Obstructed drains can be baffling for a householder.
Obstructed drains can be baffling for a householder.
You are standing under the shower for a relaxing time, and all of sudden you realize that water is rising around your feet. A clogged up drain is in action. Or while brushing your teeth by the sink, all of a sudden the sink starts to fill up. Clearing stopped drains is something everyone wants to avoid because it’s such a messy task and the defective drains make one appear unhygienic (and that’s what those drains are). But the fact is that sooner or later, a bathroom drain is going to become blocked or suffer a stoppage. But there are ways to unblock bathroom drainage easily and can make this unenviable job a lot easier.
What causes a blocked drain?.
Hair, dust and other particles getting stuck in the space between the drainpipe and the pipes are the main cause. Residue from daily use of shampoo, conditioner, soap, cleaners and other products tends to further aggravate the sticky build up. Finally the accumulation becomes too thick to allow any water to pass through and it is then that the drainage get completely blocked. If your sink or tub fills up fast with water while it should have drained out quickly, you could be in for a serious case of clogged pipes.
How to remove the drain pipe blockage.
You can do a number of things to unblock your bath or bathroom sink drainpipe. The first step is to remove the plug whether the blocked drain pipe is in a sink or bath. With a bathroom sink this can be as easy as pulling it right out or as complicated a problem as looking under the sink and removing the nut that holds it in place. In the case of a bathtub, an overflow plate may have to be detached so that the entire assembly can be opened up, or there may be provision to unscrew the plug at the drain pipe itself.
The removal of the plug may allow you to spot the cause for the blockage. It will most certainly appear like a collection of hair and other particles covered with slimy material inside the drain’s piping. Try to pull it out, as much as you can. You may find it difficult to get at the clog, in which case you could use something like a wire clothes hanger to fish the material out. As soon as the clog is removed, water will start flowing freely through the drain pipe.
If, after exposing the drain pipe, you observe that the blockage is not close enough for removal with the wire you have, then you will need to find another way. Use a drain pipe plunger to loosen the blockage that is deeper down the pipework. Begin by covering the overflow drain pipe with a wet towel so as to create a stronger suction from the plunger. Now, place the plunger straight away on the opening of the drain,and thump it up and down a number of times. As soon as you release the plunger, the trapped water may drain away immediately.
You may have to turn to a chemical solution, if the plunger fails to do the job. However this should be your last resort because the chemicals used can harm your bathroom fittings and accessories, they are corrosive.
Call a professional plumber if all else fails.
If the above methods fail to solve your clogged up drain pipe problem then you may have to contact a plumber. A professional plumber should quickly solve your problem with his special tools and equipment. Although availing plumber services can be a costly proposition it gives you the much needed peace of mind as the water starts flowing and the mess is cleaned up.