Faced with an unexpected drain cleaning need? It doesn’t matter, there are many effective ways to solve the problem.
Every day, the sewage system of an apartment or private house absorbs various human wastes. She has to deal with muddy water, grease, organic elements, and various household waste. As a result, a coating of mud deposits appears on the inner surface of the pipes. This layering can, over time, thoroughly clog the sewer riser.
You immediately need to sniff and determine whether there are any unpleasant odors that may emanate from the kitchen sink and the main family throne - the toilet. This fragrance most likely spreads from the drain holes and indicates that there may be a blockage in the siphon, or a lump has formed in the pipe in the form of various deposits, which can lead to unpleasant consequences in the future.
Advice! It is advisable to take preventive measures than to wait until the stinking liquid from the pipes begins to spread to the floor from the toilet, and the suffocating aromas occupy the entire house and cause the righteous anger of even the most good-natured neighbors.
If there is little water removal from the container, then this is serious evidence that emergency intervention is required.
The main methods used to clear pipes from blockages are:
- plunger;
- Household chemicals, special products that can be easily found at the nearest hardware store;
- Combined products;
- Spetstros.
Regular plunger
The plunger is an old, time-tested means for cleaning sinks, known to almost every owner. It consists of:
- Wooden base;
- A rubber cap located at one end of the handle.
Effective use of this ancient remedy does not require complex skills or extensive experience. You only need:
- Place the plunger over the drain hole, completely covering it;
- Open the tap with water (preferably hot);
- Wait until the water covers the rubber cap. Then perform vigorous pumping with a plunger;
- With successful manipulations, a pressure difference will be created in the drain pipe, under the influence of which the blockage can be destroyed;
- At this moment, you need to lift the plunger, and the water, spinning into the funnel, will flow into the cleaned hole.
Household chemicals
When the main cause of the blockage is the formation of deposits on the inner surface of the sewer, a reasonable solution would be to use household chemicals or home remedies available to any sane owner.
Hot water
Regular boiling water is the easiest and most affordable way to clean sewer pipes. Before using this method, you just need to boil a container of water and then pour the hot water into the washbasin or sink. If the blockage is small, this option is quite justified.
Application of soda
To combat small deposits, you can successfully use improvised means such as baking soda and a product that every housewife has available - vinegar. You need to pour about half a pack of soda into the drain hole, and pour a mug of regular vinegar into it.When the components react, a violent chemical process occurs, as a result of which the main part of the accumulated sediment will be neutralized. When the foam settles, you just need to open the tap with water, preferably hot, and rinse the pipes under pressure.
If the use of improvised means does not give the desired effect, then you need to purchase household chemicals at the nearest hardware store.
Special preparations
Household chemicals can be divided into two main groups:
- Gel-like (liquid) is the best option, most widely used due to the relative safety of the drugs. When used, there is minimal negative effect on the pipe.
- Powdered (granulated) - mainly sold in foil bags, in which one dose of the drug used is usually packaged.
Also, based on the active substance, they are divided into:
- Alkaline products. Great for kitchens as it removes grease effectively.
- Acidic products. An excellent product for bathrooms, it prevents the formation of soap scum and even dissolves hair, which is a common consequence of the formation of plugs in the siphon.
Review of the main popular brands
The modern market is represented by a large assortment of preparations for cleaning sewage removal systems. Let's look at the most popular means:
- Mr. Muscle is a widely advertised brand. A series of chemical products is produced under a recognizable brand name.These are liquids, powders and gels of various compositions, which are intended both for preventive cleaning and for combating dense growths and sediments of sewer pipes.
- Pothan. Universal chemical agent. Can effectively fight fat, as well as limescale and collagen-based plaque. This is a highly concentrated product, so when working with it, precautions must be taken, in particular, the working surface of the hands must be protected with rubber gloves.
- Tiret. The line of these products is mainly intended for the prevention and elimination of small traffic jams and blockages.
- Mole. The oldest recognizable brand, has been in use for over 50 years and still maintains a high reputation for quality chemicals.
- TrubFlub is a granular professional product. There are two types of the drug. One for use in hot water, the other for cold water.
Combined method
Let's consider one of the elements of cleaning sewer pipe plugs, which combines two types - mechanical and thermal. With this method, a flexible hose is attached to a faucet where hot water flows, and the other end is inserted into the sewer pipe, preferably as close to the plug as possible. Next, open the hot water tap all the way. Under the influence of boiling water and pressure, the blockage is broken into small fractions, which calmly move further throughout the system.
Advice! If you use a hose with a fine injection nozzle located at the end of the product, you will get the maximum hydrodynamic effect.
Plumbing cable
Typically, cables are used by plumbers in their work.To use the tool effectively, a certain skill is required. The length of a professional cable can be a decent size in length. Such a tool is capable of destroying plugs in any hard-to-reach pipe bend. The principle of its operation is based on winding the blockage around the end of the cable and pulling the debris onto the surface of the room. Such a metal cable can be purchased at a regular hardware store. The tool can come in handy when other methods are ineffective. Flexible cable is usually sold complete with various attachments. If it is not possible to cope with the difficulties that have arisen, then in this case it is better to turn to professionals.
