The soundest remedies to open stopped waste pipes in your home
The soundest remedies to open stopped waste pipes in your home
How would you handle a clogged drainpipe in your toilet? – Keep a plunger handy for such emergency situations. Using a plunger is very simple if you know how. But you should avoid applying unnecessarily too much force to the plunger when pulsating it up and down. To ensure that the plunger works effectively, wholly cover the drainpipe with its bell-shaped head, and gently push it down once, and immediately come up, so that suction is created. In theory the suction created by pulling up quickly will dislodge the material that is clogging your bathtub, toilet or sink. Note that some tubs and sinks are fitted with overflow holes that must be closed with a sponge or wet towel before proceeding with the plunger.
Chemical unblocking agents can also be used to dislodge or dissolve clogged matter. This is usually done after you attempt to unplug your drain using your plunger. The chemicals must sit for a while as it eats away at the blockage, then you must run hot water down the drain to flush it out. Use rough clothes that cover your body fully as things could get a bit mucky and some of the strong chemicals may spill on you and burn exposed skin. Eye protection is not a bad idea either if you plan on plunging again in case there is any residual back splash of chemical laden water. Just be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid any unnecessary issues.
The next thing you can attempt to use if your plunger is ineffective is to loosen the nuts holding the P-trap in place with pliers or a pipe wrench. Keep a bucket and towel to deal with the mess that will follow. Chrome plated fittings can be protected from scratches by taping up the teeth of the pliers or wrench; that should also give you a firmer grip on the nuts of the trap. You will be able to check the waste pipes P-trap for any obstructions in the pipe opening after you remove it. But in case you are unable to find any blockage, chances are that the problem lies deep down between the soil stack and the trap and you will need additional tools.
A toilet auger can be used for unclogging the toilet. With a bathtub or sink, however a drainage snake should be used. Plumbers drain snakes have been specifically designed to enter deep into the narrow pipes. 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. After you have successfully removed the the blockage you should put the P-trap back into place and check if water can flow through freely. Make sure that everything is tight and sealed properly and test the P-trap for leaks.
If the drain pipe is still clogged after all these measures, or if the problem reoccurs chronically, employ a competent plumber or waste pipes contractor to fix it. There are some incidents that cannot be solved by the common householder such as clogs in the soil stack or the sewer service near tree roots or even a broken pipe caused by age or pipe corrosion brought upon by nature or some “mysterious reason”, at these times contact a good drains engineer.