Do it yourself: Tips about how To Clear Out Your Main Drain Line

Implementing a Sewer Snake 
If the trap is clear and the drain still clogs, the clog is further into the sink's drain pipe or the main drain. To clean these drains, you'll need a plumber's auger or, as it is more frequently referred to as, a sewer snake. With the trap removed, enter the snake into the sink drain line and push in until you meet the obstruction. When the tip of the snake is against the clog, try to hook the clog by rotating the snake's handle clockwise. When the debris is sturdily hooked, twist and push the clog back and forth until you split up the clog. Flush the pipe with cold water. Once the obstruction is gone, reassemble the sink's trap. When you reassemble the trap after cleaning, you need to reseal the threads. Use pipe joint compound or Teflon tape. Run water for a few minutes to make sure the clog is completely flushed and the trap is not dripping where it has been reconnected.

Unclogging the Main Drain 
If more than one sink, bathtub or toilet is congested, you'll need to clear out the main drain line or the sewer. To clear out the main drain line, find the clean-out plugs found on the larger drain pipes. Look for these plugs on the vertical pipes in your basement or crawl space. In some homes these drains may be located in a garage or pantry closet, or there could be accessibility to these plugs outdoors along the foundations of your house. Typically these pipes will be vertical, but once in a while a plug may be found on a horizontal pipe. When you locate a steel or plastic cap for the pipes with a square fitting at the top, remove the fitting with a wrench. Be sure to have a waste bucket in position when opening up the drain. Use a plumber's snake to separate up any clogs. Make sure to insert the auger in both directions of the pipe. You can also use a powerful stream of water from your garden hose to break up any debris. Replace the steel cap of the drain pipe.

Tips for the Kitchen Sink
Pour grease into jars and throw them in the garbage. If you empty grease into the sink, the oil gathers along the sides of the pipe and then food particles cling to the pipes, ultimately bringing about a clog. Also too much grease can gradually cause sewer blockages since the germs in sewage systems cannot quickly break down grease. When you are grinding up food in a disposal, run a lot of cold water to flush food particles down the pipe. Using not enough water can lead to the particles collecting along the sides of the pipe. Don't empty coffee grounds in the sink. Dump a kettle of boiling water down the drain once a week to dissolve any fat or grease that may have collected.
 
Tips for the Bathroom 
Clean the pop-up stoppers in sinks frequently. Hair usually collects here and brings about clogs. Never flush heavy paper products down the drain. Excessive paper can block up the toilet and/or the whole sewer system.

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Placerville Plumbing Repair  - (530) 961-4099
1390 Broadway Ste. B-341 Placerville, CA 95667-5900