Act promptly when you notice water pooling around your washing machine drains is crucial.
A clogged laundry drain isn’t different from regular blockages, and it requires immediate attention to remove the deposits. If not, the overflowing water will continue to damage your floors and tiles or cause severe damage to your pipes.
Calling a plumber might be the best thing to do when situations get complicated, but a few home remedies might ease the blockage. Here are efficient ways to solve the issue of a clogged drain:
Common Causes Of Clogging
Laundry drains are no exception to blockages, just like any other drains. It should not come as a surprise because the drain has several reasons for getting clogged up. Lint from clothes, animal hair, soap scum, corrosion, grease, and objects like small coins in pockets are pretty standard in drains.
Before you realise it, a variety of objects and debris accumulate, disrupting the normal drain cycle. If your laundry drain is backed up, you can see the wastewater spilling onto the floor instead of going down the drain.
How to Fix A Clogged Laundry Drain?
If your drain is clogged, fill a bucket with boiling water, then add baking soda. Use a funnel to slowly pour water into the drain while removing the drain pipe from your washing machine. You can see if it keeps draining if you pour water into it after waiting a few minutes.
Continue reading for a more detailed step-by-step guide to unblocking your clogged laundry drain.
1. Fix With Hot Water
Sometimes a simple solution like hot water is all you need to clear the drain pipe. As the easiest and least expensive method, you can try pouring hot water into the pipes and wait to see if the issue resolves. At least a gallon of water should do the trick, and if there is debris that will dissolve, the block will clear quickly.
2. Use Vinegar And Baking Soda
While hot water is the easiest trick, you may want to give it an extra boost by adding vinegar and baking soda. Once the hot water is ready, mix about one cup of vinegar and soda and pour the mixture down the drain. However, don’t add the other ingredients while the water is boiling.
This method effectively removes minor blockages since the solution dissolves debris to some extent. It can dislodge the sludge or lint strands and open the passage for water to flow again.
3. Drain Cleaner
If previous methods don’t work, consider utilising a commercial drain cleaner available on the market. Drain cleaners can be harsh on the skin, so avoid contact with them as much as possible. We suggest using a non-corrosive variety so that you’ll be safe and away from harm, even if it spills.
Unplug the washing machine, put on gloves and eye gear for protection, and detach the washing machine hose to use drain cleaners.
Shift the machine to access the back end fully and remove the drain hose. Pour the drain cleaning powder or liquid solution and allow it to sit for some time.
The recommended time will be mentioned on the back of the product packaging. Some users may observe foam appearing at the pipe opening, but this only means that the solution works through some obstructions.
4. Use A Drain Snake
If liquid solutions and drain cleaners fail to open the drain, it might be time to resort to specialised tools for unblocking pipes. Sometimes, the obstruction source is not far below, which will be evident when you see water backing up immediately. In those cases, a regular 25-foot drain snake can be pretty helpful.
To use this method, wear gloves to protect your skin and layout towels to soak the excess water that backflows. Unplug the washing machine and move it around to reach the drainpipe, remove the lid, and insert the spring end when ready.
Keep the snake going inwards till you feel any resistance from the clogged part. When this happens, turn the handle to rotate the snake wire head until all the waste matter is caught and pull the drain snake out.
5. Use A Power, Auger
A power auger is another tool that can take care of blockages that occur further down the drain. A 50-foot or 75-foot power auger is perfect for cutting through huge lumps of mass building over time, deep in the pipes.
After the preventive measures of wearing gloves and keeping towels handy, plug in the power auger and feed the wire cable down the drainpipe. Depending on the model you buy, it can have foot pedals for powering the blades while you manoeuvre the cable further in the pipes.
On pressing the pedal, the auger rotates swiftly to reach every pipe section, quickly dislodging any debris and allowing water down the drain.
6. Consult A Professional
It is not unusual to face a scenario where none of these methods seems to prevent water leaks or overflowing permanently. After the above methods are tried and tested, a persisting issue could be due to blockage in the mainline or faulty plumbing parts.
The drain blockage may be too deep for regular tools, or the problem could be elsewhere in the plumbing system. This is when you will have to call in a professional so that they can correctly diagnose the recurring problem.
Not only will your local plumber identify the problem, but their professional tools and expertise will help you solve it without hassle.
Big Blue Plumbing provides various plumbing services as the Sunshine Coast’s most trusted plumber. We have the tools, equipment, and expertise to effectively clear drain blockages. We provide high-quality services at an affordable price. In addition, we will offer you advice on how to stop laundry drain blockages from recurring. Get in touch with us today!
Unclogging Your Laundry Drain
So, these were some of the easiest ways to deal with a clogged laundry drain by yourself. As we mentioned earlier, it is wise to fix it immediately because neglect can damage parts due to added pressure.
Try the most suitable method yourself from the options mentioned in this article. However, if you find the problem too challenging, don’t hesitate to contact your local plumber for assistance.
