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

Using a Sewer Snake 
If the trap is clear and the drain continually 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 known as, a sewer snake. With the trap removed, insert 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 attach the clog by turning the snake's handle clockwise. When the debris is sturdily hooked, twist and push the clog back and forth until you split up the clog. Flush the pipe with cold water. Once the clog is gone, 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 leaking where it has been reconnected.

Unclogging the Main Drain 
If more than one sink, bathtub or toilet is obstructed, 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 located on the large drain pipes. Look for these plugs on the vertical pipes in your basement or crawl space. In a number of properties these drains may be found in a garage or pantry closet, or there may be access to these plugs outdoors along the foundations of your house. Typically these pipes will be vertical, but occasionally a plug may be located on a horizontal pipe. When you find 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 place when opening up the drain. Use a plumber's snake to break up any clogs. Make sure to insert the auger in both directions of the pipe. You can also use a powerful 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
Dump grease into cans and toss them in the trash. If you happen to empty oil into the sink, the grease accumulates along the sides of the pipe and then food particles cling to the pipes, ultimately bringing about a blockage. Also an excessive amount of grease can gradually cause sewer blockages since the germs in sewage systems cannot easily break down oil. When you are grinding up food in a disposal, run a lot of cold water to flush food particles down the pipe. Using too little water can contribute to the particles accumulating 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 melt any fat or grease that may have built-up.
 
Tips for the Bathroom 
Wash the pop-up stoppers in sinks on a regular basis. Hair often collects here and brings about clogs. Don't flush heavy paper products down the drain. Excessive paper can obstruct 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