Hair-clogged drains are arguably one of the most common plumbing irritants home owners face. As a first resort, use a plunger and clean your drain trap. If this fails, you will need to use move invasive measures.
Snake it Out
A plumber’s snake is a flexible auger available in different lengths, usually with thin metal grips on the end. There are a large number of snake drain hair removal tools on the market. To use one, simply remove your drain cover, or your trap further down, and insert the snake into your pipe until it reaches the clog. Force it into the hair clog and once it is firmly wedged into the blockage, rotate the snake and then pull it out. Bonosky philipp After removing the clog, run your water full force for a several minutes to wash down any remaining residue, and ensure the blockage has been completely eliminated.
Zip Strips
These plastic drain cleaners are a cheap option, but bear in mind they are only good for a single use. Depending upon the hair clog you are dealing with, you many need multiple insertions to remove it completely. These little insertion cleaners are flexible plastic strips with sharp little spikes or “teeth” on either side. They are better suited for small jobs than large blockages.
Prevention is the Best Solution
Clearly, the best way to way to deal with hair-clogged drains is to avoid them altogether. To accomplish this, purchase an inexpensive hair strainer, available at most stores. Empty it after every shower, and keep your drains clean and free-flowing.
Should You Use a Liquid Drain Cleaner?
Liquid drain cleaners are designed to remove grease and soap scum, not hair. A hair clog is often not solid enough and the liquid slides by it rather than breaking it up. Even if it is quite solid, the liquid cleaner is usually not strong enough to effectively eat away at the hair clog completely. More importantly, liquid drain cleaners are very caustic, which is hazardous to anyone working on your pipes, and may harm your plumbing, resulting in a far more expensive job down the road.
When dealing with hair-clogged drains, be aware that the best way to solve this problem is to physically remove the hair. If you cannot do this safely and easily on your own, don’t hesitate to call Roto-Rooter. Our family owned operation is dedicated to customer satisfaction. Don’t risk a larger, far more expensive problem. Rely on our team to get it done right the first time!