A clogged drain is a plumbing emergency that every home has had. The common non-living victims of a clogged pipe are the kitchen sink, the bathtub and the shower. But we, the victims of the foul smell and the swamped floors begin to wonder whatever happened!

Foreign objects stuck in a drain are the most common cause of a clogged drain. Hair, small objects like bottles or brushes, food debris, fats poured down the sink and solidified due to the cold, leaves stuck in the external drain grid, etc. can clog a drain. More serious causes include structural damage, collapsed pipes, roots growing through and blocking a pipe and the like.

Prevention, they say, is better than cure. Therefore resist it when the compulsion to flush a diaper down the drain and to throw food remains down the kitchen sink begins to overpower you. Bi-annual examination of roof downpipes for blockages and intermittent check of inspection covers is important.

Drains can be unclogged by using either mechanical or chemical methods. Mechanical methods are simple but involve possibly touching wastes that have been removed form the pipe and this is not very desirable. Chemical cleaning does not require this but their use causes release of harmful smoke that is bad for the environment as well as our bodies.

Using a plunger is one way by which a clog can be removed mechanically. A slow pumping action should follow the placement of the plunger head over the drain, as fast pumping will worsen the situation. Alternatively, a wet de-vac can be used.

If you want to avoid plungers and the like, buy a de-congesting chemical in the market and follow the instructions on the pack. Alternatively, you could use some home remedies.

If you poured fat down the sink, odds are it solidified because of the cold and is what is blocking your sink. Add detergent to some hot water and pour it down the sink. The fat will soften because of the heat and the detergent will dissolve it so that you wont have to worry about the fat going down and freezing somewhere else.

You could also pour half a cup of baking soda followed by half a cup of vinegar into the drain and cover it. When this mixture stops bubbling and fuming inside, pour a lot of hot water over it. Often, you might have to use a mechanical method along with this to ensure that drain is fully clear. If none of this works, there is a bigger problem and a plumber needs to be called.

Scott Rodgers is a noted writer who has been providing great guidance on plumbing works all over the country. His luxurious knowledge has, in fact, sparked significant rise in revenue for talented plumbers across the nation, from Toledo Plumbers Need one? click here!) to Madison Plumbers (Need one? click here!).