When obstruction occurs inside the sewer pipes, most people do not rush to go to special services, but try to eliminate the blockage on their own. But if before a person did not have to do this, then most likely, he will need some advice on what methods can be used at home to clean the sewer. It is important not only to break through the clogged pipe, but also to prevent further occurrence of such a problem. But first you need to understand why it appears at all.
Causes of clogging and mechanical methods of their elimination
Sewer pipes are clogged for various reasons, among which:
- accumulation of rust and sand in the places of their connection or turning;
- settling and accumulating fat on their walls;
- getting into the sewage system of long hair, capable of straying into tangles and clinging to the protrusions.
In most cases, the listed factors, acting in combination, contribute to the formation of obstruction in the pipes. Especially large is the risk of clogging, if the elements of the sewage system in the apartment are made of steel or cast iron. Large pieces of exfoliated scale can significantly block the free flow of liquid and promote the accumulation of insoluble particles in this place.
The main methods used to remove the blockage in the sewage system include the following:
- using a plunger;
- punching with a plumbing cable;
- use of reactive substances.
Regarding the last option, you should not rush with it, since it is usually obtained in the first two ways to clear the blockage.
Council
Chemical cleaners are quite expensive and can corrode some types of pipes, so they are best used only in extreme cases. In addition, their effectiveness can not always be guaranteed.
Vantuz also has almost any apartment, and it's not difficult to use at all. Just before you start using this tool, you need to remove all debris from the mouth of the drain hole, then pour in a liter of 3 boiling water. Hot water will dissolve the fat accumulated in the pipe, so it will be easier to "stir" the cork formed in it by mechanical means. Rubber suction cup sucker must be applied evenly to the surface of the sink or bath( whichever is the problem) exactly opposite the drain hole, after which you need to press the handle down. If the edges of the sucker fit well to the surface, there will be excessive pressure inside the space bounded by the plunger and the jammed seat, which will push the "plug" forward. Pulling the plunger by the handle upwards, you will provoke an air push in the opposite direction. Repeating the procedure several times, you will stir the "cork" by loosening its connection with the walls of the pipe, after which it will be easily washed off with water at the next discharge.
Of course, not every formation inside the sewage pipes can be pierced with a plunger, while it is possible to eliminate the obstruction with a plumbing cable at any degree of contamination. The only problem that can arise in this case is the absence of the cable itself( as opposed to the plunger) in every apartment. This tool is made of several spiral-wound steel wires, which at its end form a kind of brush. The principle of its action is that when entering the pipe, the tips of the wire clean off the dirt on the way, as well as catch and grab a tangle of hair, threads from rags and other such garbage. In order for the cable to move forward and produce the desired action, it must always be turned in one direction during the pushing. To do this, he has on the other end a special zigzag handle.
Advice
Do not attempt to push the end of the plumbing cable directly into the drain hole of the bathtub or wash basin. It is necessary to remove the siphon, providing free access to the sewage system, and to direct the tool to the mouth of the pipe, which is likely to be clogged.
Factory and folk methods for cleaning and preventing blockages
But how to eliminate clogging with chemicals? If you are not afraid of the integrity of your pipes, you can use one of the factory cleaners. Their action is aimed at transferring the pollution preventing the free movement of effluents into the liquid form. Since these substances have an alkali of high concentration, it is better not to use them for metal pipes - only for plastic pipes.
The process of cleaning the sewerage in this case takes place in three stages.
- The chemically active solution must be poured neatly into the drain hole.
- Wait for a certain period of time specified in the instructions until a reaction occurs.
- Rinse the system with plenty of hot water.
Usually, this method allows you to easily block out the blockage in the pipe at home.
But in every case, such drastic measures may be necessary, since the contamination of the sewage can not be so significant. Therefore, it is worthwhile to find out by what means it is possible to maintain the sewage system in the normal state and how to clear the blockage in the system with little contamination. To do this, it will be sufficient to use the funds that are available in each apartment. With their help, it is easy to remove a weak clog and prevent its subsequent appearance, but, naturally, serious "jams" will hardly be able to break through like this.
There are several folk methods of cleaning the substances available in the household. Here are the most popular of them.
- To fill 1 glass of soda into the drain hole, pour 3 cups of boiling water and leave overnight.
- Add 0.5 cups of baking soda, top with the same amount of vinegar and leave overnight.
- Fall asleep on one part of the soda and salt, fill it with boiling water and leave overnight.
Although these methods will not succeed in removing a serious "plug" in the pipes, they are quite good for regular prevention. Preventive measures should be taken as often as possible, while cleaning the clog inside the drain pipes is required only occasionally. Either way, armed with the methods and tools mentioned above, you can keep the sewer system in good condition, extending the life of its operation.
