If you find yourself standing in a puddle only a few minutes into your shower, you’re most likely dealing with a clogged drain. A clogged shower drain is annoying, but that built-up pressure can also lead to serious damage for your pipes. The best way to avoid a clogged drain is to take advantage of the professional Willowbrook, IL drain cleaning services offered by Precision Plumbing, Heating and Cooling. But what should you do when your drain is already clogged and you need to shower? Unclogging a shower drain doesn’t always require professional attention. Precision suggests trying these do-it-yourself methods before you hire a professional.

• Liquid Plumber: Liquid plumber comes in several different brands and is usually an effective way to clear small clogs. It uses a chemical reaction between sodium hydroxide and water to dissolve blockages while it travels through pipes. Simply poor it down the drain, wait, and then rinse with hot water. If you have a thick, full-blown clog, however, liquid plumber may not be as powerful as you need it to be.
• The Bent Wire Hanger: It’s a simple tool, but a bent wire hanger can be extremely effective in clearing clogged drains. Straighten out the hanger as best as you can and bend one end to create a small hook. Push the hook end into the drain, and simply poke around until you find the blockage. Once you find it, pull out all of the gunk. The trick is to pull the clog out without pushing it further into the pipe and making the situation worse.
• The Drain Snake: A bent wire hanger will work if the clog isn’t far down the pipe, but if the clog is out of the hanger’s reach, you’ll need to take a different approach. A drain snake is an inexpensive do-it-yourself plumbing tool that can be found in any home improvement store. It’s a long, flexible cable with a cone-shaped end that easily winds its way through pipes and breaks up debris and blockages. The average tub drain is relatively small, so insert a small drain snake into the overflow drain of the tub. Thread it through the pipe while slowly twisting the handle. When it reaches the clog, you’ll feel resistance. All you have to do is pull the snake, and the clog, back out of the drain.

It won’t take long for a clogged drain to turn into a burst pipe, and it’s always best to fix the problem as soon as possible. If these do-it-yourself methods aren’t as effective as you need them to be, trust the work to the expert plumbers at Precision Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling. Call them today at 630-283-8848 to schedule an appointment and learn more about their Willowbrook, IL drain cleaning services.