Consumer Advice
Related: About this forumSink or tub, water still going down, but much too slow. Flow has gotten slower and slower.
How do I speed up the flow without using chemicals, the plunger, or calling a plumber. Maybe this will work.This will NOT.hurt the pipes, and is simple and easy. It may not work, but maybe it will.
...Step one. Remove all catch all things that we put to catch pieces of dirt, hair, etc. These things are right there at the bottom of the sink, where the sink or tub meets the pipe that takes the water away..
... Step two. After you remove those things, you now have a clear flow of water. From the faucet to the pipe that takes the water away.
... Step three Open the faucet to the fastest point. The water is now flowing through the pipes as fast as the pressure will allow it to flow. Do NOT add any kind of chemicals or anything. JUST LET THE WATER FLOW AT THE FASTEST RATE THAT IT CAN FLOW.. Let it flow for 15 minutes, OR five minutes or what ever you want.
Then, Fill the tub or sink with some water, and see if the flow has increased or goes down better.
.. THE WATER FLOW, DOWN THE PIPE, will probably be much better. Much faster
Why will it be faster or better.? No chemicals added, no plunger used, no plumber called. What is the catch?
What is the trick???? Why & how could this happen?. I didn't add anything?
There is no trick, this is not a con job. Try it , this will probably work if the water is still going down, slowly.
WHY? The most powerful force in nature is...moving or running water.
Every plumber or person who works with pipes knows this. This isn't some deeply kept secret. Fast flowing water will knock down anything. What happens after a very powerful storm? Things are knocked down..
Therefore, if the water is still flowing in the pipes...even if it is much slower than usual, let the water flow through the pipes at a much faster rate than usual, and the water flow itself, will clean out the pipes... The water flow at a faster rate will knock out the crap that is making the flow go much slower.
Now of course you do not believe this simple fact about cleaning out the pipes, OK. I understand, but if you want proof, google "The Grand Canyon" and take a look what water flow can do. If a river can cut that canyon, then letting the water flow through the pipes, (as long as it isn't stopped up) will clear out the pipes....
and, if this doesn't work, then how much has it cost? Have you added anything to hurt or destroy the pipes? It can't be that simple can it? Now, you do not believe this might work. So check it out by using the internet to see if this could possibly work to improve water flow. (that is removing the thing that we use to catch the hair and stuff, and then just letting the water flow through the pipes) The answer is here somewhere on the internet. We have watched water flow through rivers and streams for thousands of years. Water flow is indeed a powerful force. oops..isn't there something called ...Hoover Dam???
...The water flow creates electricity? ooops.......................................................time to hide,
One more idea...I'll come out from hiding for a couple of sentences. If you would like to keep the water flowing through the pipes and out of the house at a nice fast rate, and keep things moving along, then, do this once a month. Let it flow at its fastest rate for a while,(for five or ten minutes) .through the pipes and out, once a month. Give it a try.
..........................................................now it is time to ....
Phoenix61
(17,726 posts)and let it sit over night. Works wonders.
Stuart G
(38,726 posts)Is this a new idea? No, just one small bottle could help, plus the advise in the Original Post.
... You don't want to use hydrogen peroxide? That is ok, too. Do what works for you. The Original Post will also work.
htuttle
(23,738 posts)First drain or plunge out any standing water. Then drop 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda into the drain pipe. Then SAFETY GLASSES ON!) pour boiling vinegar down the pipe and STAND BACK. Replunge as necessary, along with running a lot more boiling and hot water through.
I do this as soon as the drain slows down, and the effervescence burns right through things like soap-encrusted hair clogs, etc.
Stuart G
(38,726 posts)Now, I know baking soda is very very cheap. Vinegar is also cheap. You got to buy a ...plunger ??
.Maybe 10 to 15 dollars? Just a plunger, nothing special. Boiling hot water? Cheaper than baking soda..
..Thank you for the idea. (Safety Glasses) don't know how much they cost. As I said, Whatever works is what is best. Thank you for the additional idea. Stuart.
csziggy
(34,189 posts)I'd put 1/2 water 1/2 white vinegar through the pot. As it was dripping through, I'd dump some baking soda down the drain then pour the hot vinegar solution on top. LOTS of bubbling and sizzling, but it would clean out my sink drain completely.
Unfortunately I've given up coffee, but I should still do this about once a month. TIP: in my double sink I would do it on the "non-dominate" side, the one that takes a turn before going straight to the P trap. That side seems to always get more gunk it it.
flyingfysh
(1,990 posts)At hardware stores such as Home Depot you can often find something called Zip-It. These are plastic strips with barbs on the side. Just insert one in the drain, wiggle it around a bit, and pull it out. It might be a bit tricky to get out, you may have to move it around a bit on the way out. You will often find a lot of hair and gunk stuck on it. Go to Amazon and search for "Zip-It drain cleaning tool", and you will find that and similar products by other manufacturers.
You will be surprised at how cheap these things are. And no dangerous chemicals are needed.
LuvLoogie
(7,587 posts)Get one of these and make sure you have fished out any hair that is reachable near the drain opening.
https://www.amazon.com/USSASA-Cleaner-Cleaning-Unclogger-Plumbing/dp/B07PWH3546/
Boil water, lots of it. have two or three pots going at a time so you can keep it up. pour the boiling water in the drain. This will dissolve any congealed fats like soap, body oils, lotions, potions, hair conditioner. etc.
If your clog is somewhere behind the wall, perhaps some other kind of obstruction that won't melt away, you may need to get a routing tool. get one that attaches to a drill.
I had an obstruction behind the bathroom sink wall. Had to remove the J-Trap. The obstruction was hair wrapped around a plastic toothpick/flosser
WhiteTara
(30,227 posts)use about a cup of baking soda, pour in the vinegar until it stops bubbling on the outside of the opening and then let it sit overnight. Run hot water until it clears.