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Do you have a clog? Here’s how to troubleshoot a slow drain.

10/6/2022 (Permalink)

Do you have a clog? Here’s how to troubleshoot a slow drain.

Clogs can be annoying, but they're not unsolvable. Some of us are lucky and never experience a clogged drain at home, but others are plagued by drains that won't drain properly. How do you know if your drain is clogged? And if it is, what can you do about it? Here's a quick guide to troubleshooting slow drains in the home:

  • Clogs can be a hassle. Look at these troubleshooting techniques for clogged drains.
  • Clogs are a common problem and can be caused by a variety of things. Luckily, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot the slow drain on your sink or tub.

The simplest way to fix clogged drains is by using a sink plunger; however, this usually does not work for tubs because there is less suction power than for sinks due to their larger size. Another option is buying snake tools from your local hardware store so that you can easily clear out any blockages in your pipes yourself!

Test it out.

When you think about it, this is a logical step. After all, if the drain is clogged and you can’t see it, how will you know that it’s clogged? The answer is simple: plug up your toilet or sink with some wet paper towels and start testing for drainage by pouring water into the drain. If there are no suction sounds when the water goes down and no overflow from the pipes (in other words, if there is still something obstructing your drains), then chances are good that there is an issue with the plumbing.

If this test shows that your drains are clear, but they are still slow to drain away after flushing them multiple times (or if there was never any suction sound at all), then chances are good that there isn't anything wrong with your pipes but rather something stuck in them (like hair). At this point, consider calling a plumber as soon as possible before trying any other DIY methods to remove whatever may be obstructing these drains once and for all!

Does your drain have poor drainage? 

  • Make sure your drain is not clogged. If your sink or tub won't drain, it's possible that a clog is preventing water from flowing. To test this theory, place a plunger over the drain and plunge up and down several times. If you don't unclog the drain with this method, try pouring hot water down it (and keeping in mind that you shouldn't do so if you have a septic tank system).
  • Check for leaks elsewhere in your home. Leaks can cause drains to fill up with water and prevent them from draining properly. To test for leaks, start by checking all your faucets and showerheads for signs of dripping; then move on to checking around toilets and other fixtures—if they're wet where they're supposed to be dry or vice versa, these could indicate an indoor plumbing leak somewhere nearby that needs attention right away before further damage occurs!
  • Look out for cracks in tubing leading outside—these could mean there's been earthquake activity near enough by so much as caused a crack inside one particular section but nothing else yet? Maybe worth checking into before doing anything else?

Clean out the pipes.

If you're certain that your clog isn't in the main room of your house, it's possible you have a problem with pipes inside the walls. If so, invest in a snake or auger—a long metal tool that can be used to clear out any blockages within your pipes.

If this doesn't work or if you've tried everything else (and still don't want to call a plumber), there are two more things left: using a plunger and trying to unclog the drain manually with boiling water or ice cubes. Plungers are not as effective on toilets as they are on sinks because toilets tend to have different types of traps than sinks do.

To manually unclog a drain from outside the home, start by pouring hot water down it until it begins draining again normally before finishing off with some cold water for good measure.

If your drain is still slow, you may need to call a plumber. If you have troubleshot the problem yourself and still can't find the source of the clog, contact us at (562) 698-5368 for 24/7 emergency service from our experienced team of experts.

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