Today at the Progressive Plumbing blog it’s a clog extravaganza! Though that may not sound too exciting, clogged drains are a common problem homeowners deal with. We get questions about clogs daily from our Raleigh customers, so we thought we’d give a little do-it-yourself primer on the subject.

Toilet clogs:

Assuming you already know how to use a plunger, we’ll skip that method. Other ways to unclog a toilet incude using a wire hanger to loosen up the clog. Bend the wire so the hanger can be inserted into the drain and the hook can be used to move the clog.

Another method to unclog a toilet drain involves hot water and dish soap. Add a couple squirts of dish soap to the toilet bowl, then pour a pot of hot (but not boiling!) water in. This method puts pressure on the clog and (hopefully) loosens it up.

Sink clogs:

Unlike with toilet clogs, you can use boiling water to loosen up a sink clog — but only if you have metal pipes! Boil water in a large pot and slowly pour it down the drain. Not working? Move on to our next suggestion.

Plunge. Yes, plunge your sink drain — but not with your toilet plunger! For sink clogs, use a cup plunger (looks exactly how it sounds) which is designed for sink, tub and shower drains.

We don’t usually recommend using chemicals to unclog your drain, since they are potentially harmful to the environment.

Main drains:

While it is possible to unclog a main drain with an electrically-powered auger, it can be a frustrating job without a professional. If you suspect a main drain clog, give Progressive Plumbing a call! We’ll do the dirty work.