How to Avoid Large Plumbing Bills

Imagine, if you will, that you are making breakfast. You place a few eggs on the counter and go to check on the sizzling sausage. As soon as you begin turning them over one by one, you notice one of the eggs starting to role off of the counter. You lunge toward the egg and stop it only inches from scrambling itself on the floor. On the way however, you bump into the spoon sitting in the pancake batter and the entire bowl falls into the sink.

Before you can pat yourself on the back for saving the egg, you hear the batter slowly glugging down the drain. No time for that now, though, you’ve got to turn the sausage before they burn. Once you are finished, you return to the sink and try to rinse the remaining batter down the drain. Defiantly, the water rises higher and higher in the basin. You decide to let it drain out by itself.

Long after you’ve forgotten about the entire incident, you return to the sink to rinse of some grapes for a quick snack. Again, the water refuses to go down as it reminds you of the batter that still sits in the drain pipe, albeit a bit thicker now.

Immediately, you think to buy a liquid dissolvent. It should be a quick fix, right? You make a mental note to pick some up tomorrow. However, as the “liquid plumber” sits in the sink the next day, you come to a realization that millions of others before you have. Some clogs are just too tough.

Nobody likes having to call a plumber. These days the bill could include house call fees, supply fees, parking cost reimbursement, and an hourly rate that would make your lawyer jealous.

Not to worry, there is a way to avoid the plumber; and it has all of the power of a 4^th grade science experiment behind it. Here’s a great tip that has worked for me every time. First, empty the sink. Depending on how bad the clog is, you can let it slowly drain out by itself, or you may need to remove the liquid manually. Once your sink is clean, pour about Ã?¼ a cup of vinegar down the drain. For the next step, have a drain stopper on standby. Now, pour about a tablespoon of baking soda down the drain. Immediately, stop the drain so that pressure created by the reaction is not lost. After a few seconds, you should hear a muffled “pop”. That sound was the air pressure in the drain making enough psi to force the offending clog down the drain. Now, unstop the drain and run your faucet to make sure the drain is clear.

That’s it! Now you have a quick and inexpensive solution to your plumbing problem. You may never half to call a plumber again for years! It should work on any fixture in the house, toilet not withstanding. It’s a great way to skip the huge bill and avoid an awful “Grand Canyon” view.

If you’re a real DIY person, check these links out:

The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair: With 350 Projects and 2300 Photos (Black & Decker)

Makita 5277NBX 7-1/4″ Hypoid Saw with Free Toolbelt