How to Clean Out Sewer Drains

You can usually clear out your clogged drains without professional help.

Having a clogged sewer drain in your house can be a source of frustration and anxiety. Every house has separate waste removal lines that feed into a larger, main sewer line. The main line carries waste away from the house and into the neighborhood sewer system. With the right equipment, you can usually take care of sewer drain clogs yourself, although you may want to call a professional when the main line is clogged.

Things You'll Need

• Plumbing jet attachment
• Pressure washer
• Plumber’s auger
• Plastic drain stick

Instructions

1. Locate the main drain cleanout for the house. Look in the basement on the floor, or outside for a plastic cap between the front wall and city sewer line.

2. Connect the coupling for a plumbing jet attachment to a standard pressure washer gun.

3. Feed the jet hose into the drain a few feet and spray the water. Pull it back slightly, then spray it again and continue.

4. Run cold water into the opening, if possible, to help moisten the blockage. Keep spraying and moving forward until you feel the blockage break free and the water flow.

5. Use a common plumbing snake or auger for minor blockages inside the house. Turn off the water and remove the trap arm of the pipe that’s affected and feed the auger through until the clog is gone.

6. Obtain a plastic drain stick from your hardware store and use it for hair clogs in your shower drain. Slide the stick into the drain and then rotate it and pull it back out.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean out the system once per month by adding one cup of baking soda followed by one cup of white vinegar into each household drain. Wait for one hour and then flush them out with warm water.

References

• Sewer Jet Gazette: How to Unclog a Main Sewer Drain
• USA Plumbing: How to Clean a Sewer Drain -- Tips and Tricks