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Several Ways to Unclog an Outdoor Drain

Posted on March 9, 2022 by Melbourne Plumber

Some of us have drains outdoors. Whether it be on our patio, driveway, garden or outdoor shower area, this drain serves the same function as an indoor drain. That function is simply to remove wastewater.

Outdoor drains get clogged as much (if not more often) as indoor drains. There are often all types of debris which end up in these drains and they need regular maintenance. In this article we would like to discuss what you can do to attack a clog.

1. Wire Coat Hanger – Yeah I know, not very professional. But if you have a large object blocking your drain you can sometimes fish it out with a hanger. Or, if there is simply a build-up of sediment, you can poke your way through the blockage and get the flow going again.
2. Boiling Water – This method simply consists of boiling a pot of water and slowly pouring it into the drain. Make sure it doesn’t splash back and burn you. The heat from the water can often times melt or displace the debris which is causing your blockage.
3. The Old Baking Soda and Vinegar Trick – This is one which is used indoors many times to great success. You simply pour white vinegar and baking soda into a container and then pour it down the drain. The fizzing action can sometimes get the drain flowing. Use equal parts baking soda and vinegar.
4. Caustic Drain Cleaner – If your drain empties directly into a local waterway you will want to avoid any chemicals. But if your drain empties into the standard house sewer then you can try a commercial drain cleaner. These things use high acidity levels to eat away at the substances causing your blockage.

If none of these work please call your local plumber. Your plumber has handled thousands of clogs and will know exactly which way to go at it. You can rest assured that a licensed professional plumber in the Melbourne Florida area can get your clog undone and get things working again.