Almost every owner of his own house or apartment was faced with such an unpleasant phenomenon as a blockage of sewer communications. This happens for various reasons. There are many effective ways to clean a sink or sink, achieving a quick drain of water. How to clean the blockage correctly will be discussed in detail below.
Causes of blockages
How to clean the blockage at home? To answer this question, you need to find out several features of this problem. The blockage can be different. In accordance with this, the method of eliminating pollution is also chosen. There are 3 types of blockages. They can be mechanical, operational, as well as caused by incorrect pipe angle
In the first case, the cause of poor water flow into the sewer is the ingress of foreign objects into the system. This can be hair, animal hair, rags, food waste, etc. If there is no special filter in the siphon, such blockages often appear. Therefore, you need to replace the siphon.
Considering how to clean the blockage in the kitchen, in the bathroom, you should pay attention to a different type of education. The gradual accumulation of garbage in pipes can lead to such problems. Small particles of dust, dirt, grease are gradually deposited on the walls of the system. Most often, this situation is characteristic of cast-iron communications. The diameter of the pipe is therefore gradually reduced. Water gets worse over time. This process, unlike the previous type of blockages, develops slowly.
Incorrect pipe bending can lead to such problems. Installation was not performed correctly. As a result, heavy substances contained in the pipe, as well as grease and other impurities, settle in the bend. As a result, a cork forms in this place. In this case, it is necessary to solve the problem of changing the angle of inclination of the pipe. Otherwise, the problem will appear frequently.
Cleaning approaches
To clean the clog in the sink at home, you need to determine the cause of such a nuisance. It should also be precisely determined where the pipe collects dirt and debris. To do this, check the stock. Most often, blockages occur in the sink in the kitchen, from the kitchen to the bathroom. Also, blockages sometimes occur at the place where the toilet is flushed, as well as at the junction of the pipe from the toilet with the main riser.
There are different ways to get rid of blockage. They can be divided into:
- mechanical;
- thermal;
- chemical;
- hydrodynamic.
When choosing a cleaning method, you need to take into account in which place the blockage appeared, its strength. It is also worth paying attention to what material the pipes are made of. Plastic communications are less likely to clog. However, in the case of the formation of plugs in them and a build-up of contamination on the walls, not all of the above methods can be used to solve the problem.
Many varieties of plastic pipes do not tolerate overheating. Therefore, thermal cleaning is not suitable. If communications are thin-walled, they do not tolerate mechanical influences. As a result, holes may appear in the pipe. It is best to use special chemicals for such pipes.
If a blockage appears near the water discharge point, a number of alternative cleaning methods can be used. Resume runoff will be fast. If the cork formed far from the drain, mechanical methods or potent chemicals must be applied. In this case, folk recipes will be ineffective.
Mechanical cleaning
When considering how to clean a blockage in a kitchen sink, consideration should be given to mechanical techniques. They suggest the use of special devices. It can be brushes, plungers, cables, etc. The choice depends on the type of blockage.
If the cork appeared near the drain hole, it is quite possible to do with such a device as a plunger. When choosing this tool, you need to pay attention to the diameter of the rubber bowl. It should completely block the drain. If there are 2 holes in the kitchen sink, one of them must be tightly closed.
Next, the plunger is installed on an open drain. The sole of the tool is pressed tightly to the surface, releasing air from under it. Next, water is collected in the sink or bath. Its level should be at least 3 cm. Next, the plunger needs to be moved vigorously. However, such actions need not be done very quickly.
Press the tool sharply. After that, you need to wait until the rubber sole takes its original shape. Such actions increase the pressure in the system. It tears layers from the walls of communications. After the described manipulations, the drain is washed with hot water.
Also, if the drain hole allows, you can use a brush to clean it. This tool is suitable if the blockage is close to the sink. In other cases, other, more effective devices are used.
Cable
How to clean a blockage in a sewer pipe if a plug forms far from the drain? In this case, you will need to use a special cable. This device can be purchased at any plumbing store. If there is no cable at hand, a durable wire will do.
If the owners decided to purchase a plumbing cable, you need to consider that the length of such devices may be different. When choosing, take into account the length of sewer communications, as well as the place where the blockage appeared. Experts recommend purchasing a cable, at the end of which there is a brush. It is more effective than ordinary wire.
Almost everyone can clean the clog in the sink at home with the help of such a device. The technology of using the cable is simple. One end must be pushed into the sewer through the drain. In this case, rotational movements must be performed. This is necessary so that the end of the cable can overcome areas with bends and blockages. Rotation allows you to push the fixture further.
If the cable meets serious resistance in the pipe, you need to act correctly. The cable is rotated in this case only clockwise. Otherwise, the product may begin to unwind. The procedure may require a lot of effort and time if the plug is large. However, over time, the cable will be able to overcome the obstacle.
It is worth noting that when cornering, you need to make rotations in the direction where the corner is directed. If turning left, the cable is rotated counterclockwise. If the pipe is mostly straight, you can fix the tool in the chuck of a screwdriver or drill. In this case, you can quickly defeat even a complex blockage.
Other mechanical methods
There are a number of other techniques on how to clean a clog in a sink at home. If a blockage forms in the siphon area, it must be removed. This will require a wrench. A bucket is placed under the siphon. Using a wrench, unscrew the manhole cover or remove the sump altogether. Stored siphon grease should be carefully scrubbed with an oblong object (such as a screwdriver).
After such mechanical cleaning, the siphon is collected in the reverse order. Next, water is collected in the sink and the system is checked. If there is a leak, the siphon must be treated with a sanitary sealant.
Sometimes such actions do not give the desired result. In this case, you can resort to radical methods. To do this, you need a vacuum cleaner with the function of reverse traction. A plunger should also be prepared. The handle is disconnected from it. A hole is made in the rubber nozzle. It must match the diameter of the vacuum cleaner hose. It should be tightly mounted in the rubber nozzle. If this was not achieved, the system is clamped with clamps.
Next, the rubber nozzle is pressed firmly against the drain hole. Next, the vacuum cleaner is installed in the position of reverse traction and is included in the network. It should work at full power. Blow out the pipe for several minutes. Next, the rubber nozzle is removed from the drain. The system needs to be checked. Water is collected in the sink and the rate of water descent is evaluated. If necessary, repeat the procedure or consider other options to eliminate blockage.
Chemistry application
How to clean the clog in the pipes? There are many methods that can quickly deal with various plugs and contaminants in the pipes. A huge variety of cleaning products are on sale. They are available in the form of powder, gel, liquid. You should not save on the quality of such a tool. Only professional chemistry from well-known brands helps to cope with the problem. This, for example, may be a Ravak cleaner. One of the popular cheap products is the composition of the "Mole".
Often high-quality pipe cleaners are produced by well-known companies that produce plumbing. In order for the tool to act correctly and not harm the sewer system, you need to carefully study the manufacturer's instructions. It indicates for which pipes the composition is suitable, how to prepare and use it to clean the blockages.
Ready-made products and powders that require preliminary preparation are on sale. If the product is liquid, most likely, you just need to pour it into the pipe. Next, you need to withstand the time indicated by the manufacturer, and rinse the system with hot water. Powdered, granular formulations are in most cases diluted with hot water before use. It is necessary to adhere to the proportions specified in the instructions.
When using chemicals, you need to remember safety rules. You need to work in protective gloves. If the product enters the mucous membranes, it is washed off with plenty of water. Next, you need to see a doctor. It is worth remembering that mixing compositions of different brands is prohibited. This can reduce the effect of both remedies. Acid and alkali can neutralize each other.
Thermal impact
Considering how to clean the sewage blockage, a few words should be said about the thermal effect. If the cause of the blockage is fat deposits (which often happens in the kitchen), you can rinse the system with boiling water. This simple method is quite effective.
You need to boil water in the kettle. Then gradually the hot liquid is poured into the drain hole. Before that, you can pour in a dishwashing detergent or cleaning the stove from grease. The chemical composition should be in the pipe for several minutes. Then it is washed off with boiling water.
When the water begins to gradually descend, the amount of hot water is increased. Fatty deposits will gradually warm up and be carried away to the sewers. This method can be combined using a plunger. This will enhance the positive effect.
It should be noted that when using this method, it is necessary to verify the heat resistance of the pipes. The type of plastic should be determined. Some varieties are intended only for warm water. In this case, boiling water can not be used. In other cases, the use of boiling water gives good results. If the cause of the blockage is hair, wool or thread and rags that have fallen into the system, this method will not help. Here you will need to clean the sewer by mechanical or chemical means.
Soda and Vinegar
Many owners of apartments and houses ask how to clean a blockage with soda. This is one of the simple but effective ways. It is based on the chemical reaction of these two components. This method is suitable if the blockage is not far from the place of discharge, for example in a siphon.
You need to pour 100 g of soda into the pipe. Next, the same amount of vinegar is poured here. The drain hole is closed. Then a violent reaction occurs. This allows you to quickly remove the plug or plaque from the dirt on the pipes. When the hissing stops, you need to once again clean the blockage with vinegar. Another 0.5 cups of this substance is poured into the sewer. The hole in the sink is again closed and the contents are left in the system for half an hour. Then the system is washed with boiling water.
Soda and salt
You can also clear blockages with other improvised means. So, a chemical reaction also occurs after mixing soda, salt and water. You need to mix 100 g of salt and the same amount of soda.
Dry matter is poured into the drain hole. He is left here for 15 minutes. It is necessary at this time to boil 4 liters of water. After the specified period, boiling water is poured into the drain hole. After that you need to quickly close the hole with a stopper. The reaction will go down the pipe. Using this technique, medium blockages can be eliminated .
Prevention
In order to clear the blockages was not required in the next few years, it is necessary to carry out simple prevention. After washing greasy dishes, you need to open hot water for several minutes.
Also, do not pour water with solid food debris into the sink. In the bathroom you need to install a special strainer that will trap hair and other impurities. It must be periodically removed and cleaned. This will not allow various foreign objects to enter the sewer and accumulate inside the pipes.
Having considered various methods that allow you to effectively clean up blockages, you can quickly resume draining and get rid of the problem.