Plugged drainage can cause your blood to churn
Plugged drainage can cause your blood to churn
At the end of a hard day’s work, you get into the shower and enjoy the buzz of hot water on your face and then,suddenly your toes seem to go under water too – Oh no, the drainpipe is stopped once again!. A blocked drain is in action. Or you’re in front of the toilet sink, brushing your teeth and before you know it – the sink is halfway full. Clogged drains are not only a major nuisance for household work; they are also unhygienic health hazards. However, blocked drainage are something that cannot be avoided; every household has to cope with it sooner or later. But there are ways to unblock bathroom drainage easily and can make this unenviable job a lot easier.
First, let’s look at why drainage become clogged and what are the main causes of a blockage.
Clogging occurs when substances like hair, dust and other bits and pieces get trapped in the region where the bathroom drain pipe is connected to the main drain pipe pipe. Residue from daily use of shampoo, conditioner, soap, cleaners and other products tends to further aggravate the sticky build up. When the accumulation reaches a level of thickness that constrains the free movement of water, the problem is pointed out as blocked drainpipe. If water builds up quickly in your sink or tub when it should flow smoothly out of your drainpipe, you may already have a plumbing blockage on your hands.
Some effective ways to unclog your bathroom drainpipe are listed below.
Time to roll up your sleeves and tackle the blockage – here are a few tips on what you can do to unclog your bathtub or sink drain pipe. The first thing you will have to do is take out the plug of the blocked sink or drainpipe. In case of a bathroom sink, the plug can be removed easily with a simple pull or it might need the complex effort of unlocking the hook keeping it in place from under the sink. In case of your bath, the plug can be unscrewed at the mouth of the drainage or the overflow plate can be removed to expose the assembly.
You may be able to see the blockage clearly after the stopper has been taken out. Those greasy lumps of entangled hair and residue can be seen sticking to the sides and corners of the drain pipe. Reach down into the pipe and pull out as much as possible. Use a wire from a clothes hangar or some other apparatus if you have difficulties reaching the clog or grabbing the build up so that you can pull it out. This step of removing the residual clumps will remove the local blockage at your drain pipe point.
If you need to disassemble the drainpipe and notice that the blockage is not even within reach of a wire hanger, you will have to try another method. Use a drainpipe plunger to loosen the blockage that is deeper down the pipework. Begin by covering the overflow drainpipe with a wet towel so as to create a stronger suction from the plunger. Now put the plunger over the drainpipe and move it up and down continuously at an even pace. If you are successful, any water, if trapped, will be instantly drained when the plunger is released.
Even the plunger may not clear the most dense and hardened matter inside your plumbing system – that’s when you will have to deploy a chemical drainpipe clearing product. However this should be your last resort because the chemicals used can harm your bathroom fittings and accessories, they are corrosive.
You can always take expert help if this concerns you.
If after trying the various do-it-yourself methods you are still unable to unblock your drainpipe, it is a good idea to call your local trusted plumber for some help. Professional plumbers will have specialist equipment and know-how to unblock your drainpipe in next to no time. 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.