Congested drains pipes can be flushed away
Congested drains pipes can be flushed away
What comes to mind quickly when faced with clogged drains in your bathroom? The simplest one is to use the good old plunger. Using a waste pipes plunger is relatively simple to do. What you don’t want to do however is to vigorously pump up and down like a jack hammer. Place the cup of the plunger exactly over the drain and push it downwards and upwards with short sharp movements that generate suction within the drain and pipe. In theory the suction created by pulling up quickly will dislodge the material that is clogging your bathtub, toilet or sink. You may notice small overflow openings in your bath or sink and you should always remember to block these up with a wet paper towel or sponge to create maximum suction.
Instead of using your plunger you can apply commercial products containing chemicals that can dissolve the blockage, for instance concentrated drainage cleaner. The chemicals are normally applied only after an unsuccessful attempt to remove the clog using a plunger. The chemicals must sit for a while as it eats away at the blockage, then you must run hot water down the drainpipe to flush it out. During the cleaning process, chemicals and dirt may spill over your clothes, therefore as a precaution wear old clothes. After chemical flushing, you may try the plunger again – this can cause the chemical/water mix to splash back on you – eye guards are highly advisable here. Always read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before use to make sure everything goes smoothly.
If both the plunger and chemicals fail to alleviate the clogging problem you have, then you can try unscrewing the nuts on the P-trap with pliers or a pipe wrench to gain access to the pipe. Keep a bucket and towel to deal with the mess that will follow. Chrome plated fittings can be protected from scratches by taping up the teeth of the pliers or wrench; that should also give you a firmer grip on the nuts of the trap. Once the P-trap is removed, check the trap for any solid materials obstructing the pipe opening. If you don’t see anything, the problem might unfortunately go far deeper and may be located between the trap and the waste pipes soil stack.
In case of a blocked toilet, you can apply a toilet auger. A drainage snake should be used if you are trying to unclog your sink or tub. Because of their size and length, drainage snakes are well designed for getting at blockages in small spaces in difficult to reach places. By turning the handle to dig into the blockage, you can bring the blockage up and away from the drain pipe. The P-trap should be reconnected once the obstruction is cleared, slowly flush the drainage with hot water to confirm that there is no obstruction and that there are no leaks. Make sure that everything is tight and sealed properly and test the P-trap for leaks.
If the drainage is still choked after all these measures, or if the problem reoccurs chronically, employ a competent plumber or drainage contractor to fix it. Professional plumbers can identify and solve serious problems like aged pipes caving in, tree root invasion, blocked sewer line or soil stack; these should not be attempted by the homeowner as you will not have the right tools to solve the problem.