14 Best Home Remedies To Unclog Pipes
Blockages are considered the most common problem encountered by home appliance owners. Most often, you can get rid of the clogging of the drain pipe yourself, without the help of specialists. Therefore, it is necessary to figure out how you can remove the blockage and what tools you need to use for this.
Possible reasons
There are seven main causes of blockages and poor drainage.
Corrosion in cast iron pipes
Older sinks and sinks have metal drainpipes instead of plastic pipes. Most often, metal products are used, which over time begin to rust.
At first, rust has no effect on fluid drainage. However, if preventive cleaning of the drain is not carried out periodically, a lot of corrosion will form on the walls of the pipes.The old corrosion layer reduces the internal diameter of the drain hole, which negatively affects the water flow.
Improper installation of plastic pipes
To protect the drainage system from corrosion, plastic pipes are used instead of iron. However, even these products are susceptible to blockages. They often appear when the water drain pipes are not installed correctly. Even small deviations in their installation can adversely affect fluid permeability. Therefore, when installing a sink and a drainage system, it is better to use the services of professional plumbers who will do this job properly.
Grease and dirt
The kitchen is a common place to install sinks for washing dirty dishes. Some people install sinks that don't have special grease traps. This leads to the fact that particles of dirt and grease settle on the walls of the pipes, which gradually accumulate and slow down the drainage of water. Over time, so much dirt will accumulate that the fluid will simply stop flowing and you will have to clean the drain system.
To avoid this, you should install a grease trap and clean the sink regularly.
Limestone
If poor quality, unfiltered water is used, scale will begin to appear on the inner surface of the pipes. There are several signs of poor water quality in the water supply system:
- bitter taste;
- white flower on shell surface;
- stains on clothes after washing;
- quick-cooking foods while cooking.
It is not easy to remove lime deposits in the drainage system. Only citric or acetic acid will remove them.
sand and earth
Sometimes the cause of blockages in the drainage system is the ingress of soil and sand. This debris only ends up in the pipes if dirty shoes or pets are washed in the sink. Gradually, earth and sand accumulate on the walls, which deteriorates the permeability of the liquid.
To avoid this blockage, you will have to give up shining your shoes and washing your animals above the sink. It is best to do this in a separate container.
Foreign objects
There are times when foreign objects get into the sewer, due to which the water stops flowing. More often than not, sewer pipes get clogged with food debris that collects in the drain after you do the dishes. If there are too many foreign objects, you will not be able to remove the blockage yourself.
It will be necessary to turn to professionals who, with the help of special hydraulic devices, sell clogs. Ordinary detergents and a plunger will not clear the blockage.
Detergents with surfactants
When washing dishes, many people use special detergents based on surfactants. They help to clean the surface of the dishes from traces of grease and other contaminants. Frequent use of surfactant compounds acts on drain pipes, like ordinary grease. Detergent residues settle on the surface and gradually clog the drain. Over time, due to such a blockage, the water stops flowing, and you need to clean the pipes.
Clean a sink or sink drain
There are four cleaning methods that can help you clear a blockage in your drain quickly.
Boiling water
Some people prefer to get rid of blockages with hot boiled water.This method is only suitable for cleaning cast iron or metal pipes. It is contraindicated to pour boiling water over plastic structures, as this can damage their surface.
Before you start removing the blockage, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of this method. Water is poured into a small stream for 5-8 minutes. To get rid of dirt and grease quickly, you can add a little soap solution to the water.
soda and salt
Sometimes a special solution of salt and soda is used to remove blockages. To create it, you need to add 100 grams of salt and 200 grams of soda to a ten-liter container with hot water. The liquid is boiled for 10-15 minutes, after which it is immediately poured into the clogged drain. The saline soda solution is left for 20-25 minutes to completely dissolve the blockage. Then it is cleaned with a piece of dense cloth or an ordinary plunger.
A vacuum
Some experts recommend cleaning the blockage with a vacuum cleaner. To do this, use models that have an air blow function.
Before using this difficult method, you should familiarize yourself with the recommendations for using a vacuum cleaner. First, the device pipe is tightly sealed with an unnecessary rag. After that, it is carefully installed in the drain hole. Then the vacuum turns on at full power so that the blockage can be blown out. If that doesn't push through the resulting clog, you'll need to clean the drain another way.
Clean the siphon
Often the reason for difficult water drainage is a clogged siphon. To get rid of it, you will have to remove the pipe yourself and clean it.To do this, unscrew the fixing nut and carefully remove the product. After that, the branch pipe is unscrewed and cleaning is carried out.
There are several ways to clear a blockage in the siphon. If the pollution is not serious, you can just rinse it in a little water. In case of severe blockage, the siphon is placed for 2-3 hours in a container with hot water and detergent. Then it is rinsed and put in place.
Determine the location of the blockage
You can determine the location of the blockage by the characteristics of the fluid buildup:
- The water does not flow at the same time in the sink and the bathroom. In this case, the blockage is in one of the plumbing connection nodes to the sewer system.
- The liquid is not washed away only in the sink. This indicates a local blockage, which can be in the siphon or the drain pipe connected to the sink.
mechanical remedies at home
There are three mechanical methods for clearing blockages.
Ventuz
Many plumbers use plungers to clear blockages in sewer pipes. The main advantage of this tool is its ease of use. Even someone who has never used a plunger can handle pipe cleaning.
To clean it, you need to suck some water in the sink, then press the plunger down to the drain hole. Then 4-6 gradual actions are performed, and at the end of the procedure it is torn out of the drain. The steps are repeated 5-6 times until the water begins to drain well.
plumbing cable
To remove a large blockage, it is best to use a plumbing cable. This device is suitable for deep cleaning of sewer pipes.
Before breaking through the blockage, you must place the plumbing cable inside the drain.The fixture is then slowly turned clockwise and gradually pulled down to push the plug.
Use of the bottle
You can even clean the blockage with improvised means that you can do yourself. For example, some people use a regular plastic bottle for this. First, spiral marks are made on it, along which it will be cut. Then, small incisions are made on the spirals at an angle of 40 to 50 degrees. After that, the bottle is pushed into the tube and gradually pulled out together with the debris adhering to it.
Chemical products
People who do not want to mechanically clean blockages use chemicals.
Liquid
Liquid chemicals are used to clean plastic drain pipes. They are characterized by a gentle action that does not damage the plastic surface. The most effective liquid products are "Mister Muscle" with a slight smell of ammonia and "Dash", which has no smell.
Powders
Powder formulations are also available to help clear blockages.
Effective powder detergents include "Komet". It is a versatile powder used not only for cleaning sewers, but also for washing household appliances. To get rid of the blockage, "Komet" is poured into the drain and filled with hot water.
Acid
To remove severe blockages, due to which the liquid has completely ceased to flow, acidic agents will help. They are able to remove food debris as well as traces of grease and dirt on the pipes.
It is necessary to use such formulations with caution.Experts advise to use rubber gloves to protect the skin of the hands.
Alkaline
Alkaline products are ideal for cleaning kitchen sinks. They effectively fight grease residues that may remain in the drain after washing dishes or dirty pans. When choosing alkaline products, attention should be paid to Domestos and whiteness.
folk ways
Some folk remedies will help clear blockages.
soda and vinegar
To create a vinegar-soda solution, you need to mix the components in equal proportions and mix thoroughly. After that, the liquid is poured into the drain and left there for half an hour. Then the pipes are flushed with hot water.
Vinegar and Alka-Seltzer
If there is no soda in the house, you can replace it with Alka-Seltzer. 2-3 tablets of the drug are thrown into a clogged drain and filled with 250 milliliters of liquid vinegar. When the hissing inside the drain pipe stops, the hot water opens.
Hydrodynamic methods for private houses
Sometimes conventional methods fail to clean the drain, and you have to use hydrodynamic methods. To do this, use hydraulic technology, with which you can clean dirt from the inside of the pipes with water pressure.
How to get rid of unpleasant odors
Mustard powder is used to eliminate the unpleasant smell emanating from the drain hole. It is poured inside and after 20-25 minutes it is poured with boiling water. In addition, a chlorine solution is used to combat odors.
Prophylaxis
There are several guidelines to help protect the drain from clogging:
- do not pour a lot of fatty liquid down the sink;
- do not clog the drain hole with food debris that could be in the dirty dishes;
- so that no foreign bodies get inside, a protective grid is installed over the drain;
- the drain should be flushed daily with hot water to prevent clogging.
Conclusion
Sooner or later, everyone is faced with a clogged drain. Before you start cleaning, you should familiarize yourself with the basic tools and methods for clearing blockages.