Is your plumbing having a bad hair day? All that shedding, combing, brushing, shaving, shampooing, conditioning, cutting, plucking, and trimming can be hard on your bathroom sink, bathtub, and shower drains. Instead of getting washed out, a lot of this just hair gets stuck in the plumbing, forming dense mats inside the pipes. Combining with other debris, these hair mats expand, obstructing the flow of water through a pipe. The result: a slow or clogged drain.

Don’t feel bad – almost everyone has experienced a hair-related plumbing malfunction. Fortunately, clearing a hair-clogged drain isn’t that difficult. And many of these solutions can be applied to toilet, kitchen sink, and garbage disposal clogs.

Here’s a list of four ways to unclog hair in your drain, ranked in steps of difficulty:

Use a Drain Cleaner

A drain cleaner is the easiest way to clear a hair-clogged drain. There are many products available to clean and clear a clogged drain. Simply pour a properly measured amount of cleaner into the drain, wait 15 – 30 minutes, then flush with water.

Many of these cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can damage your pipes. For a more environmentally friendly alternative, try a baking soda and vinegar solution.

Use a Drain Snake

If the cleaner doesn’t work, you might want to try a drain snake. Drain snakes are usually long flexible strips of plastic designed to be inserted into a clogged drain, where it is used to break up the source of a clog. After you’ve broken up the clog, flush your drain with hot water to ensure it’s completely gone.

Use a Plunger

A plunger can be used to dislodge the clog if cleaners and drain snakes don’t work.

Call a Plumber

If these three solutions don’t do the trick, the clog may be more serious than you think. The trapped debris could expand and place pressure on the pipes, causing them to crack and burst. Time to call a professional. A trained, experienced plumber will have the tools and knowledge to quickly locate the source of your clog and take the proper steps to clear it. If the pipes are damaged, they may have to be replaced.

Your First Choice for Professional Drain Cleaning Services in Oceanside CA

In addition to hair, there are many other materials that can cause a drain to slow or stop:

• Food greases and oils
• Soap scum
• Mineral deposits
• Paper products (kleenex, paper towels, napkins, etc.)
• Personal care products (tooth floss, cotton swabs, cotton balls, baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, etc.)
• Food debris (potato peels, bones, egg shells, coffee grounds, fruit rinds, seafood shells, etc.)
• Miscellaneous debris (toys, stones, sand, wood, broken glass, plastic and metal components, etc.)
• Root intrusions

If you’re experiencing a clogged drain or other home plumbing emergency, call the Oceanside, CA plumbing experts at 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration. We’ve been providing expert emergency plumbing services to homes and businesses in Oceanside, CA, and surrounding communities since 2012. Our team of licensed Oceanside, CA plumbers are available 24/7 to repair whatever plumbing problem that’s plaguing you – in most cases, we can be on-site in an hour or less.

Don’t let a clogged drain affect your daily routine – contact 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration through our website or call us at 866-437-0205 to schedule a service call today.