Plumbing is a huge part of the everyday function of your Edmonton home, so unless you’re showering very sparingly, chances are you’d be getting clogged drain problems every now and again. While you might be tempted to call up your trusted Edmonton plumbers every time the sink gurgles or drains slowly, here are some steps you can take to remedy minor clogs before it’s too late:

 

Gear up

Start your plumbing troubleshooting by getting the right equipment in the first place. You’ll need a plunger, and in case the clog is more than a bit of plunging can take care of, you might want to bring a drain snake or hand auger, too. You’ll also need a wet cloth to cover the overflow vent of your sink’s basin— only by covering the vents properly can your plunger work efficiently.

Fill with Water

Now, you should fill the sink with water, but not to the brim— rather, make sure that there’s just enough water to completely cover the head of your plunger (you can seal it further by coating the plunger’s lip with petroleum jelly). Slide it over the opening and pump up and down until the water pressure building up underneath manages to dislodge the blockage.

Auger

HowStuffWorks writer Dan Ramsey says that if this initial unclogging doesn’t work, you can use a drain-and-trap auger:

If plunger doesn’t remove clog, consider using chemical drain opener. For drain that’s completely blocked, however, it’s best not to use chemicals, as they contain caustic agents that can actually harm some fixtures. Instead, use drain-and-trap auger. To use it, remove popup stopper or strainer from clogged drain and insert auger wire into opening. As you feed flexible wire in, crank handle of device, loosening and then tightening thumbscrew on handle as you advance wire. If wire encounters something, move it back and forth while you turn auger handle. Then continue to turn handle while slowly withdrawing auger.

Professional Help

If this process still doesn’t work, you might want to take it as your first sign that your drain will need professional work. In this case, be sure to hire only reliable Edmonton or Stony Plain plumbers. Companies like Capital Plumbing & Heating Ltd. should be able to remedy most of your other plumbing problems as well.