Do not receive the plugged drains pipes blues and use this plan
Do not receive the plugged drains pipes blues and use this plan
What comes to mind quickly when faced with blocked drains pipes in your bathroom? The simplest one is to use the good old plunger. The entire process of opening blocked drain pipe with a plunger is simple and straightforward. But don’t just shove the plunger into the drainage and start pumping it violently, you could make matters much worse. To ensure that the plunger works effectively, wholly cover the drain pipe with its bell-shaped head, and gently push it down once, and immediately come up, so that suction is created. The suction created with the upward movement will pull back the clog that is stuck in the drain pipe of your tub, sink or toilet. You may notice small overspill openings in your bath or sink and you should always remember to block these up with a wet paper towel or sponge to create maximum suction.
Instead of using your plunger you can apply commercial products containing chemicals that can dissolve the blockage, for instance concentrated waste pipes cleaner. This is usually done after you attempt to unplug your drain using your plunger. Leave the chemical for a few minutes so that it loosens the blockage, and then use hot water to rinse out the drainpipe, taking care not to splash yourself. 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. Make sure to follow the supplier’s guide so that you won’t come across any problems.
If the plunger still doesn’t make any difference after the chemical treatment you could use pliers or a pipe wrench to loosen the P-trap nuts. You should have a bucket and a towel handy as this can be a really dirty job. In order to avoid scratching the chrome surface of your pipes while at the same time getting a tight hold up them, you can cover the metal jaws of your wrench with electrical tape. Once you have removed the P-trap you can inspect the trap thoroughly for any blockage. If the plunger, the chemical or trap removal does not help, then the blockage could be much deeper in the pipework.
If you are trying to unclog your toilet you can use a toilet auger. If the problem lies in your tub or sink, a plumbers drain snake will come in handy. Because of their size and length, drainpipe snakes are well designed for getting at obstructions in small spaces in difficult to reach places. By turning the handle to dig into the blockage, you can bring the clog up and away from the drainage. After removing the blockage, reassemble the P-trap and let hot water flow into the drainpipe to double check it works properly. Finally, you should double check that everything is sealed properly, tightly screwed into place and make sure that the P-trap does not have any leaks.
If none of the steps you have taken work, it is time to bring in a professional plumber. There are some incidents that cannot be resolved 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 pipes engineer.