Clear out those obstructed waste pipes quickly
Clear out those obstructed waste pipes quickly
What are some easy home solutions for eliminating clogged drains pipes in your bathroom? The quickest and easiest thing to use to address the problem is your normal plunger. Using a plunger is very simple if you know how. But the last thing you want to do is be too aggressive and pulse to quickly. Place the cup of the plunger exactly over the drainpipe and push it downwards and upwards with short sharp movements that generate suction within the drainage and pipe. So any material that is stuck into the bathroom, sink or tub drainage should come out with the upward pull on the drainage plunger. You may notice small overflow 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.
Chemical unblocking agents can also be used to dislodge or dissolve obstructed matter. However this option should be used only after you have used the plunger to unclog your drain pipe. Let the chemicals stay in the drainage for some time and then wash them out with hot water, do this slowly to ensure that the water is flowing away. Because these chemicals can be corrosive or contain bleach you should only wear clothes that you are happy to be damaged. And since plunging can throw water in any direction you might want to consider eye-wear in order to protect you from any chemicals. Make sure to follow the supplier’s guide so that you won’t come across any issues.
You can use a pipe wrench or pliers to unscrew the P-trap if you are unable to remove the clog with the plunger, this will give you access to the pipe. Now, this process can be really messy, so keep the towel and bucket handy. 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 the P-trap is removed, check the trap for any solid materials obstructing the pipe opening. Unfortunately if you can’t find anything, the problem probably runs a lot deeper and could be anywhere between the trap and the soil stack.
In case of a clogged toilet, you can apply a toilet auger. With a bathtub or sink, however a drain pipe snake should be used. Because of their size and length, drainpipe snakes are well designed for getting at obstructions in small spaces in difficult to reach places. With the help of the adjustable handle, you can literally drill into the blockage and pull out the clog from the drainpipe. When you are sure that all the clogging material is cleared, replace the P-trap and test the drain pipe with hot water. 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 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 waste pipes engineer.