Instant respite for your families stopped drains pipes
Instant respite for your families stopped drains pipes
How would you handle a plugged drain pipe in your toilet? – Keep a plunger handy for such emergency situations. Using a drains plunger is relatively simple to do. The plunger will not work if you vigorously push it up and down very but not like a pneumatic drill. For the best results you should place the head of the plunger over the drainage, smoothly push down and bring up again quickly creating and even suction in the drains pipes pipe. In theory the suction created by pulling up quickly will dislodge the material that is clogging your bathtub, toilet or sink. 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.
The other alternative to using your waste pipes plunger is to use a commercial product that uses chemicals to loosen the blockage, such as caustic soda. However this option should be used only after you have used the plunger to unclog your drainpipe. Run the chemical into the drain and allow it to work for about 30 minutes before flushing the drainage with hot water. Because these chemicals can be corrosive or contain bleach you should only wear clothes that you are happy to be damaged. If you plan to use the plunger after the application of chemical to remove the remaining debris, then eye protection is essential because the chemical laden water may back-splash on you and burn. The chemical product comes with specific manufacturer’s instructions; it is important to read and follow them carefully.
If both the plunger and chemicals fail to alleviate the clogging problem you have, then you can try unscrewing the nuts on the P-trap with pliers or a pipe wrench to gain access to the pipe. This will create quite a mess so be ready with a towel and pail. 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, however you cannot find any solid materials the problem is probably harder to get to, between the trap and the soil stack deep in the drains pipework.
A toilet auger can be used for unclogging the toilet. With a bathtub or sink, however a drainage snake should be used. drainage snakes are designed to reach deep down into the far reaches of your narrow pipes. Once the snake has reached the blockage you can twist the adjustable handle which will drill into the obstruction so you can then pull the material out. Once, you have taken out the obstruction, re-fix the P-trap and rinse the drain pipe with hot water to make sure that the entire blockage has been removed. Ensure that all the joints and the P-trap are firmly sealed and that there is no leakage anywhere.
If all these methods fail then you need to call in a professional plumber. Some common problems that are beyond the capabilities of the common homeowner are blockages in the soil stack or the sewer service by tree roots or even a collapsed pipe which could be the result of old age or deterioration of the pipes because of Mother Nature or an unforeseen Act of God.