As most Australian households know, clogged washing machine drains are a problem that you will face at least once in your lifetime. The first sign of it happening is that it won’t be draining properly and usually, that is because there is a buildup of soap, dirt or dryer lint. In most cases, you will be able to fix the problem on your own. So here is how you can fix your clogged washing machine drains.
First Find the Drain
In most cases, there is a pipe behind your washing machine that is attached to the drain and it can be easily pushed inside of it. When you have found your drain, you will need to tell the difference between that and the two water lines. Around those water lines, there will be the drain you are looking for; in most cases, it is the grey pipe while the two water ones are white.
Start by Pouring Hot Water Down the Drain
If you find that your machine is draining but it is doing it slowly, that means that it is not completely blocked and you can try to unclog it simply by pouring boiling hot water down the drain to try and clear it out. That will melt away any build-up that is narrowing the pipe. This will work if you rarely use the hot cycle and mainly run the cold ones. It is also a good precaution to pour some hot water down the drain during hot months to stop it from forming ice.
Try Using a Commercial Drain Cleaner
If you notice that no water is draining, then the drain is completely blocked. The simplest way to unclog it is to go ahead and buy a commercial drain cleaner. Keep in mind that these cleaners are meant to be helpful when it comes to minor clogs. Don’t buy just the first one that catches your eye; you must pick the one that is suitable for the type of pipes that your drainage system has. That is because some cleaners are strong and can damage PVC pipes and are toxic to the environment.
Detach the Hose from the Machine
If the clog doesn’t go away when you pour the cleaner in, you will need to use something called a snake to break the clog. That will require that you detach the hose so you can get the snake down the drain easily. Be prepared to act fast because there will be some standing water in the hose so make sure that there is a bucker or towels on the floor; you don’t want to deal with a flood on top of a clog.
Try a Natural Cleaning Mixture
If you are someone who isn’t comfortable with taking apart the machine or using a drain snake, but you still want to try and unclog the drain yourself, you can make a natural cleaner and give it a go. That way, you will flush out the drain with a mixture of baking soda, white vinegar and boiling
hot water. If it isn’t completely blocked or the clog is made out of soap, this will work amazingly. That is because the natural acids that are found in these ingredients will break down any organic material that is found it their way. But sometimes that isn’t enough to unblock it. If that is the case, you will need to call your local Sydney plumber to unclog the drain for you.
If you educate yourself before going into it, unclogging a drain can be the easiest thing that you can do by yourself when it comes to fixing plumbing issues. But no matter how confident you are, it is important that you ask yourself if there is a risk of you causing more damage to it. Make sure that you are staying safe and know when to call a plumber.
Author bio:
Ayla Anderson is an avid reader and an enthusiastic blogger who writes articles on home improvement, business, Family and beauty. She is also an MBA student who spends much of her time giving advice to newly small businesses on how to grow their businesses.
