The Local Cleveland Plumber Guide On How To Use Drain Rods

cleveland plumbing expertDrain clogs are not surprising at all. Over time, your drains will get blocked up due to several possible factors such as the accumulation of soap or shampoo scum, food particles, grease, hair or sometimes, even foreign objects that have accidentally infiltrated the pipes. Fortunately, it is easy to get rid of blockages especially if you have the right tools. Among the popular ways of unclogging drainpipes include the use of drain rods.

What are drain rods?

Drain rods are stiff yet flexible rods that are about one meter long per stick but they can be screwed together to reach further down the drain.  They are also often made from polypropylene material but some of the expensive types are made from steel. They usually come in sets and are available in blue or black colors. These rods are designed with unblocking tools which can either be a pivoting metal plate or an auger. The first one is great for dragging or scraping anything out of the pipes. The second one is designed to break through clogs and hook out substances.

How do you use drain rods?

  1. Wear your protective rubber gloves.
  2. Screw your drain rods together to reach into the drain. Make sure that the ends of the rods are screwed together in a clockwise manner. This will lock both ends tightly.
  3. Insert one end of the rod in the drain hole until you reach the blockage. Push the rod into the solid in order to loosen it up. Keep on driving the rod forward until the blockage breaks into smaller pieces or until it flows through the pipes.
  4. If you feel like you have caught something sticky, slowly pull out the rod and dispose the waste properly. You might want to wash the rods to avoid putting the substances back inside the pipes.
  5. Run the tap to wash the sediments inside the drain and test if the clog has been removed. If the clog still exists, insert your drain rods once again and repeat the clearing process. Should you feel like the clog has moved further down or pass a trap or a curve, remove the rod and use a natural drain cleaner such as baking soda and vinegar.
  6. After zapping the waste substances with your baking soda and vinegar, run the tap and test again for leaks.

I hope that this Cleveland plumber’s guide on how to use drain rods is helpful enough for you to remove clogs from your drains. Also read about how to prevent drain clogs to avoid such a problem in the future. If you need a professional to help you out, just call Plumbers 911 Texas at (409) 237-3137 to schedule an appointment.