One of the common plumbing issues that every homeowner faces is a blocked drain. Though it seems minor, it creates a lot of inconvenience when you want to use a tap or faucet.
If you ignore the issue for a longer time, it will worsen and can quickly become a nightmare. You don’t want to see the dirty water flowing up through your sink simply because you failed to clear a blocked drain.
Fortunately, you can unblock the clogged drain by yourself using simple techniques. To make you aware of the unblocking process and the culprits that cause a blocked drainage, the following blog is a helpful read.
- Tree Roots
Tree roots may not be the primary cause of local drain blockages, however, they can obstruct the main sewage system. The tree roots keep growing until they come in the pipe path and cause a blockage. You may have to be particular about the trees that grow aggressively around the plumbing lines surrounding your home. - Toiletries
Sometimes, toiletries like nappies, baby wipes, and sanitary products can block the drainage pipes. If they are not flushed properly down the toilet, they can cause blockages. Be careful about disposing of the toiletries and make sure to throw them in a dustbin rather than flushing. - Foreign Objects
If you have kids at your home, then you never know what they throw away in drainages. Toys, legos and other foreign objects can become stuck in the u-bend and block the drainage pipes. It is another common cause of blocked pipes if you have active children roaming around the home. - Cooking Oil
Never pour cooking oil directly into the drainage pipe as its viscosity will prevent the oil from flowing freely down the pipe. It will gather and clump together on the pipe walls causing blockage after a certain time. Therefore, it’s necessary to wash down the pipes with hot water to remove the grease buildup. - Food Scraps
Never make it a habit to throw the food scraps down the sink drain. They don’t belong in your drainage system, especially food items like coffee grounds and vegetable peels. Make sure to separate them while washing and throw them in the dustbin. - Mineral Buildup
Minerals like calcium will build up in your pipes forming constriction along the pipes. While this may not seem like a serious issue, it gives rise to other forms of blockages. - Soap
If you use liquid soap, then it may not cause blockages in the drain, however, the same can’t be said for soap bars. Soap pieces can get lodged in the drain stopping the free flow of water. It’s better to use a mesh on the drain hole so that soap particles do not go down the pipes. - Hair and Other Natural Debris
Hair is one of the major causes of blocked drains. Hair, when going into the drain holes, gets mixed with other substances and becomes a major blockage item.
How to clear a blocked drain:
- Boiling Water
One of the best and easiest ways to clear a blocked drain is by pouring boiling water. It is used to clear blockages caused by grease, dirt, conditioner and other kinds of toiletries. Whenever you think the water is going slowly through a pipe, pour boiling water directly into the drainage hole. - Natural Cleaners
For more stubborn blockages, after pouring boiling water, drain a cup of soda mixed with vinegar. Leave the solution for 10 minutes and pour hot water again. When you mix hot water with a natural cleaner like soda, it can clear the blockages. - Caustic Cleaners
You can also try caustic cleaners to take strong action against blockages. It will clear stubborn particles like grease, fat and oils. However, make sure there is proper ventilation before starting the process.
Final Thoughts
Other than these methods, you can also use plungers, hydro jets, pipe relining, etc., to clear away the blockages. If you feel the pipe is still blocked, then it’s time to call a professional plumber to tackle the issue. They will know what to do for difficult blockages and can clear away the passage so that your plumbing lines work efficiently.
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