What To Do If Your Drain Cleaner Doesn’t Work

If you’ve got a clogged drain and have used what you thought was the right amount of chemical to unclog it, only to find out that it doesn’t work and your sink is still overflowing with water, what do you do? You may be tempted to call in a plumber or give up. But before you go this route, some things can help ensure that what’s going on is not an emergency. Here are a few tips for what to do if drain cleaner doesn’t work:

Make sure the pipe isnt submerged in water

First, you should ensure the pipe isn’t submerged in water. If it is, the water will block the chemical from reaching the clog, which won’t work. You’ll need to clear some space so that you can pour the chemical down the drain.

Make sure the chemical has been sitting long enough.

Another thing to check is whether the chemical has been sitting long enough. Depending on what type of chemical you’re using, it may take a little while for it to work. If you’ve only left it in for a few minutes and it doesn’t seem to be working, wait a little longer before you decide that it’s not going to work.

Use a plunger

If you’ve tried the chemical and it’s been sitting long enough, but it still doesn’t seem to be working, try using a plunger. Insert the plunger over the drain and push and pull it until the clog is dislodged.

Use a snake

If the plunger isn’t working, you may need to use a snake. This is a tool that you insert into the drain to help dislodge the clog.

Try pouring hot water down the drain while using chemicals.

If the chemical and plunger don’t seem to be working, another thing you can try is pouring hot water down the drain while you’re using the chemical. The hot water will help break up the clog, and the chemical will do its job.

Don’t use tools if you lack experience

While some of these tools, like plungers and snakes, can be easy to use, they can also be difficult if you don’t have experience. If you’re not comfortable using these tools, it’s best to leave them to the professionals.

Consider replacing your plumbing

If the above methods don’t work, you may need to consider replacing your plumbing. Use this as a last resort and only if you have tried everything and nothing seems to work.

Conclusion

If what you used to unclog your drain doesn’t seem to be working, don’t give up. These tips can help make sure that what’s going on is not an emergency and will tell you what steps should be taken next.

FAQs

Q: what should I do if the drain cleaner doesn’t work?
A: Follow the steps in this blog post. If none of them work, you may need to replace your plumbing.
Q: what should I do if the plunger doesn’t work?
A: Try inserting a snake into the drain. If that still doesn’t work, you may need to replace your plumbing.
Q: what should I do if the chemical doesn’t work?
A: If you’ve left it in for a few minutes and it doesn’t seem to be working, wait a little longer before you decide that it’s not going to work. You can also try pouring hot water down the drain while using the chemical. If any of the above methods aren’t working, you may need to replace your plumbing.

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