How To Fix A Clogged Drain Through The P-Trap
Hiring a drain cleaning company is a great way to clear up a clogged line; however, there are ways you might be able to accomplish this job yourself. If so, you could save money and have a drain that works properly in a very short amount of time. There are a variety of at-home methods you could try, including plunging the line and pouring hot water down it, but these methods are not always successful. Here is a method that is easy to perform and is very effective for clearing clogged drains in sinks. It involves clearing the clog by accessing the line through the p-trap.
What Is A P-Trap?
A p-trap is the "U" shaped pipe you will find below your sink. This pipe typically drops lower than the rest of the pipes, and it is there to help prevent sewer gases from rising up through your drains. Every plumbing fixture in your home should have a p-trap. P-traps are vital for all plumbing fixtures, but they can be problematic too.
The main reason they lead to problems is from gravity. All the waste water that enters the drain must go down into the bottom of the "U" and then back up. Little by little, debris can accumulate in this pipe, and this is a common cause of clogged drains. If the clog is not located in the p-trap, this method may still help you find the problem and fix it.
What Tools Will You Need?
If you try drain cleaners or any other at-home methods and still have a clogged drain, you may want to try this method before calling a professional drain cleaning company. Fortunately, this method is easy to use, and you will only need a few things to complete this method. Here are the tools and supplies you should gather before you begin this project:
- Bucket
- Towels
- Plumber's wrench
- Old toothbrush or wire hanger
As soon as you have these items, you can begin fixing your clogged drain.
How Do You Fix A Drain Through The P-Trap?
The first thing you must do when fixing a drain through the p-trap is place the bucket you have under the trap. Next, use the plumber's wrench to untighten the trap. As soon as you begin loosening the trap, water may begin coming out. If necessary, place the towels you have around the area to make sure nothing gets wet. When you get the p-trap off completely, a lot of water might gush out into the bucket. This is normal and should be expected.
Once you get this far, you will be able to tell if the clog is in the p-trap or not. If the trap is full of debris, you can be fairly certain that this is what is causing the drain to be clogged. You should remove all the debris from the trap and clean it with the toothbrush. You can then place the pipes back together. After doing this, run the faucet to see if the line is clear. If so, you have fixed your problem.
If the trap is empty, your clog is most likely located further down the line. In this situation, you should straighten out the wire hanger so you can use it to stick inside the pipe. This hanger will be flexible enough to fit around curves in the line, but it will be strong enough to help you dislodge anything that is in the pipe. You can move the hanger around in the pipe to try to clear the debris, and this will usually solve the problem.
If you try this method and are still experiencing problems with your drain, you may need to contact a professional drain cleaning company to help you fix the problem. Contact a company like Doctor Fix-It for more information.