Tips to unclog a drain and please the householder
Tips to unclog a drain and please the householder
Blockage of drains is a common occurrence but it is not pleasant, and clearing them is a tedious job. If the drain is completely blocked, the bathtub, shower, sink or toilet become full of water. By the time all that water has piled up, it’s too late to use drain clearing products or quick fixes, as the blockage lies deep in the pipework. At times like this, calling a professional plumber can cost you a fortune. The money that the plumber would charge depends on the extent of blockage, higher the blockage, the higher would be the cost. Its good to take some preventive measures beforehand like inspecting the drains regularly so that you can prevent the clogging of drains.
How Do Clogged Drains Happen?.
The primary reason behind drain blockage is carelessness and negligence. It is normal for kitchen sink drains to get blocked if there is no strainer used to get hold of food particles and other wastes while cleaning the food or the utensils. This is important because these particles can accumulate over a period of time and lead to clogged drains. Accumulation of cooking grease or oil in the drain pipes can make the situation even worse. People flush too many toilet papers and that is the main reason for clogging in toilet drains.
In order to avoid clogging of toilet drains items that are not meant for toilets should not be flushed into it. Paper towels, baby wipes, and sanitary napkins have adverse effects both independently and together that increases clogging. Clogging of bathtubs, bathroom sinks and showers occur if your hair is trapped and accumulates in the pipes. Items such as shampoos, soaps, toothpaste, hair gel, exacerbate the problem as they produce a build up that further adds to the blockage.
Regrettably, there are other problems that not involved with your drains that can also lead to clogs. Scale, tree roots, deterioration of pipes that are rusted and crushed drain lines have also been known to cause plumbing problems.
In case of a clogged drain, here are few things that you can do.
You can attempt to clear clogged drains yourself by using acids or other chemical products designed for this purpose. Use of these products can, in truth, result in damage to your plumbing; it can also impact your personal health and the environment. Fortunately there exist natural methods to clear drain blockages. For example, flushing your pipes with boiling water periodically can keep them clear. Another involves the utilisation of vinegar and baking soda. Household vinegar is run down the blocked drain; next, cover the drain liberally with soda bicarbonate. Allow the mixture to settle in the drains for minimum of 15 minutes, pouring boiling water and rinsing it afterward is likely to remove the blockages.
It Is Better To Examine and Prevent.
Your pipework is a working system that needs maintenance, just like your car or machinery. So it also requires regular maintenance. You should be alert and watchful about your drainage system and should be be able to inspect it yourself as you are most familiar with how these drains work. Take the help of a professional plumber to make sure that your drains remain clean and clear throughout. Get your drain lines snaked by a plumbing technician as a part of a preventive maintenance program at least once a year. In case of frequent blockages your pipes and drains are vulnerable, inspect the drain lines quite often to get early warning. Taking a CCTV video scan of the major drain connections should be done at regular intervals.
Regular expert inspection of your drainage system can ensure that your pipes (and not your pockets) are completely drained and cleaned out!.