Drain clogs take a long time to develop. Once they do they can cost you time and money to fix, but many people are unaware that there are more safe and less costly solutions than a bottle of drain cleaner, or hiring a professional. The culprits are usually hair, scum, and soap, but with a little know-how, you can learn how to fix a clogged bathtub drain.

First, check if your drain is completely clogged. If the water still drains down, albeit slowly, you can often rid yourself of the problem simply by running hot water for five minutes. Often, water alone is enough to dislodge the hairballs and dirt. Pour a cup of salt, followed by boiling water. This method usually unplugs anything except metal or plastic, as the water takes the clog/ build-up with it.

If that fails, try a plunger. Stuff the overflow plate with a rag first. If you suspect the overflow plate hole might be clogged as well, you will have to remove the plate and clean its parts. Force water down the drain hole with the plunger to get the clog moving. You can also plunge the drain pipe. In that case you have to stuff the overflow hole to prevent suction from escaping out of it. When you plunge the drain, the clog might rise to the top. In that case try to remove it with your hand.

If this fails, try an unwound coat hanger or any other flexible wire that will withstand pressure but will bend to make turns. Push it into the drain hole and move around to unclog the bathtub drain. You can also enter through the overflow hole if you can not get to the clog through the drain hole.

Yet another inexpensive and effective tool to use is a cable auger, otherwise known as a plumbers stake. The tip is inserted into the drain hole. Then the binding screw on the snake is tightened and twisted to latch onto the clog and remove it. Plumbers stakes can reach deeper into your drain pipe, up to 2 feet.

After you have exhausted these options, your next best bet would be a chemical drain cleaner, which can reach deeper than the other methods mentioned. They are widely available and come in many types and brands. The chemicals used are dangerous when they come in contact with water or other chemicals, and are also caustic. So remember to use gloves and wear protective glasses and do not forget to read the instructions. Do not use them if your tub is backed up. After half an hour, run hot water.

If all fails, your clog is likely too deep down for home methods to reach, and you should call a plumber. This will likely be expensive and time consuming, so if the clog is not deeper than 3 feet, these solutions might be more viable.

Of course prevention is the always the best option. Make sure the grate is in place and clean the drain hole often, and it is recommended you remove it entirely to clear it of scum trapped in the screen and directly under it. But if you do need a quick fix for a clogged bathtub drain, try these simple solutions.

Get the low down on the best ways to clear a clogged bathtub drain now in our complete overview of easy plumbing solutions on http://magicplumbing.com/

Most households are full of bathroom and kitchen drains and pipes. Over time these pipes can become clogged and cause a blockage that could prevent the water from draining. When clogged plumbing is an issue for a homeowner, there are several things that they can do. Certain techniques can be applied to the drain and sink to repair the blockage and get the pipes flowing again.

There are several ways that drains can become clogged when in the kitchen. These drains may become full of counter top dirt. Many people will clean their counter tops right into the sink. They could use a damp rag and wipe crumbs and mess right into the sink. Over time this can lead to a build up and cause a clog to occur.

Often people will wipe and scrape dishes into the sink before they load the dishwasher. While this helps the dishwasher stay nice and clean, it can cause the sink to pile up with blockages. Old food and sour dairy may be left behind in the drains causing an odor and a blockage.

A great way to help keep pipes clear, is to never wipe items into the sink. Rinsing dishes is okay as long as there isn’t bits of crumbs and hard food on the plate. It may also be a great idea to keep the drains upside down in both sinks. This will catch any loose pieces and can be easily shaken over a garbage.

There is a solution of baking soda and vinegar that can be used to keep drains clean. This solution can be mixed before hand and then poured down the pipes. Some people will mix up some baking soda and water and pour the liquid solution into the sink. After a few minutes vinegar can be poured into the pipes for further cleaning. The combination of vinegar and baking soda will cause a massive collection of hard working bubbles that will keep hard food in the pipes moving.

Everything for a home made solution should be found in the kitchen already. The mixture just takes a few minutes to prepare and make. This routine can be done on a weekly basis to continue the flow of the pipes. Many people will also use this mixture if their pipes do become clogged as an early treatment.

When a pipe does become clogged in some way there are a a few ways to handle the crisis. The mixture of baking soda and vinegar can be applied to see if it will work. If the clog is very big, a plunger designed for sinks can be used. These small handled plungers will free up the blockage and let the waster run down the sink again.

Drain snakes can always be used in a blocked pipe to pull out the blockage. These snakes usually have a hook at the end that is used to pull out old matter left behind in the pipes. Finding out that clogged plumbing is the reason for a backed up sink, may not be an issue for someone who knows how to handle the job.

It’s no fun when you have clogged plumbing call the San Francisco plumbing experts to fix it right.

If you have ever had a water heater leak in your home, you know that they can cause tons of damage. Do not let the situation get out of hand by leaving the heater to leak until a professional arrives. There are some things that you can do on your own to stop the leaking while you wait for a professional opinion.

The first thing you need to focus on when you notice that your water heater is leaking is to turn off the water. This can be difficult because the water tank is covered in valves and knobs that can look confusing. When you call the plumber to have them come to your house, ask them where you can find the valve to turn the water off.

You first have to be aware of what type of water heater you are using. There are electric water heaters, gas water heaters and solar powered water heaters. For electric water heaters you simply have to switch the power off by locating the breaker. When your electricity is off, there is no way to power the tank that has the leak. For a gas water heater you have to turn off the gas by finding the valve that attaches to the tank.

When you have successfully turned off the electricity or gas, you have dealt with half of the problem. You still have to deal with the water than is entering the tank. In order to turn off the incoming water flow you have to tighten the cool water valve. If you do not know where this is you should call a plumber and ask, or look online for a helpful diagram.

Since water heater tanks are large and hold quite a bit of water, you should attempt to stop the water in the tank from leaking out. Locating the hole where water is leaking from can be difficult, so draining the tank is the best way to stop it from leaking into your home. You can use a hose to drain the water out into the yard, a sink or a drain. Water heater tanks are made with a drain at the bottom where you can attach a hose for the very purpose of draining the tank.

In some cases, a leak in your water heater comes from loose valves. If you notice that the water is coming from a valve, tighten it and see if the leak persists. It is also very likely that the leak was caused by rust that led to a small hole. Unfortunately, if your water heater tank is leaking because of a hole it will have to be replaced.

In order to get an accurate idea of what you must do to fix the tank you should call a plumber. They can give you an estimate of how much it should cost. Attempting to fix the tank on your own could lead to more water damage. In addition, you should never work with a gas water heater if you are not trained to do so.

The best way to deal with a water heater leak is to call a professional. They can target the leak and tell you whether or not the tank must be replaced. With the help of a professional you will have your hot water up and running in no time.

Solve your water heater leak Any day including weekends call the San Francisco Plumbing experts.