Pro Blocked Drains is a 24 hour a day, 365 days a year, emergency drainage company providing services for blocked drains. We have a network of local drainage experts covering the UK who can help you with your drain blockage problem.
Unblocking drains is one of those jobs that most people would rather avoid, but it’s actually not that hard to do yourself. Drain unblocking can be done simply with things you can find around your home. Let’s take a look at what you need …
Unblocking drains is a job that can be carried out by most homeowners themselves.
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If you have a blocked drain, there are a few things you can do to rectify the situation. First, if it’s possible for you to unblock the drain yourself or find an emergency drain unblocker, try to do so with household items such as baking soda and vinegar or a plunger.
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If this doesn’t work, there are services available that can help with clearing your drain—if necessary.
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In addition to trying these methods first before calling in professional help, consider preventing clogs from occurring in the future by not pouring grease down drains or flushing anything larger than toilet paper (including cigarette butts) down toilets.
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What Do I Need to Unblock a Plughole or Drain?
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If you’re looking to unblock a drain, there are plenty of ways you can do it. Here’s a list of the tools and supplies you’ll need:
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Plunger
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This is the classic tool for unblocking drains. Use it to force water down the pipe, dislodge any blockages and get things flowing again.
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It’s important to make sure you make a good seal around the plug so smearing a little vaseline around the rim of the cup can guarantee you maximum success.
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Use a wire coat hanger to clear blockages
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If your plunger doesn’t work (or for smaller clogs), reach for this instead. The wire will be easier to maneuver through hard-to-reach places than a regular rubber plunger head would be.
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Once in place, bend back on itself so that the hook forms one end of an L shape; push this down into your drain until it hits resistance, then pull up sharply—this should create enough suction to clear any blockage from inside your drainpipe.
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Before you start, be sure to unplug your sink and turn off the water supply so that no water is running into or down your drain when you’re loosening up whatever might be clogging it. You’ll also want to wear gloves and eye protection for this project—drain unblocking can get messy!
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If your drain has an overflow hole or slotted plug at the bottom of it, remove that first so that all excess water can flow out of the sink before proceeding with cleaning tasks. Then carefully insert a wire coat hanger into your drain and push it as far down as possible; if this doesn’t clear things up, try pushing or pulling out any visible debris with pliers or tongs (but don’t use anything sharp).
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If necessary, add more liquid solution to loosen things up even more—you may need less than what’s recommended on product packaging since we’re using just one coat hanger instead of an entire bottle of cleaner at once!
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Hot water and washing up liquid could help too
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Another trick many people swear by is pouring hot water into the plughole while simultaneously plunging or using a wire coat hanger, as mentioned above. Hot water and washing up liquid is the easiest option, but it’s not always effective. Put some hot water in the sink and add some washing-up liquid to it.
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You can also add an equal amount of chemical drain cleaner (one part washing up liquid plus one part chemical drain cleaner). This combination should help dissolve whatever has built up inside of your plumbing system over time and make sure everything runs smoothly again.
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Leave it for a few minutes, then check the drain. If it’s still blocked, repeat the process. But remember to use boiling or near-boiling water when doing this, and don’t burn yourself!
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Want to try chemical drain cleaners?
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If you’re not averse to using chemicals, there are several that can be used safely in most cases. Drain cleaners are available at home-improvement stores and hardware stores. For the best results, read the label of the product carefully to make sure it’s appropriate for your drain type and pipe material (not all chemicals work on plastic pipes).
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Most chemical drain cleaners will come with instructions for use. Make sure you follow them closely—you don’t want to end up with toxic fumes in your kitchen or bathroom! If you’re not sure how much of the chemical should go down your drain, err on the side of caution: less is more when it comes to chemical drain cleaners!
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The baking soda and vinegar method is an old favorite, but it’s not always effective
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This method is based on the chemical reaction between these two ingredients, which forms a bubbling foam that will loosen clogs and help them to flow down the drain. You can use any brand of baking soda but stay away from baking powder because it has a different chemical makeup. You can also use apple cider vinegar or white distilled vinegar instead of distilled white vinegar if you prefer those flavors to work better with your recipe.
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The problem with this method is that it doesn’t work when grease or hair are causing the clog in your drain. If you had used this method before and had no luck removing your clog, try using hot water instead of cold water when mixing up the solution!
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Baking soda and salt works brilliantly, too
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Your last-ditch effort to unblock a drain is to combine baking soda and salt. It’s the same process as using vinegar and baking soda, but you’ll need to add about 1/4 cup of salt for every 1/2 cup of baking soda.
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Once you’ve done that, pour the mixture into your clogged drain and wait 10 minutes before flushing again with hot water. Repeat if necessary.
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Find a plumber who offers drain unblocking services
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If you have a blocked drain and don’t want to get your hands dirty, then consider calling a plumber. A plumber will be able to quickly unblock your drain and leave no mess.
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They’ll also be able to provide you with advice on how you can prevent drain blockages in the future, which will help save you time and money in the long run.
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If you live in Cheltenham or the surrounding areas, call Pro Blocked Drains, who will be happy to help you.
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Final Words
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Unblocking a drain is a job that many homeowners can carry out themselves. It’s important to choose the right tools for your needs and follow the instructions carefully to avoid damaging your plumbing system. If you have tried to unblock your sink or drain yourself but still need help, then call in the professionals who have other methods of sink unblocking available to them.
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Pro Blocked Drains have over 20 years of experience working with all types of drains and pipes throughout the UK, we have extensive experience in all types of drainage problems, and what’s more, we have engineers right on your doorstep.
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Our aim is always to solve your problem as quickly as possible without causing further damage or inconvenience along the way–we try our best not only because this saves time but also because it reduces costs by avoiding unnecessary repairs later down the line when there may be more complications involved!
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With Pro Blocked Drains, we guarantee you:
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Fully Qualified Safe Contractor Approved Workers
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Quick Response Time
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Full Indemnity Insurance
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Competitive Prices
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24/7 drain services
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Availability 365 days of the year
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No Call Out Fee
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Free Quotations
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Friendly service
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Guaranteed Work
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5-star rating
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Peace of mind
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If you need more information about our services, please get in touch with us today either by dropping us an email or calling on 0800 611 82 99. We will give you a free quote for all work carried out by our team of specialists. We also offer a 24/7/365 emergency service for any urgent repairs you may require.
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Our friendly, knowledgeable staff are always happy to help! Learn more information about Drains Inspection.