Clogged drains: here are 5 tools that could be very useful for solving this problem
Have you ever had to deal with a blocked drain? And do blocked drains, sinks or pipes necessarily mean calling out an (expensive) plumber?
Well, the answer is a decisive "no". There are some tools you may have at home that can help you deal with this problem by yourself. Read on to find out more:
1. Pipe probe
We've just washed the dishes and the water will not drain away. So, what's the problem? Maybe it's nothing serious, and it's just the drain that's clogged. Food residue and other dirt could be blocking it and it's best to act immediately.
A steel spring used as a probe to unclog pipes is perfect for this job (aka a pipe probe or plumber's snake). If the blockage is far down the pipes, this tool must be pushed down the pipes and up to the blockage. Cranking the handle will then help the end of the probe to break up the blockage and clear the pipes.
2. Plunger
Remember the old-fashioned plungers on a wooden stick? Well, many still use this "vintage" tool to clear clogs. The modern plunger you see here, creates an oscillating vacuum that will help you clear your pipes - and without having to use a lot of elbow grease!
3. Hair snake
Hair is one of the main causes of blocked drains. So, what can we do about this? Filters can help, but some hair inevitable still escapes. This is where a hair snake can help us out. A hair snake is a very thin strip of plastic (typically 50 or 50cm long), with teeth/burrs along the edges that "grab" hair and other dirt, clearing the pipes.
4. Metallic, articulated pincers
Long, flexible and robust, this special, flexible pincer tool is very useful for getting something out of the drain which might have dropped down there (like a wedding ring, for example). While this tool may push a blockage further down the pipes, it could be useful in some cases.
5. Drain brush
This brush can be very useful to keep the drains and pipes in the bathroom or kitchen clean. Mold, debris, soap residue and dirt can build up on the walls of the pipes and this brush will clear this debris away, if used regularly. And it can also be used to clear any small blockages that are not too far down the pipes.
Ideally, you should have some (if not all!) of these tools at home; ultimately you may not succeed in clearing a blockage, but there's no harm in trying, no?
Of course, when all else fails, you'll have to get a plumber to come out to deal with the problem.
