Most homeowners or renters will encounter a drain that gets clogged up from time to time. To call the plumber can be relatively expensive, So, we teamed up with J Snow Drainage London  to pull together some ideas regarding how to get the drain unclogged yourself.

1. The Bent Wire Hanger Method

This is a fairly straight forward technique, but it can take a little practice. Using a regular wire coat hanger, the kind that you get when you receive your shirts back from the laundry, take the hanger and straighten it out. Take a pair of pliers to one end and make a small hook, so the point is doubled back. Then just thrust the hook end into the drain, past the drain cover and begin to fish for debris. What you want to do is push the hook past where you feel pressure just slightly, then slowly pull back and you should feel resistance. Keep pulling until the hanger comes out, and you will most likely see a ball of matted hair and debris on the end of the hook. Always pull the debris out, don't push it further into the drain. After pulling out as much as possible, run hot water and you should be fine.

2. The Vinegar and Baking Soda Method

While holding a measuring cup over the drain, mix one third of a cup of baking soda with one third cup of vinegar in a measuring cup. It will immediately begin to fizz, so just pour it slowly into the drain right away. The action that it cause while fizzing will act to remove the hair and debris that has accumulated in the pipe. Leave it alone for at least an hour, or even overnight if you have the time. Then flush the drain with hot water. An alternate approach is to put as much baking soda down the pipe as possible, and then pour the vinegar into the pipe directly.

3. Using A Wet and Dry Vacuum

If you possess a wet and dry vacuum, or a shop vacuum it will sometimes work with your efforts to unclog a drain. The secret to this method is to make a very tight seal over the drain. A good way to do this is to use an old plunger head and make a hole in it to put the vacuum hose through. Then once you have the seal on the drain, turn the vacuum to its highest setting number, and in many cases it will be strong enough to pull up the clog right into the vacuum bag. This is not 100% going to work every time, but if it does it is a pretty simple method to use.

4. Use Boiling Water

This is the simplest suggestion, and much of the time it will get the job done. Boil as much water as you can in a kettle on your stove, or use your microwave oven. Be very careful not to spill it or burn yourself, but once it is boiling pour the hot water down the drain slowly for just a few seconds and let it set, working its way through the clog. Continue until the water is gone. You can use this method over and over until it works.

5. The Caustic Soda Method

Caustic soda, or Sodium Hydroxide can be used, but you have to be very careful. This is the same principle as when you use Drano or other commercial products, and in fact if you wish you can just use those products. This is less expensive, however, but here you have a choice. Just be careful, use rubber gloves and don't breathe the fumes. Add 3 cups of soda to 3/4 gallon of cold water and slowly pour into the drain. Let is sit for 30 minutes, then pour boiling water slowly into the drain.

 These five tips can save you time and money and will ensure your drain is kept clean at all times