You may be surprised to find that a lot of debris goes down the shower drain. Over time, this can build up, causing a slow moving drain. There are a few things you can try at home to stop this common plumbing problem.

Unclog By Hand

As long as the blockage isn’t deeper in your sewer system, you may be able to clear it by hand. To do this, remove the stopper. Find a piece of wire and bend the end with pliers to form a hook. Slide into the drain and use the hook to lift away tangled hair and debris. Have a utility knife on hand in case you have trouble getting all of the hair out. Once the drain is clear, remove the wire and replace the stopper.

Use Hot Water

A simple household solution to a slow moving shower drain is hot water, vinegar, and baking soda. This method should only be used on drains that are fitted with CPVC pipes. Boiling water can damage PVC pipes.

Pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. Then pour in two cups of boiling water. Let it work for five minutes before adding a combination of baking soda and vinegar. Next, pour baking soda and vinegar into the drain and replace the stopper. Let it sit while the mixture foams. After it has had adequate time to work, pour a cup of boiling water down the drain.

Do Not Use a Drain Cleaner

There are many commercially-made drain cleaner products available at home improvement and grocery stores. If you have frequent drain problems, it is best to contact a certified plumber to evaluate your system rather than using harsh chemicals that can do further damage. Contact Putman and Son’s Plumbing today.

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• A Dry P-Trap – The curved length of pipe under the sink is called the p-trap. Water is supposed to remain in the curve to serve as a plug that stops gas from the sewer system from coming up. If it goes dry, it will not serve this function and allow odors into your home. Make sure to run water in sinks that don’t get much use to prevent this problem.
• Clogged Vent – Vents are necessary to release gas from the sewer system, usually extending to the roof. If a vent pipe becomes clogged, it could cause gasses to enter your home. Due to the position of the pipe, you may need to call a professional to clear a clogged vent.
• Blocked Drain – If you notice a rotten egg smell, it could be biofilm buildup from a drain clog. To remove the bacteria, you must clear the blockage. This may be done using a drain cleaner product or boiling water.
• Sewer Line Blockage – A blockage may also exist deeper in the system along the main sewer line. When this happens, you will likely have to call a plumber to snake the line.
• Mold Growth – Musty smells can be a sign of mold in the drain. Per the EPA, as long as the infected area is less than 10 square feet in size, you should be able to handle it yourself. Vinegar, boiling water, and baking soda can be used to remove mold.

If you have trouble identifying the cause of drain odors, a professional can help. Call Putman & Son’s Plumbing 24/7 plumbing services located in southeast Michigan to stop sewer smells and remove blockages.

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When you have drain issues in your bathroom or kitchen it can end up being a major inconvenience. In this article, we will highlight the benefits of receiving professional drain cleaning services. Some of the more common problems plumbers see include: backed up drains, slow drains, completely clogged drains, and foul odors. You may have tried a few methods on your own without much luck.

Over time, your drain can begin to clog as a result of debris buildup such as grease, food scraps, leaves, tree roots or other issues. You may notice that your drain is starting to slow down, and eventually it can become completely blocked and non-functional. As soon as you start noticing any problems, it is essential to call a professional plumbing company like Putman & Son’s Plumbing to fix your system’s problem.

Don’t deal with the hassle of slow drains or totally blocked drains. With a proper sewer inspection and drain cleaning, we guarantee that your plumbing system will be back up and running quickly. Contact Putman & Son’s Plumbing. We are here to help.

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