breaks between pours. If this doesn’t help, it may be time to consider professional drain cleaning.

Snakes and Cable Augers

If you’re lucky, a bent-up clothes hanger can fish out or break up debris in your drain. Other times, you may need something more intensive. Snakes and cable augers are essentially devices that shove incredibly long metal wires or cables down your drain to break up a clog. Some cable augers can reach up to 100 feet for extremely distant clogs.

All you need to do is go to your local tool shop, pick the length you need, and start feeding the cable down your drain.

Call Paul the Plumber for Professional Drain Cleaning

If cleaning your clogged drains is too much, or if the clog is too serious, you can depend on Paul the Plumber to restore your drains to working order. Give us a call and get an expert on the line today!