Can You Vacuum A Clogged Drain?

Clogged drains are the worst, aren’t they? Nothing will drain away, and it can smell really awful too!

You may be wondering can you vacuum a clogged drain, if you have tried everything else and nothing has worked… Let’s find out if this is a good idea or not!

Can You Vacuum A Clogged Drain?

If you have tried everything and you are at the end of your tether with your blocked drain, it may be tempting to just stick your vacuum cleaner down there…

However, there are a good few reasons why this is not a good idea! There is also an instance where it CAN be done, but you will need more than an ordinary vacuum cleaner to do it.

If you just have a standard hoover, under no circumstances should you use it to unclog a blocked up drain.

Doing this with your normal dry vacuum will cause problems for the vacuum, and you may end up having to get it repaired or even replaced.

If you have a wet-dry vacuum, on the other hand, you have a great tool for unblocking drains (I can hear the cheering from here!)

How Do You Unclog A Severely Clogged Drain?

There are a great many things that you can try to unblock a drain, from the simple to the slightly more tricky ones!

You can choose to use manual effort, of you could find yourself resorting to chemicals – that drain’s got to get unblocked somehow!

• Use a plunger. The sucking action created by the vacuum created when you plunge a drain can help to dislodge the blockage.
• Insert a coat hanger. Stretch out a coat hanger and leave a little bend on the end. Carefully insert this into the plug hole to see if you can fish out whatever is blocking the drain.
• Flush with baking soda and vinegar. If you can, pour boiling water down the drain. Add 1 cup of white vinegar to 1 cup of water , then add 1/2 cup of baking soda.
• You should see bubbles emerging from the sink. Let the mixture sit for an hour, then flush with boiling water.
• Use baking soda and salt. Mix half a cup each of baking soda and salt, then our this down the drain.
• Leave it for 1-20 minutes and the blockage should shift – flush it through well with hot water afterwards.
• Take the pipes apart. If you can get to any bends or traps in your pipes, removing them and cleaning them out may sort out the problem.
• Just remember to place a bowl underneath them to catch the backed up water, and if you’re not keen on plumbing then consider asking a professional!
• Use a commercial drain cleaner. You can, of course, resort to using chemicals if no other method works – just be very careful and read the instructions carefully before you start.

If you want some more ideas on how to unclog your drains, check out this article on the subject.

Can I Use A Shop Vac To Unclog A Drain?

The short answer is yes, you can. A shop vac is different from a standard hoover in a few ways, which make it perfect for this job.

It has a much more powerful motor than a standard vacuum, which means it can suck up big heavy objects and won’t choke on a piece of Lego.

A shop vac also has the ability to suck up wet or dry things, which makes it perfect for the job of cleaning out a blocked up drain!

The process of cleaning out a blocked drain with a shop vac is pretty easy, as well as being effective:

1. Remove the drain stopper and insert the vacuum end into the mouth of the drain, trying to make an airtight a seal as possible.
2. Turn the vacuum onto its “Exhaust” setting and switch on the power – you will hear a high pitched sound that will change as the blockage is cleared.
3. If, after 15 seconds, you notice no change in the sound, switch it quickly from “Suction” back to “Exhaust” to mimic a plunger action.
4. This should do the job! Make sure you have towels on hand to clear up any mess afterwards.

If you like visual instructions, check out this video on how to unclog a drain using a shop vac:

What Unclogs A Drain Fast?

The speed of the unclogging generally depends on the severity of the blockage. If it is just a little build up then you should be able to get rid of it easily, while if it is larger then you may have to resort to stronger methods.

• White vinegar and baking soda are great cleaning partners; together they form a chemical reaction which is enough to unblock many a drain.
• Boiling water is a simple and easy one to try – the heat of the water can sometimes dissolve whatever is blocking the drain.
• Drain cleaners are designed to clear blockages quickly, and although they can be quite harsh chemicals, there is a lot to be said for a drain that drains away as it’s meant to!
• A plumber’s “snake” is a tool that professionals generally use – it is a small tool that rotates in a boring action, and is able to get through the majority of blockages.
• Wet dry vacuums are a really helpful tool when it comes to unblocking stubborn drains – they are effective, relatively cheap to buy or hire, and they generally don’t leave behind too much mess!

When you have a blocked drain, you will need to know how to unclog it fast, because it si not pleasant! Hopefully you are now more able to do so – good luck!

Final Thoughts

Having a blocked up drain can be really frustrating, and you may end up feeling pretty hopeless if nothing you have tried is working.

Now that you have a better idea about whether a vacuum cleaner is the best thing for a clogged up drain, just make sure you avoid getting it clogged again in the future!