Clogging is a problem that sooner or later all owners of both apartment buildings and suburban cottages face. But to solve a sudden adversity, it is not always possible to attract a professional master.
Let's consider in more detail how to eliminate the blockage in the bathroom on our own and what measures to carry out in the future to prevent problems,
Find out the cause of blockages
Any blockage is formed due to a violation of the established rules for the operation of the sewer. In high-rise buildings, the blockage can be local - within the limits of one apartment, or it can be common when the general sewer line is clogged.
The reason for creating a clogged pipe in the bathroom can be:
- subsidence on the walls of mud clumps formed from particles of small debris and hair;
- layering of fatty deposits on the pipes;
- insufficiently maintained pipe slope at the installation stage;
- deterioration of the sewer system as a whole.
Households can not always keep track of what settles on the drain grate. Animal hair, fabric fibers and long hair, together with waste water, drain into the drain hole and get stuck in it.
If the fibers are not removed in time, then with the next portion of the water to be drained, they are lowered into the sewer pipe, where they are gradually layered, forming a lump that delays the passage of water
The choice of the best way to eliminate local blockage of sewage within the apartment depends on the size of the mud “plug”. General blockage, most likely, will have to be eliminated with the use of professional equipment.
Mechanical methods of elimination
The fight against clogging the pipe passage channel must be started as soon as even a slight stagnation of water is detected. You can solve the problem by applying one of the methods described below. To achieve the maximum effect, it is worth trying to apply two approaches at once, by performing mechanical and then dry cleaning.
Often, to control the blockage, it is enough to perform simple manipulations, as in the example of removing a cork from a siphon with a semi-automatic overflow:
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Step 1: Overflow Check and Punching
Step 2: Examine the condition of the drain hole
Step 3: Dismantling the siphon glass for cleaning
Step 4: Remove Blockage from the Drain
If the situation is more serious than described, then you need to use more cardinal means of cleaning.
Using a rubber plunger
The easiest and most gentle way to eliminate small blockages is to use a plunger. The tool can be equipped with an elastic flat washer or cone-shaped nozzle. The shape of the rubber bowl of the tool is selected depending on what degree of compression is required on the cleaned assembly.
The constructive elements of the plunger are a conical or cup-shaped nozzle made of dense rubber, and a convenient handle made of wood or plastic
When choosing this method of eliminating the problem, it is worth considering that it is much more difficult to break through a mud plug using a plunger through the drain hole of a bath bowl than through a sink drain.
This is due to the design of the bathroom drain, complemented by an overflow hole. When a blockage occurs and water overflows over the edge, air accumulates inside the opening, while a vacuum is required to work with the plunger.
To facilitate the task, it is important to correctly select the size of the tool; ideally, the size of the rubber bowl of the device should correspond to the diameter of the drain hole of the plumbing fixture
Before a plunger punches a blockage in the bathroom, the overflow hole must be tightly closed. This can be done using a rubber stopper or a fabric cut folded into several layers.
Some craftsmen use another plunger to close the hole. But in this case, the work should be performed by two: one covers the overflow, the other cleans the drain.
To ensure a tight fit of the rubber cup of the plunger to the surface, in order to prevent its displacement during the “pumping” process, it is recommended to pre-cover the nozzle with a layer of petroleum jelly
The work to eliminate the blockage is performed in several stages:
- Press the plunger bowl tightly so that it completely overlaps the drain hole.
- 10-12 sharp reciprocating movements are made, without tearing off the nozzle from the surface so that the air abruptly moves towards the drain hole, and the blockage is fragmented.
- With a sharp movement, the tool is removed from the drain. Open the water and wash the pipe with crushed mud.
If the applied efforts did not bring the desired effect, it is worth trying to push the mud seal not with air, but with water. For this purpose, 10-15 liters of hot water are poured into the bath so that it covers the rubber bowl of the instrument by 2/3. The plunger is immersed in water at an angle and produce several reciprocating movements.
With the last “swing”, the instrument is sharply removed from the water and it is observed whether it begins to sink into the drain. If necessary, the procedure is repeated 3-4 times.
Cleaning the outlet into the sewer is carried out according to the following technology:
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Step 1: Pressure Boost Activities
Step 2: Install the plunger directly above the hole
Step 3: Clean the drain with a plunger
Step 4: Drain the remaining cork into the sewer
Application of plumbing cable
To eliminate more global blockages, a plumbing cable made of galvanized steel is used. The only thing is that it should be used with great caution for cleaning chrome and polymer pipes, the inner surface of which can be damaged when exposed to the sharp ends of the brush.
The plumbing cable is a coiled thick twisted wire, complemented by a handle for transmitting rotation to the core and the working end in the form of a brush or hook
For work, you can use the factory tool as a rope, and spring-loaded version. The task of the master is to hook the blocking object and remove it with the help of a brush or hook located at the end of the tool, or, on the contrary, push it into the wider part of the highway.
For lack of the opportunity to purchase a tool, it can be done independently. To do this, take a two-three-meter section of a flexible metal cable, the end of it is slightly “fluffed up”, forming an impromptu brush.
The flexible tool easily moves along the pipe, without any problems overcoming on its way all the bends and joints of the sewage system connected to the sanitary equipment
Before you clean a tight blockage in the bathroom, you must carefully inspect the tool for mechanical damage. The bushings located near the handle of the cable are preferably lubricated.
Cleaning using a cable is performed in the following sequence:
- The tip of the cable is buried in the drain hole, clamping the handle of the tool in the hand.
- Push the cable, making rotational movements.
- Upon reaching the clogged area perform a couple of sharp jerks back and forth, increasing pressure.
- Carefully remove the cable, picking up the garbage nozzle.
- Open the faucet and let hot water in order to flush the pipe with a crushed plug.
When cleaning the mud plug, the plumbing cable must be in a taut state. The rotation of the tool during the pushing process contributes to the rapid destruction of the cork.
Siphon cleaning
Stagnant water, accompanied by the appearance of a characteristic unpleasant odor, may indicate that a plug formed in the walls of the siphon. This structural element performs two tasks at once: it prevents the penetration of sewer odors and protects the system from foreign objects.
If you accidentally dropped a small but valuable thing into the drain, it is likely that it will settle in the siphon; remove it is not difficult, disassembling and cleaning the device
Before disassembling the siphon, immediately below its location, it is necessary to spread a piece of old cotton fabric that absorbs moisture well.
Siphon cleaning is performed in the following sequence:
- A container with low sides is installed under the siphon location, where liquid will flow from the disassembled design.
- Unscrew the lock nut and disconnect the flask from the outgoing pipe.
- Water is drained from the flask, which served as a water seal.
- At the siphon, the bottom is unscrewed and cleaned of accumulated deposits, wiping the surface from the inside with a sponge and washing it with a stream of water.
- The flask is installed in its original place, docking with the outgoing pipe.
- Open the tap so that the water fills the water trap and check the integrity of the connections.
When assembling the structure and installing the flask in its original place, it is important to place it in such a way that the drain pipe does not rest on it. If you do not adhere to this requirement, when the system starts, the water seal will be broken. As a result, there will be a persistent smell of sewage, which is quite difficult to get rid of in a short time.
When cleaning the internal walls of the disassembled siphon, it is necessary not only to wash the mud lumps, but also to remove the deposits formed on the walls
Lumps of garbage removed from the siphon should not be lowered into the sewer so as not to clog the system. They should be disposed of like household waste.
Faithful helpers - chemicals
The modern market offers a lot of ready-made products that allow you to decide how to effectively remove blockage in the bathroom. The active ingredients of the formulations are able to soften and destroy plugs from organic deposits.
They are issued in the form of:
- liquid concentrates;
- semi-liquid gels and foam;
- dry powders.
The main thing when working with chemicals is to withstand the concentration specified by the manufacturer and the waiting time. Even the safest cleaning products can only have a beneficial effect within a specific time period.
With prolonged contact, they can even cause deformation of the material from which the pipes are made.
Granular and powder “blockers” are considered to be the most effective, but gels are less dangerous for the condition of pipes and human health
It’s pretty easy to use finished products. They are simply poured into the drain hole and wait for the time indicated by the manufacturer. Then they open the tap and rinse the pipes abundantly with a stream of water.
If a powder composition is selected for cleaning, after falling asleep into the drain cavity, it is poured with a small portion of water and wait for the time specified by the manufacturer. Further, as with liquid formulations, the system is washed with a copious portion of warm water.
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Sludge Removal Tools
Powder composition for sewer pipes
Sewer gel solution
Granules for filling in the drain hole
The most popular sewage flushing preparations from leading manufacturers, well-established in terms of eliminating blockages:
- "Mole" - a liquid concentrate based on sodium hydroxide and modified acetic acid, easily eliminates fat deposits. Due to the aggressiveness of the components of the composition, it cannot be used for processing plastic pipes.
- "Tiret" - gel-like composition quickly and effectively eliminates any kind of blockage. It fits both metal and plastic piping.
- “Flup” - a granular preparation easily removes limescale, collagen fibers and fatty deposits.
- “Mr. Muscle” is a universal gel-like product applicable for all types of pipes. In addition to the main function (destruction of mud plugs), the drug kills bacteria, thereby helping to get rid of the unpleasant odor from the sink.
- Bagi Pothan, a caustic soda-based preparation, effectively removes even the most severe blockages, including food debris, hair and limescale. Its only drawback is a sharp chemical smell.
Under the Tiret trademark, a line of products designed to dissolve organic accumulations in pipes of different composition and condition is produced:
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Gels for cleaning sewer Tiret
Tiret Professional
Effective Tiret Turbo Gel
Tiret Antibacterial - a preventative option
Most of the preparations described are based on acids and alkalis, for example, caustic soda. Therefore, when working with them, it is important to observe safety precautions.
To protect yourself and your pets using chemical reagents in the bathroom, it is important to ensure not only natural ventilation, but also create forced ventilation
In order to protect the mucous membrane and skin from chemical burns when working with reagents, it is worth equipping properly, wearing safety glasses, oilcloth apron and rubber gloves.
Effective folk way
Time-tested folk remedy will help to eliminate the problem. A good effect is given by a solution of soda ash with vinegar. Soda, reacting with acid, produces a large amount of carbon dioxide. In a confined space, he pushes the mash.
To enhance the effect at the time of carbon dioxide emission due to the interaction of soda with vinegar, you must tightly close the drain hole after filling the components
Instead of vinegar, it is allowed to use citric acid or freshly squeezed juice of one lemon. In any case, the cooked product does not “hit the wallet” much.
The sequence of actions:
- ½ packs of baking soda are poured into the drain hole.
- After 10-15 minutes, when the powder is compacted, half a glass of vinegar is poured into the hole.
- When the chemical reaction begins, the hole is covered with a stopper.
- After 60-90 minutes after the completion of "drilling", the tap is opened and 5-6 liters of hot water are poured into the hole.
The method involving soda and vinegar is effective only to eliminate blockages located close to the drain. The farther the plug, the lower the pressure force of the gas emitted.
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Step 1: Loading baking soda into the drain
Step 2: Boiling water to fill the sewer
Step 3: Add Vinegar to the Pan
Step 4: Pour the solution into the drain hole
How to prevent future problems?
In the future, regular prevention will help to avoid trouble. To protect the piping system from the accumulation of mud lumps, the drain hole must be equipped with a simple device - a protective grill.
A coarse-mesh metal or plastic mesh will trap animal hair and hair, without restraining the flow of waste water
Weekly, it is also worth pouring small amounts of hot water into the drain. It will melt fat deposits, contributing to their further advancement on the highway.
The use of chemicals has a good preventive effect. To achieve the desired result, they should be used at least once every six months. But to minimize the risk of damage to the pipes, they should be used in accordance with the instructions.
For any manufacturer, the line of “emergency” chemicals necessarily contains less concentrated prophylactic agents
To minimize the risk of formation of mud seals, it is recommended to periodically disassemble and flush the siphon elements.
Video # 1. We remove the blockage with improvised means:
Video # 2. Pipe cleaning with plunger:
Video # 3. Pipe cleaning using a cable:
Proper operation of plumbing equipment in conjunction with regular preventive measures will prevent the occurrence of “traffic jams” and extend the life of the system.
And how did you eliminate the blockage in the sewer pipes of the bathroom? Perhaps in your arsenal there are tools and methods that are much more effective than the methods we have proposed. Please write comments in the block below, post a photo on the topic of the article, ask questions about interesting points.