Bathroom blockage: remedies and remedies
Many people have to deal with such a problem as a blockage in the bathroom. Contamination can appear even if the bathtub is very clean, because there are many reasons for such situations. Of course, neat owners have to deal with blockages much less often, but they should also know how to most effectively clean pipes at home. This article discusses the most popular methods for getting rid of heavy and minor dirt.
Causes of occurrence
If not cleaned regularly, contamination in the sewer pipe can cause serious plumbing problems. When the drain is clogged, the water does not go well, it stands, and the dirt ends up in the bath. It becomes very unpleasant to take water procedures.
Among the most common causes of blockages, there are several.
- Dead skin cells and hair adhere to the walls. If left untreated, dirt builds up over time and clogs the drain hole.
- The bath becomes dirty due to regular water procedures, frequent washings. Traces of soap remain on the walls, which accumulate over time, although the water itself ends up in the sewer.
- Prolonged lack of proper care can lead to the formation of limescale. You can ignore the appearance of such a blockage for a long time until the situation becomes too serious. Dirty pipes need to be cleaned monthly, otherwise they can become unusable over time.
- If the sewer is often clogged, it is possible that its installation was carried out incorrectly. Contamination can quickly accumulate if the slope is very low.
- When installing the pipeline, you need to ensure that there are not too many bends. They can collect sand, grease, hair and other contaminants.
- Avoid choosing a pipe that is too narrow. Dirt in such elements accumulates much faster.
Having understood what exactly caused the pollution, you can decide how best to eliminate it. If you think that you will not be able to deal with the problem on your own, you can seek help from a specialist. However, many people prefer to do their own cleaning, keeping their budget. There is nothing difficult in such work. You just need to understand some of the nuances in order to choose the best remedy.
Remedies
A pipe that is clogged can be cleaned by mechanical, chemical or traditional methods. Many people prefer to combine these methods to improve cleaning efficiency. Let's consider the main features of each method.
Mechanical
Among the most common mechanical methods for cleaning sewer pipes in a bathroom, one can single out the use of a cable, a plunger or a vacuum cleaner. If everything is done correctly, it is quite easy to "break through" the blockage.
Ventuz
Many people prefer to use a plunger to get rid of blockages, so this simple device is available in many apartments. It is a flexible rubber product with a long straight handle. The rubber element is used as a suction cup.The plunger is well suited for cleaning a wide variety of drain holes.
When going to remove dirt that has gotten into the drain hole, there are several points to consider.
- When using a plunger, do not use additional chemicals. Chemicals can spill onto skin or clothing and cause burns.
- Before using such a fixture, moisten its base with water.
Place the plunger over the drain hole. Make sure it is completely covered by the rubber cup. Place the handle vertically. In order for the plunger to suck well, you need to press on it.
Move the device, then remove it and evaluate the result. If the bathtub is very clogged, carry out the procedure again. If you clean the drain and remove the blockage it turned out, you should rinse the device with hot water to remove the remaining dirt.
Cable
The pipe can be effectively cleaned using a sanitary wire. You can use this device if the plunger does not help. You can create a plumbing cable with your own hands. To do this, straighten the wire hanger and bend it at the end, making a small hook. With this tool, you can easily remove stuck hair.
Use the wire rope as recommended by a professional.
- Carefully insert the fixture into the drain hole. In this case, it must be rotated.
- When the cable is at its maximum possible depth, turn it several times and remove it.
- There will be hair and other debris at the end of the cable. Carry out the procedure until you can completely get rid of the dirt. Then you will need to turn on hot water.
Vacuum cleaner
Some people use a vacuum cleaner to clean. Such a device is very convenient to use.
To remove the blockage, the vacuum cleaner is used in a certain way.
- Take the rubber nozzle from the plunger and attach it with electrical tape to the pipe of the vacuum cleaner. Then the product can be cleaned of glue using alcohol.
- Remove the trash bag from the vacuum cleaner and connect a hose with a pipe to the blow hole.
- Turn on the vacuum cleaner and start cleaning the drain.
Chemical
When using chemicals, rubber gloves should be worn to protect the skin of the hands. You should also protect your face with special glasses and a respirator.
Several products work well for pipe cleaning.
- Domestos. This tool can be called one of the most popular, because cleaning with it is very quick and convenient. In the evening, pour it into the pipes (10 caps will be enough) and wait until morning. You should not use the bathroom at night, so inform all family members about the procedure in advance. When cleaning is complete, flush the pipes with water (it must be hot).
- "Mole". This product is very effective in dissolving hair and other impurities. The entire procedure will need to be spent about an hour and a half. Pour in the liquid, wait (how much is usually written in the instructions). Then turn on the tap and rinse the drain with hot water.
- Tiret. Quite an effective remedy, but usually one package is enough for only two procedures. Fill with Tiret and wait a few minutes (if the contamination is strong, you can wait about half an hour). Then rinse off with water. Tiret should not be used with acids, otherwise the respiratory tract can be severely damaged.
- Mr Muscle. This product is suitable for a wide variety of pipes. It is granular, but it can also damage the skin, so rubber gloves must be used. Add the product and wait about 30 minutes. Mr Muscle will remove not only dirt, but also harmful microorganisms. It also effectively removes unpleasant odors. After using Mr Muscle, fill the drain with hot water.
- Sky. This tool can be called universal. It dissolves hair, removes soap stains, destroys harmful microorganisms.The product is sold in a sachet.
Pour the substance into the drain and wait about 15 minutes. Then rinse it off with plain water. Remove Sky with utmost care.
Chemicals are quite effective. However, if you suffer from asthma, for example, it is better to prefer some other method of cleaning the drain. One option is to use folk remedies.
Folk
With the help of folk remedies, you can clean the drain quite effectively. You just need to know how to use them correctly. Let's consider the most popular options.
Soda
You can use baking soda in a variety of ways. However, in any case, it should be borne in mind that when using such a product, there should be no water in the bathroom.
You need to use soda like this:
- Wear safety goggles and rubber gloves. The use of caustic soda can cause chemical burns. Pour about 2 liters of water into the bucket. Pour caustic soda into it (3 cups are enough for cleaning). Take an old wooden spoon and mix thoroughly. When a hissing sound is heard, pour the resulting liquid into the drain hole. Then you need to wait about half an hour and rinse the drain with hot water. If it does not clear the first time, you can repeat the procedure.
- The next method also produces good results. You need to mix baking soda (use half a glass) and table salt (half a glass will do as well). Wait about 20 minutes and top up with boiling liquid. The result of a chemical reaction is a product that effectively dissolves the dirt.
Vinegar and baking soda are gentle agents that do not damage plastic pipes. Pour boiling water into the drain hole. Pour baking soda halfway into a glass and push it down the drain. Wait a few minutes, then pour a cup of boiling water and the same amount of vinegar. When the hissing sounds are heard, the cleaning process will begin.
When about 20 minutes have passed, you will need to pour a kettle of hot water into the drain. This will wash away any dirt weakened by this product.
Boiling water
There are no restrictions on the use of such a tool; with the help of boiling water, the drain can be cleaned daily. However, it will not help if the pollution is very strong. Water must be poured into the drain hole several times. The hot liquid acts for a few seconds.
Dishwashing liquid
With these tools, fat can be removed quite effectively.
They need to be used as follows:
- pour boiling water into the hole;
- add a quarter cup of dishwashing liquid;
- after 20 minutes, refill the liquid (it should also be boiling);
- wait 30 minutes and turn on hot water to thoroughly rinse the drain.
Together with such a tool, you can use a plunger. This cleaning will be more effective.
Sulphuric acid
Some people use this remedy if the contamination is very strong. However, it should be borne in mind that the acid is quite aggressive. Plumbers argue that this tool is not always effective, moreover, it can destroy sewer pipes.
Plum smell: what to do?
If you feel that the plum smells unpleasant, you need to take measures to eliminate this problem.
- Make sure the cause is not a dry odor trap. Such a problem can arise if, for example, the owners of the apartment have not been at home for a long time. To deal with it, you just need to skip the water. If you want to prevent bad odors, plug the drain plug before leaving.
Another option is to pour vegetable oil into the hole (this will require one glass). When you return, fill it with lye-based blockage. It dissolves fats effectively. You can use regular dishwashing liquid.
- See if everything is ok with the pipes.If it turns out that the bend is broken, you need to give the pipe the correct shape, correct it.
- Flush out the siphon. This can be done with dishwashing liquid. It is recommended to use a grate with small holes for draining and periodically clean it.
- See if the outlet pipe fitting reaches the liquid level in the siphon. If necessary, you need to install it below.
Tips & Tricks
In order not to have to think about how to get rid of heavy contamination, one must not forget about preventive measures. Prevention should be regular. It is also worth assessing the condition of the sewer pipes, because the reason for the frequent occurrence of pollution may lie precisely in this. If the pipes are in very poor condition, even regular maintenance will not help. They need to be replaced.
Remove dirt from the outside, such as accumulated hair, as often as possible.
It is advisable to remove them from the drain after each shampooing. This can be done with rubber gloves.
Regular maintenance will allow you to avoid the time-consuming major cleaning. You can clean the sewer not weekly, but monthly. If the drain hole becomes clogged very quickly, preventative cleaning is performed more frequently.
For information on how to remove a blockage in the bathroom, see the next video.
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