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Homecare

How to fix minor plumbing clogs

Posted by AMH Team

4m read time

Aug 5, 2024

You may stress when you notice a clog in your toilet or drain. Perhaps your mind begins wandering, worrying about costly repairs that require extensive time and labor. While those sorts of problems exist, in many cases, learning how to fix minor plumbing clogs can solve the issue on its own. Read on to see ways to address common plumbing issues, from drain blockage to how to stop a running toilet. Even better, manage those problems before they wreak havoc.

 

Preventative plumbing maintenance

 

One of the best ways to avoid significant plumbing issues is to take steps to prevent them in the first place. Here are five preventative plumbing care maintenance items to do on your own.

 

Only flush toilet paper and human waste

 

Have you ever been in a bathroom and seen a warning to only flush toilet paper? That business doesn’t want to deal with a clog. Treat your home the same way.

 

Throwing sanitary products, cleaning wipes, hair, makeup residue, and grease down the toilet can create a drain blockage, which backs up the toilet and leads to a nasty clog. Stick to toilet paper and human waste to minimize the chances of something going wrong.

 

Treat your drains well

 

Ideally, your drain would only have to deal with water. But chances are you’re putting other things in its path. For example, you might brush your hair or clip your nails over the sink, and a long strand of hair or other bath product can get stuck in the shower drain. In the kitchen, food scraps are commonly thrown down the garbage disposal.

 

All of those can lead to clogged pipes that result in big repairs. While a strainer can help keep larger items at bay, try one of our favorite cleaning hacks: Mix baking soda and vinegar into a cup and pour it down the drain. The chemical compound pulls off excess grime and dirt from the pipes, giving them a new life.

 

Winterize your home

 

Preparing your home for the colder winter months brings several benefits, such as lower energy bills, less risk of property damage, and a decreased chance of pests.

 

There are several ways to winterize your home. For plumbing purposes, insulate pipes in cold, unheated areas—like the basement, garage, and outside—with foam or another type of wrap. If you live in a cold weather climate, turn off the water supply for your outdoor sprinkler system, hoses, and other faucets exposed to the elements.

 

Develop a leak-check routine

 

Spreading your maintenance checklist throughout the year makes every task more manageable. One of those tasks should be checking for leaks. When a sink is running, open up the cupboard and ensure there aren’t any leaking pipes or water stains.

 

Similarly, keep an eye on your sink and shower faucets. If they continue to drip even after you turn off the water, that’s likely a sign of a leak. At least once a month, mix vinegar and baking soda into a paste and apply it to showerheads and faucets throughout the house. Like with your drains, cleaning output sources can reduce buildup.  

 

When to DIY plumbing issues

 

Practicing ongoing maintenance reduces the chances of a major issue popping up. Even if you notice something, you may be able to fix it alone. Here are a couple simple DIY plumbing issues you can tackle.

 

Unclog a toilet

 

A clogged toilet can seem like a nightmare, particularly if you’re visiting someone else’s home. The good news is that a toilet plunger can handle most clogged toilets.

 

Put on some rubber gloves, put towels around the floor, and grab your flange toilet plunger. A toilet auger may also do the trick. Filling the cup of the plunger with water from the sink or toilet bowl will allow you to get good force to try and unloosen whatever’s causing the clog. Create a tight seal with the plunger and start pumping. Go slowly at first, then increase your speed when you hear the squishing sounds of water. 

 

If you’ve got a particularly stubborn clog, here’s a more in-depth guide for unclogging a toilet.

 

Unclog a drain

 

You might find drain blockage occurring in a kitchen or bathroom sink or bathtub, leading to water slowly draining (or not draining at all) and odors emanating from the sink. In many cases, the clog is fixable on its own.

 

A drain snake and sink plunger are separate products, but they both serve the same purpose of plucking debris from your sink or tub drain. Give them a try. You can also attempt the baking soda and vinegar solution mentioned above.

 

Now that you know how to fix minor plumbing clogs and other issues, you can tackle them with confidence. For more extensive issues or when you can’t identify the source of a clog or smell, we’re here to help.

 

AMH residents can submit maintenance requests at 855-254-2447 or online at myAMH. We’ve got you covered.

 

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