Fix That Slow Drain: Getting Your Drains Flowing Again
Ever stand at the sink watching water circle the drain like it’s taking a lazy Sunday stroll? Or step out of the shower only to find yourself ankle-deep in soapy water? Yeah, me too. And after 12 years as a plumber, I can tell you—that slow drain won’t fix itself.
Most folks don’t think about their drains until something’s wrong. By then, you’re already dealing with standing water, funky smells, or worse. Let’s talk about why your drains slow down and what you can actually do about it.
Why Your Water’s Moving Like Molasses
Before you can fix a slow drain, you need to understand what’s causing it.
Here’s what I find most often when I’m called to homes around here:
- In kitchens, it’s almost always grease. Even if you’re careful, cooking oils slip down the drain in tiny amounts. Over time, they stick to pipe walls and catch everything else going down coffee grounds, bits of food, you name it.
- In bathrooms, hair is the usual suspect. It wraps around everything, creating these rope-like clogs that trap soap scum and toothpaste. I once pulled a hairball the size of a tennis ball from a shower drain. The homeowner had been dealing with slow drainage for a year!
- Hard water’s another common culprit. Those minerals build up inside pipes just like they do on your faucets, gradually narrowing the space water has to flow through.
DIY Fixes That Actually Work
Before you call someone like me, there are a few things worth trying yourself:
- The Boiling Water Trick: This is as simple as it gets. Boil a full kettle of water and pour it straight down the drain. For minor grease clogs or soap buildup, this can sometimes do the trick. Just don’t use this method if you have PVC pipes under the sink—the heat can damage plastic plumbing.
- Baking Soda and Vinegar: I know it sounds like a middle school science experiment, but it works. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, follow with a cup of white vinegar, and let it fizz for about 30 minutes. Flush with hot water. The bubbling action helps break up gunk and clears light clogs.
- Check Your Drain Stopper: In bathrooms, pop out the drain stopper and clean it. You’ll probably find a disgusting hairball wrapped around it. Trust me—it’s satisfying to remove.
- Drain Snake: Those little plastic strips with teeth can pull out hair clogs like nobody’s business. They cost a few bucks at the hardware store and can save you a service call.
When It’s Time to Call a Pro
Look, I appreciate a good DIY effort. But some drain issues need professional equipment and know-how. Here’s when to pick up the phone:
- Your sink is draining slower and slower despite your best efforts. This usually means the clog is deeper in the system than household tools can reach.
- Multiple fixtures are acting up at once. If your toilet gurgles when you run the sink or the tub backs up when you flush, that’s a main line issue. Don’t mess around with those—they can lead to sewage backups.
- There’s a foul smell coming from the drain that won’t go away. That usually means something organic is caught in the trap or pipe, decomposing.
- You hear weird gurgling sounds when water goes down. That’s air trapped in the pipes, trying to get around a blockage.
What We’ll Do When We Arrive
When you call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing for a slow drain, we don’t just poke around with a snake and hope for the best.
We approach it systematically:
First, we figure out if it’s an isolated problem or part of a larger issue. Is just one drain slow, or are multiple fixtures affected?
For stubborn single-drain clogs, we’ll often use a professional-grade auger that can reach much deeper than consumer drain snakes.
If the problem seems more serious, we might use a special camera to actually see inside your pipes. This lets us locate the exact spot and type of blockage without guesswork.
For more severe blockages, we use hydro-jetting—basically a pressure washer for your pipes that blasts away years of buildup without damaging the plumbing.
Keep Your Drains Happy
Once we’ve got your drains flowing freely again, here’s how to keep them that way:
- Never pour grease down the kitchen sink. Let it cool and throw it in the trash instead.
- Drain strainers should be used in showers and tubs to catch hair before it goes down the pipe.
- Run hot water down the drain for a minute after using the sink.
Consider having your drains professionally cleaned once a year as preventative maintenance. It’s much cheaper than emergency service calls.
Bottom Line
A slow drain is like a check engine light—it’s telling you something’s wrong before it becomes a major problem. Don’t ignore it. Whether you try our DIY tips or call us in, addressing it quickly will save you headaches (and money) down the road.
At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, we’re ready to get your drains flowing freely again. One call, and your water will be going down the drain where it belongs—quickly and quietly.
