How to Unclog Main Sewer Line Without a Snake

A clogged sink or toilet that is spilling out water into the home is no fun for anybody! It can cause damages and create an unsafe environment in your home.  Here’s how to unclog a main sewer line without a snake, if you’re up for it!

How to Unclog a Main Sewer Line Without a Snake

Step 1 – Run Hot Water

Running hot water for 5 to 10 minutes can help shake loose anything that is partially clogging the drain. The heat can help work free lingering oils, grease, or anything that is coating the sides of the pipe and allowing the clog to hold tight. Rarely will this alone be enough to help clear the clog and it’s only going to work with partially clogged lines anyways. More likely than not, if you’ve realized that you have a problem, it’s not a partial clog. But it can help, so it bears mentioning.

Step 2 – Use a Chemical Drain Cleaner

If you’re looking for some help on how to unclog a main sewer line without a snake, you probably have a serious clog. If your sink or toilet aren’t draining then you are already reaching for a chemical drain cleaner. These can definitely help break down the clog you have. There are several different chemical cleaners out there including caustic drain cleaners, oxidizing drain cleaners, and acids. We could do a whole blog on those (and maybe we will!) but for the most part these all work by altering the chemistry of the clog and reacting inside to break it down and carry it away. Whichever kind of cleaner you decide on make sure you follow the directions provided by the manufacturer to get the best results.

Step 3 – Apply the Plunger

An additional step to take is using a plunger in conjunction with the hot water or chemical cleaners. Plungers allow you to apply more pressure in the line to the clog and when used with running water can shift the clog – first loose from the sides of the drain and then free entirely.

Another Way – High-Pressure Water

Another way to handle a clog is through the careful application of high pressure water! You’ll want to find your clean out plug and attach a high-pressure nozzle to your garden hose. Then open up your hose and start flushing water through. Start slow! The last thing you want is to immediately cause a back up and flood your home(if that’s where your clean out plugs are located). Start slow and build up the pressure to clear the line.

There are many different things that can cause a blockage in your main line, and they’re not all clogs from improper waste management. Tree roots are a common enemy of sewer lines as they grow into the pipes and then cause a blockage. The point of the matter is that there’s a lot to take into account and if you’re just trying to solve the problem alone you might find yourself unable to get it sorted. 

Sewer line clogs happen all the time and it’s an easy job for any plumber to come take care of for you. If your attempts to unclog your main sewer line without a snake are fruitless well, give the professionals a call and we can come take care of it for you. A proper unclogging job can make sure your sewer lines are working like they should for a long time to come, where a simple DIY job might get you some results today, they may not last in the weeks and months to come.

Give us a call at Economy Plumbing Services and let us take care of your clogs!

If Water Goes Through It Or To It, We Do It!

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