So you have a blocked drain. It’s easy to tell when your drains aren’t performing like they should, whether it takes a while for anything to drain, water pools on the surfaces around the drain, or even if there is a nasty smell that emanates from the area. If this sounds like it applies to your drain in particular, and you’ve already tried to pour down hot water to unclog it to no avail, here are some home remedies as well as professional plumber fixes that you can use to fix it.

The Plunger

A plunger works by sealing the cup over the drain opening, and by moving the handle up and down repeatedly, clogs are dislodged and forced to continue through the drain pipes. These aren’t just for your toilet, either: plungers are handy for small clogs and can actually unblock your drains relatively easily with little mess.

Baking Soda & Vinegar

Mixing baking soda and vinegar produces a fizzing solution that works to remove gunk, hair, or grime that has slowly built up in the pipe over time and produced a blockage. Use ⅓ of a cup of baking soda mixed in with ⅓ of a cup of vinegar, and pour it down the drain. If possible, let it sit for at least an hour up to overnight, and pour hot water down the drain after. This should dislodge the clog, it just takes a bit of time.

Wet and Dry Vacuum

Cover up the vent to prevent any spills, and set your wet and dry vacuum to its liquid setting. Create a tight seal over the blocked drain with the vacuum hose, and turn it on. This can possibly dislodge the clog upwards and into the vacuum, so it can be a good fix for a physical blockage.

Dish Detergent and Hot Water

If you’re dealing with the kitchen sink, you may be battling a grease-related blockage. Run extremely hot water down the drain to soften the blockage some, and pour grease dissolving dish detergent after. If this doesn’t loosen and eat away at the clog, try to use a plunger to move the blockage before pouring hot water and dish detergent down the drain again.

Use a Snake

A long, flexible metal rope with a spiral end, a snake can work to dislodge physical blockages quite easily. This works with dislodging hair, floss, and other hygiene products quite well.

Call a Professional

If you’ve tried all of these tips and have had no success, it’s time to call a blocked drains expert. While home remedies can sometimes do the trick, a professional plumber can get to the root of the problem and provide a long-lasting solution. A plumber has tools and expertise that will ensure the removal of blockages without damaging your plumbing system, as well as the knowledge on how to prevent future blocked drains by giving you proper information on how to take care of your pipes and drains.