Recognizing the signs of a clogged drain early enough can save you time, money, and stress. If you notice any of these warning signs of a clogged drain, call our convenient 24/7 live answering service and one of our friendly dispatchers will quickly schedule an appointment for you. Look out for these signs of a clogged drain:
- Water that keeps backing up into your sink, bathtub, or shower
- Pools of water form around your drains, then drain very slowly
- Soap scum build up on the floor of your bathtub or shower because water is draining so slowly
- Your toilet bubbling while running the bathroom sink
- Your drains make a strange noise when you’re using the washing machine or dishwasher
- Pools of water on the floor near the bathtub, shower, or sink
- Odors of rotting food at the kitchen drain
- A noticeable odor of sewage in or around your home
Clearing a Clogged Drain with a Plunger
Sometimes you can clear a clogged drain with store-bought drain cleaner and a plunger, so you don’t need to call a professional. If you have a clogged shower drain or your bathtub drain is clogged, you likely need a professional to use a powerful plumbing snake or drain rooter to pull out hair and debris from the pipes. For clogged drains in sinks, use these steps to clear the clog:
- Use a cup plunger.
- If the drain clog is in a double sink, plug up one of the drains with a wet towel or rag before you begin.
- If the drain clog is in a bathroom sink, cover up the sink overflow hole before you begin
- Place the plunger over the center of the drain.
- Move the plunger up and down rapidly to create a seal.
- Remove the plunger and re-center it over the drain.
- Then continue plunging rapidly and forcefully for 2-3 minutes, or until the standing water starts draining.
If using a plunger and drain cleaner doesn’t work, you need to call a service professional to clear your clogged drain. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Humboldt & Del Norte has specialized tools, equipment, and experience to clear clogged drains quickly and easily.
Fix Clogged Drains Quickly to Prevent Bigger Problems
Fixing clogged drains quickly can prevent bigger and costlier problems down the road. If you let a clogged drain sit, it will eventually cause rust and corrosion in your plumbing - especially if you keep trying to treat it with store-bought drain cleaner. This corrosion will eventually lead to cracks and breaks in your pipes, or it can cause a big enough clog that you end up with a sewer system backup.
At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Humboldt & Del Norte, we offer an Advantage Plan that allows homeowners to keep up with preventative plumbing maintenance that will keep their pipes flowing freely. Our preventative maintenance combines video-assisted plumbing inspections, drain cleaning services, clogged drain clearing, and more and can save you time, money, and stress by reducing your risk of serious plumbing problems.
Choose Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Humboldt & Del Norte
When you choose us at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Humboldt & Del Norte, you’re getting experienced, courteous service professionals whose workmanship and parts are guaranteed. We offer upfront pricing on plumbing repairs like clogged drain cleaning, and we will never charge overtime fees. We know our customers are busy, so we offer flexible service options and convenient scheduling times via our 24/7 answering service or our website.
We’re Answering the Most Common Questions About Clogs
Your entire plumbing system relies on the full and healthy flow of your drains. When a drain becomes clogged, it will affect your ability to do essential daily activities, like doing the dishes, taking a shower, and much more. When you have a clogged drain, many questions will come to mind. How did this happen? What do I need to do to clear the clog? Could I have caught this earlier? Don’t worry. We’re here to help answer those questions. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Humboldt & Del Norte loves to answer questions about our clogged drain services in Eureka, CA, and the surrounding areas. Learn more about our clogged drain repair services.
Why Are My Drains Clogged?
One of the first questions most homeowners ask is, “How did my drain become clogged?” There are many different ways that a clog can form. Each drain in your home is likely to deal with its unique kind of clog-causing materials. In your kitchen, the sink’s drain can become blocked by grease, fat, oil, and food particles. On the other hand, bathtubs and showers are faced with a lot of hair-related clogs. Bathroom sinks deal with a lot of dirt and chemicals, but toothpaste is one of the most frequent sources of clogs. Many of these materials, like toothpaste, grease, and oil, seem like fluids when you wash them down a drain, but they harden once they settle within your pipes.
What Are the Warning Signs That a Clog Is Forming?
You’ll be much happier if you catch a clog while it’s still forming. Our drain clog repair team can remove partial obstructions before they completely block the flow of water down your drains. To catch a clog early, you need to be aware of the warning signs. You can usually see, smell, or even hear the formation of a clog if you are attentive. You might see that the flow of water down your drain is becoming sluggish. You might smell a foul odor caused by the accumulation of a clog. In some cases, you will even hear a bubbling or gurgling as water flows down your drain. Any of these signs are hints that you probably have a clog forming.
How Can I Prevent Clogs?
If you take some preventative measures, you can prevent the formation of many common clogs. The most reliable way to avoid clogs is to keep your plumbing system in peak condition with plumbing maintenance. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Humboldt & Del Norte offers preventative maintenance services. When our team routinely inspects your drains, we’ll be able to identify clogs before they affect the performance of your plumbing system. Additionally, you can avoid putting clog-causing materials down your drain. Always throw away fibrous food particles, grease, and oil. Also, install a hair trap in your bathtub or shower.
Are There Any Tricks for Clearing a Clog Right Away?
The only way to know that you have completely cleared a clog is to have a team of home service professionals do it for you. Sometimes, you need to get your drains flowing right away. In that case, there are two tricks you can try. The first is the plunger technique. Use a sink plunger to pull the clog closer to the surface of the drain. This can make way for standing water to flow down the drain again. You can also try using boiling hot water. Let water drain out of the sink as much as possible first. Then, boil a pot of water and pour it down the drain. The heat can loosen hardened materials and let water flow through your pipes again. Neither of these are permanent solutions, though. Even if your drain starts flowing again, you should call Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Humboldt & Del Norte for a thorough drain cleaning.
Are Chemical Drain Cleaners Safe and Effective?
It can be tempting to go to your local hardware store and pick up some chemical-clogged drain cleaners. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Humboldt & Del Norte warns homeowners against doing this. The chemicals in these cleaners can be harmful to certain types of pipes, gaskets, seals, and other plumbing components.
Schedule a Clogged Drain Service Appointment Now!
We realize that dealing with a clog can be frustrating and confusing. Don’t worry. You have a local team of home service professionals ready to help you clear your drains. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Humboldt & Del Norte has made countless satisfied customers in the Eureka area because we offer upfront pricing, reliable repairs, and convenient appointment scheduling. Contact us today to schedule your clogged drain service appointment!