Audrey
One of the most frequent plumbing issues that people in Australia and other parts of the world experience on a daily basis is blocked drains. It pays to be prepared to cope with a blockage since they might happen when you least expect them to. If obstructions are not removed, water may spill from your drains and cause damage to your house or place of business. Pipes can break as a consequence of severe obstructions, which might necessitate even more expensive repairs. Here are some of the main ways to unclog drains that you have at your disposal.
Boiling water
One of the most natural DIY formulas in which you try to clear the blocked drains is to pour down the boiling water right from the oven. All you have to do is figure out the items properly before diving into the process. If the boiling water method does not work, then the only thing you can do is repeat the process until it is gone.
DIY Natural Cleaner
White vinegar and Bicarb soda (baking soda) can be used to make a homemade drain cleaner. Pour the vinegar last, then the bicarb, into the drain. To stop the mixture from bubbling out of the pipe, cover the drain’s mouth. Bicarb and vinegar undergo a chemical reaction that results in oxygen, which cleans the interior of the pipes by scouring them. To completely remove the obstruction, you might need to repeat the procedure a few times. After the combination has successfully broken through the obstruction, flush your blocked drains with hot water to get rid of any leftover residue.
Caustic Cleaner
You may buy caustic chemical drain cleaners at your neighborhood hardware or grocery shop. These substances have the ability to dissolve various obstructions in blocked drains, such as:
- Oil,
- Hair,
- Food particles and other typical messes.
However, these cleaners should only be used seldom, because they are bad for the environment. On solid masses like tree roots or tiny household items, caustic cleansers will not function. While using chemical cleaners, you should always look professional and use gloves and goggles. It is also recommended to protect yourself with a reliable KN95 mask when using chemical cleaners to prevent inhalation of harmful fumes. This is especially important for chemicals that release toxic fumes, as they can cause respiratory irritation and other health problems if inhaled. After using chemical cleaners, rinse your pipes with water to remove any residue.
Plunger
Just like it can unclog a clogged toilet, a plunger can unclog blocked drains. Before you start plunging, make sure to plug any overflow spouts to ensure a solid seal. The plunger’s up-and-down pressure might assist to break up any obstructions, allowing your pipes to function normally once again. Plunging is most successful for clearing solid obstructions; however, it is less effective for clearing mineral and grease deposits.
Hydro-Jet
Your pipes are subjected to a strong stream of water from hydro-jets. The resulting pressure then pushes the obstruction out of the pipes and through them, allowing water to flow through them once more. While it is less efficient against solid obstructions than snaking, this technique is considerably safer for your pipes. Despite the fact that you may try hydro-jetting on your own, it is probably best to leave this process to a qualified plumber who has the required skills to complete it correctly.
Excavation
Your blocked drains could require complete excavation in the worst-case scenarios. A plumber can locate the obstruction precisely so they know which pipe has to be dug up. The plumber can fix or replace the damaged pipe after excavating the area surrounding it. After that, the area around the new pipe may be backfilled, returning your property to its prior state. It is recommended to entrust a qualified plumber with this sort of job because it may be rather hard.
CCTV and Snake
For more serious cases of blocked drains, a plumber’s snake or electric eel tool is appropriate. The cable’s revolving coil rotates quickly, chipping away at the obstruction until it is removed. However, because snakes have a short range, the obstruction must be close to the drain’s entrance for them to be effective. It is essential to explore alternative ways first because they could potentially harm your pipes. Most hardware stores sell plumbers’ snakes or you may hire a qualified plumber to complete the task for you.
7 Common Causes of Clogged Drains
Here are some common causes of clogged drains:
1. Soap
Soap is a great cleaning agent, but it can also clog drains when you pour too much down the sink. Soap can also damage pipes and create a slippery surface for drains. If it’s left in the pipes long enough, soap will cause a build-up of residue in the pipes over time.
I had blocked drains in Chatham due to soap, and it was really a pain. If you also find that your drains are clogged with soap, try pouring boiling water down the drain. This will help to melt away some of the soap residues and flush it out of your pipes. You can also use baking soda or vinegar to remove soap from your pipes.
2. Hair
Hair is a common cause of clogged drains. Hair can get tangled around the drain, causing the water to drain slower and making it more likely for a clog to occur. If this happens, your toilet will overflow and you’ll have to clean up a mess in your bathroom. Hair is also one of the main sources of bad smells coming from a sink or shower drain. This isn’t just gross-it’s potentially hazardous too!
Blocked drains Chatham can cause a lot of problems. If you have blocked drains in Chatham like I once did due to the hairs, it will be difficult for you to use your kitchen and bathroom properly. If your drain is blocked, it can cause a lot of problems for you. You might have to call a plumber out to unblock it and this can be expensive. Not only that but if the drains are blocked, they will stink and you won’t be able to use them properly.
3. Food waste
Food waste is one of the most common causes of drain clogs in residential and commercial settings. Food scraps can sink to the bottom of your sink or bathtub, where they become stuck in pipes and trap wastewater, which can eventually cause a full or partial blockage.
In addition to causing clogs, food waste also leads to foul smells because it attracts bacteria that help break down the remains into rancid odors. If you leave these scraps sitting around too long on their own, they will start decomposing and release these unpleasant vapors into your home’s air supply.
4. Flushing wipes down the toilet
A lot of people think that wipes are flushable, but they aren’t. The fibers in disposable toilet paper are designed to break down quickly in water and flush easily, but the fibers in disposables don’t. When you flush a cloth wipe down the toilet, it can get stuck in your pipes and even cause serious blockages. To prevent this from happening, consider using alternative options like paper towels or wet wipes instead of disposable cloths.
5. Grease
Grease is a common culprit for clogged drains. When the grease cools, it has the tendency to solidify and block up your pipes. If you put hot water down your sink or flush down the toilet, it can cause corrosion on the inside of your pipes which will make them easier to clog.
If you have a grease problem in your kitchen sink, try pouring some hot water down while adding a little dishwashing liquid (Dawn is popular) into the drain opening at the same time. This should dissolve any solids that may be blocking up your drain and help push them through so they don’t accumulate again later on!
You also might want to consider flushing out clogs with baking soda and vinegar solutions-just remember not to use chemicals like bleach because they could corrode metal parts in your disposal unit over time! If none of these options work for you then we recommend calling an expert plumber who specializes in clearing out those pesky blockages!
6. Sanitary products
A lot of people put their sanitary products down the toilet and think it will go away. It won’t!
- This can clog your pipes and cause a backup.
- This can cause a backup in the entire house.
- This can cause a backup in the entire neighborhood because other people do this too and more often than you might realize!
7. Medical waste
Medical waste may be disposed of with the garbage. However, if you are on vacation or staying at a hotel, you should check with the staff about how to dispose of medical waste.
Medical waste must not go down household drains as it can cause clogs and other problems if it is flushed into the sewer system.
A professional drain service can help you tackle a clogged drain
If your drain is clogged, it can be tempting to try and clear the blockage yourself. While this may sound like a good idea, there are many dangers associated with trying to unblock a drain on your own. If you have any doubts about whether or not you should hire a professional drain service for your issue, here are some things to consider:
1. The safety risk associated with DIY
Safety is always important! When dealing with plumbing issues such as clogs in the sink or bathtub drains, small objects like hairline cracks in pipes can cause significant damage if they aren’t handled properly. A professional plumber will use their knowledge of how water behaves under different circumstances to tackle these problems before they become larger ones that could lead to flooding throughout the house and even out into neighboring properties if left unattended long enough.
2. Cost savings from hiring professionals instead of doing it yourself
Conclusion
If you believe that you have blocked drains at home, the good news is that – you might be able to unclog your own drain. With the above suggestions, your drains will quickly start to run smoothly.
Author Bio
I am Emma Smith, an experienced and professional blogger. Writing an article on different topics is my passion and hobby. Here you can see my skills which give you small ideas on understanding all the thoughts with different themes. I love to write a blog on various topics, like home improvement, business, automotive, Lifestyle, Events, Health, etc.
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