The best remedies to free blocked drains in your house
The best remedies to free blocked drains in your house
What comes to mind quickly when faced with blocked drains in your bathroom? The simplest one is to use the good old plunger. The process is pretty straightforward to apply. But the last thing you want to do is be too aggressive and pulse to quickly. Ideally the plunger’s bell shaped head should be used to cover the blocked drains pipe fully, you can then push the plunger down and then pull it up again to create suction in a slow rhythmical manner. A minor blocked drains clog can be pulled up and out of the sink or drain through the sucking action of the plunger. It should be noted here that some bath tubs and sinks have overflow outlets that must be plugged with a sponge or wet towel before using your plunger if this approach is to work.
You could use a drainage clearance chemical that is designed to break down the material instead of the more conventional plunger. First attempt to clear the blocked drains with a plunger, only then should you try the chemical solutions as they can be hazardous for the novice. Let the chemicals stay in the drainpipe for some time and then wash them out with hot water, do this slowly to ensure that the water is flowing away. Because these chemicals can be corrosive or contain bleach you should only wear clothes that you are happy to be damaged. If you plan to use the plunger after the application of chemical to remove the remaining debris, then eye protection is essential because the chemical laden water may back-splash on you from the blocked drains and burn. Also remember to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully so that you do not create new issues.
If the plunger does not work, try detaching the drain trap by removing the bolts with suitable tools. This will create quite a mess so be ready with a towel and pail. Use an electrical tape to encircle the jaws of your wrench so that you can get a better grip on the pipes and also maintain their chrome finish without scratching them. Once the P-trap is removed, check the blocked drains 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.
A deep clog in the toilet can be loosened by a toilet auger. With a bathtub or sink, however a drainage snake should be used. Plumbers drainpipe snakes have been specifically designed to enter deep into the narrow pipe work. A plumbers drain pipe snake has an adjustable handle which is used to make a drill into the blockage, it then becomes easy to remove the obstruction by pulling it upwards. Once, you have taken out the obstruction, re-fix the P-trap and rinse the drainpipe with hot water to make sure that the entire blockage has been removed. Everything should be sealed properly after the whole process is over, the P-trap and pipes should also be checked for any leaks.
If all these methods fail to free the blocked drains then you need to call in a professional plumber. If the blockage is stuck in the soil stack or the sewer service pipe has collapsed either due to age or because of natural causes, then you can do nothing much expect for relying on the professional drains company to solve your problem.