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Unblocking a drain - home plumbing |
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There are many occasions at home when you feel the urge to call a tradesperson to fix a minor problem around the house. Some simple home problems can be fixed by tackling it yourself with a few simple tools and following some easy steps. There are a number of natural remedies you can try before using harsher chemicals to produce a result. Try using some of these natural remedies and then use the plunger to remove the blockage. Some natural remedies to try are: a mixture of half to one cup of sodium bicarbonate and one cup white vinegar. Pour the bicarbonate down the drain followed by the white vinegar. You will hear a sizzling sound which is the reaction to the mixing of the two ingredients. Then pour a liter or water down the drain and repeat the process again if needed. Another remedy to try is pouring household ammonia down the blocked drain followed by boiling water, then use the plunger to unblock it. Another alternative is using 2 cups washing soda crystals and one and a half liters of boiling water. Heap the washing soda onto the drain at the opening and then slowly add the boiling water. If none of the above remedies seem to work, it could be because you have a build up of grease and grime or other solid matter stuck in the drain. Chemical drain cleaners could do the trick but if these are not successful you may have to do some more manual work. Take the trap off and disconnect the top and bottom and give it all a good clean and scrub. You should be able to see if the trap is blocked or not. If the trap appears to be clean it could mean that the blockage in the drain is further down and you may not be able to access this part easily. In this case, you may have to resort to calling in a plumber who will have more equipment and skills needed to access the correct area.
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