Diy: Tips about how To Clear Out Your Main Drain Line

Implementing a Sewer Snake 
If the trap is clear and the drain still clogs, the obstruction is further into the sink's drain pipe or the main drain. To clear these drains, you'll need a plumber's auger or, as it is more frequently called, a sewer snake. With the trap removed, enter the snake into the sink drain line and push in until you meet the blockage. When the tip of the snake is against the clog, try to hook the clog by rotating the snake's handle clockwise. When the debris is solidly hooked, twist and drive the clog back and forth until you split up the clog. Flush the pipe with cold water. Once the blockage is removed, reassemble the sink's trap. When you reassemble the trap after cleaning, you need to reseal the threads. Use pipe joint compound or Teflon tape. Run water for a few minutes to make sure the obstruction is fully purged and the trap is not dripping where it has been reconnected.

Unclogging the Main Drain 
If more than one sink, bathtub or toilet is clogged, you'll have to clear out the main drain line or the sewer. To clean out the main drain line, locate the clean-out plugs found on the large drain pipes. Look for these plugs on the vertical pipes in your basement or crawl space. In a number of homes these drains may be positioned in a garage or pantry closet, or there might be accessibility to these plugs outdoors alongside the foundations of your house. Normally these pipes will be vertical, but on occasion a plug may be located on a horizontal pipe. When you locate a steel or plastic cap for the pipes with a square fitting at the top, remove the fitting with a wrench. Be sure to have a waste bucket in position when opening up the drain. Use a plumber's snake to break up any clogs. Make sure to put the auger in both directions of the pipe. You can also use a strong stream of water from your garden hose to break up any debris. Replace the steel cap of the drain pipe.

Tips for the Kitchen Sink
Pour grease into cans and toss them in the garbage. If you happen to empty oil into the sink, the oil collects along the sides of the pipe and then food particles stick to the pipes, ultimately contributing to a blockage. Also too much grease can eventually cause sewer blockages since the germs in sewage systems cannot quickly break down oil. When you are grinding up food in a disposal, run plenty of cold water to flush food particles down the pipe. Using too little water can contribute to the debris collecting along the sides of the pipe. Don't empty coffee grounds in the sink. Pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain once a week to liquefy any fat or grease that may have accumulated.
 
Tips for the Bathroom 
Clean the pop-up stoppers in sinks regularly. Hair often collects here and causes clogs. Don't flush heavy paper products down the drain. Excess paper can clog the toilet and/or the whole sewer system.

See More About Local Placerville Plumbing Company Service & Repair 

Placerville Plumbing Repair  - (530) 961-4099
1390 Broadway Ste. B-341 Placerville, CA 95667-5900