Causes and Solutions for Slow Flowing Drain

Is your bathtub draining very slowly? Has the sink been filling up then slowly draining out when you finish washing your hands? You could be dealing with any number of potential problems, including a partial clog somewhere in the system.

At Four Seasons Plumbing & Sewer, we understand how important it is to keep water flowing quickly in the home. To help you avoid calling the plumber and paying an expensive fee, we’ve put together a few common causes of slow emptying drains and some easy home solutions to try out.

Hair Clog in the U-Bend

If you have long hair it will go down the drain, catch on the walls of the pipe, and eventually, cause a clog as other hair snags on it. Over time, this can build up and completely block the drain or make it drain veeerrry slowly.  Thankfully, a little maintenance helps keep this from happening in the first place. 

To get rid of a burgeoning hair clog, unscrew the drain strainer and set it aside. You may see the hairball just inside the pipe. Use a long pair of needle-nose pliers to pull it out. If you are dealing with a deeper clog, get a plastic drain snake or hair hook and send it down the pipe to try and snag on the hairball to pull it out. If you are successful, you’ll likely see faster draining water immediately.

Built-Up Grease or Food Particles

Clogs that are the result of built-up grease and food may be cleaned out by a chemical brew. Try adding the following to your drain in this order:

• ½ cup salt
• ½ cup baking soda
• ½ cup vinegar

Allow the mixture to sit in the pipes for about twenty minutes. Last, heat a pan of water to boiling and allow it to work for three minutes. You can repeat the process again if you feel like the drain has only partially cleared.

Generic Clogged Sink or Toilet

If you have a clog that is being stubborn, you could also try the plunger method. Purchase a sink plunger or a toilet plunger. If you are plunging the sink, you’ll need to plug up the overflow hole to maintain pressure when plunging. Run a little water into the sink or toilet. Place the plunger over the drain and depress it rapidly several times. Remove the plunger and check to see if the water has drained. You can try this repeatedly to alleviate the partial or total clog.

Be aware that you can potentially damage the pipes if the clog is awfully bad. Just try plugging a few times and call a specialist to clear your drain if you can’t get it cleared. Four Seasons Plumbing & Sewer can help out with a fast quote for drain cleaning services right away.