How to quickly eliminate blockages in the bathroom, cleaning with drugs and improvised means. The water in the bathroom does not drain - how to eliminate the blockage with improvised means? How to clean bathroom pipes at home

As a result of errors in the design, installation, operation of the sewer system, the user often needs to clear the blockage in the bathroom at home on his own. For this, a chemical, mechanical or hydrodynamic cleaning method is used. Plumbing fixtures are additionally equipped with special devices - siphons, fittings - revisions - are mounted in pipes, risers.

The sewerage system in a country house and apartment is designed together with the water supply. Two or three rooms with these engineering systems - a separate / combined bathroom and kitchen have a common water supply and sanitation system.


Typical sewerage scheme in the apartment.

Blockages can form due to improper operation of any of the plumbing fixtures. There are several categories of causes of sewer blockages:


In the kitchen, through the sink, food waste of small, large fractions inevitably gets into the drainage system. This point of water intake is usually the most distant from the sewer riser located in the toilet. With small volumes of water and slope angles of the horizontal sections of the internal sewage system, the liquid does not have time to carry this waste into the riser.

There is an accumulation of organic matter in the pipes, up to a blockage, which the user will have to clean with improvised means. In addition, organic matter begins to be processed by bacteria. Pipe obstruction can occur anywhere between the riser and the kitchen sink connection. As a result, the performance of any plumbing fixture in the kitchen, combined bathroom, bathroom or toilet may be disrupted if the kitchen sink is connected to the sewer before the bathroom.

Cleaning methods

Due to operational features, the drainage system under the bathtub or in the shower stall is most often clogged with long hair, which is not corroded even by concentrated acid. Hairballs accumulate in the siphon or outlet after it. The siphon of a plumbing fixture is designed to solve several problems:


The design of the siphons allows you to create a water seal in front of the plumbing fixture - a column of liquid that is impervious to sewer gases, but at the same time makes it difficult to clean.

You need to start getting rid of the blockage with the simplest methods, then move on to more complex ones if the previous one did not work.

Hydrodynamic

plunger

The simplest method of hydrodynamic flushing is considered to be a plunger, it helps to cope with blockages in 95% of cases:

  • we draw water into the bowl of the plumbing fixture, approximately to the middle of the plunger pear;
  • we install the tool above the drain hole of the shower tray, sink or bath;
  • plug it with a wet rag and press the overflow hole with your hand;
  • with a sharp downward movement, we press the plunger handle, then just as sharply pull it up and so on several dozen times;
  • water together with air, which are inside the rubber plate of the tool, perform a water hammer, which breaks through the blockage plug.

Be sure to tightly close the overflow hole of the bathroom or sink, otherwise it will not work to create a water hammer, the air will simply escape through the hole.

The previous method will help if the blockage is located before the junction of the tub / sink with a common pipe, as shown in the picture above. If the blockage is located after connecting two devices (see the figure below), in this case it is necessary to close the overflow holes in both the bathtub and sinks at the same time, as well as the drain hole of the sink or bathtub, or work with two plungers at once. For this you need an assistant.


Evidence that the blockage is located below the sink and bathtub is the squelching of water in the sink siphon when working with a plunger in the bathroom.

There are three types of plunger for solving different problems, differing in design:

  • standard - rubber suction cup in the form of a bowl;
  • toilet - in the lower part of the suction cup narrows;
  • piston - a large-sized hand pump with a rubber cuff for the diameter of the plumbing drain hole.

A vacuum cleaner

If you have a washing vacuum cleaner, but no plunger, you can try to break through the cork with it, but there should be a special nozzle in the kit. The vacuum cleaner is connected necessarily for blowing.

The main difficulty lies in sealing the junction of the household electrical appliance hose with the sewer pipe. For this, a rubber coupling, a sleeve, a hose of a suitable section are used.

High pressure washers

For hydrodynamic flushing of pipes of the drainage system, a high-pressure apparatus is used, a special hose tip:

  • one jet is directed forward strictly in the center of the nozzle, erodes the blockage with high water pressure;
  • several jets of a spherical head hit in the opposite direction at an angle of 30 - 45 degrees, cleaning the pipe walls from dirt behind them.

The operation is very dirty, therefore, it is used only for outdoor, storm, drainage sewerage and roof drain pipes, washing risers of multi-storey buildings, which are difficult or impossible to disassemble for other cleaning technologies. It does not apply inside apartments and houses.

Mechanical

Hooks, fixtures

Often the siphon in the bathroom is clogged with long hair, you can try to get a bunch of hair without disassembling the siphon, using improvised means or special devices.

Hair is removed with tweezers, forceps, wire hook.

The industry produces several types of special devices:


Siphon disassembly

If it is not possible to eliminate the blockage in the previous way, you can disassemble the siphon and rinse it manually, this is done as follows:


The cable must be pushed forward while twisting it in any convenient direction, rotation allows you to wind the hair accumulated in the pipe. After cleaning with a cable and assembling the siphon, you need to knock off the remaining dirt with a plunger.

Cable

Deep blockages and “overgrown” pipes that could not be pierced with a plunger are strong, they are eliminated with the help of special plumbing cables, they can be both manual and in the form of a nozzle on a screwdriver or drill.

The algorithm of actions to eliminate blockage inside the drainage system with a cable is as follows:


The method is considered the most effective, but it has a serious disadvantage - if the pipe is clogged with a plug of a viscous substance, the diameter of the hole in the blockage will be slightly larger than the thickness of the cable. Over time, you will have to repeat the operation.

The industry produces plumbing cables of different lengths, diameters with several types of tips.

Chemical

All modern means for chemical cleaning of internal sewerage are divided according to the following characteristics:

  • state of aggregation - powder, liquid;
  • chemical composition - acidic, alkaline.

Acid preparations are available in the form of powder or granules, used in one go. They destroy hair, organics, but are unable to cope with fats, soap deposits, oils.

An alkaline agent, on the contrary, neutralizes, dissolves a soap film, oil, fat, but is powerless before lumps of wool and hair. Mixing acid with alkali is pointless, because the result is water with precipitated salts, according to the laws of chemistry.

Therefore, there are no universal means, the following algorithm of actions is used:

  • from the kitchen, little and fat usually gets into the drains, prescriptions for drugs with alkali are more effective;
  • hair, animal hair often accumulates in pipes after plumbing installed in bathrooms; acid products are used here.

When mixed with water, the chlorine-containing agent Tiret forms an acid that decomposes organic matter and hair.

The Mole preparation contains caustic soda, when mixed with water, alkali is formed, a large amount of heat is released. This allows you to wash off fats, oil films from the inner surfaces of pipes, destroying blockages from these materials. In addition, caustic soda destroys organic matter, paper.

Nevertheless, with all the power of modern chemistry, these agents are ineffective, for the reason that they interact weakly with the site of blockage or build-up on pipes, and quickly drain into the sewer. In order to create a significant concentration, you need to pour these funds in liters every hour during the day, which is very expensive. Chemicals are more effective in siphons, but the design of the siphons is collapsible, so it is easier and cheaper to remove the blockage using the methods described above.

Folk

Folk methods for eliminating blockages mean exclusively chemical recipes for means with which you can destroy the plug formed in the pipe. Initially, a mixture of soda and vinegar was used. However, this method has the following nuances:

  • soda is food (NaHCO3) and caustic (NaOH);
  • baking soda reacts with dilute acetic acid to release carbon dioxide CO2, water H2O, and sodium acetate CH3COONa without heat;
  • caustic soda - caustic soda - in itself is a strong chemically active substance that dissolves organic matter, it does not need to be mixed with vinegar.

Caustic soda is not sold in stores, because it is stored and used according to special regulations. That substance is not an improvised remedy.

Spilling sewage with boiling water also does not bring a tangible effect - at first the pipes and the drains remaining inside them heat up. When blockage is reached, the water temperature reaches no more than + 50 ° C, which in no way contributes to the softening and washing off of fats, due to which it arose.

Folk methods, as well as chemical ones, are not very effective, but they do not hit the wallet so much.

A few words about shower trays

The main problems with the operation of the shower cabin are:

  • frequent location of the drain hole near the wall;
  • lack of access to the tee of the internal sewerage;
  • capital sealing of the pallet without the possibility of dismantling (especially home-made ones).

Because of this, access to the siphon is closed, it cannot be disassembled. Therefore, it is advisable to use special shower drains, in which the internal filling is removable, which gives access to the pipe and can be cleaned with a cable.


Removable shower drain.

Blockage Prevention

When preparing an internal sewage project, it is enough to fulfill 7 conditions:

  • a continuous uniform slope of 1.5 cm per 1 running meter of sewage from the farthest plumbing fixture to the riser;
  • the location of the sockets of horizontal pipes towards the flow (assembly from the riser), with the exception of couplings with double-sided sockets;
  • diameter of pipes or corrugations from 40 mm for bathtubs, sinks, showers, sinks, bidets, from 110 mm for toilet bowls, from 50 mm for horizontal sewer sections;
  • connecting plumbing with oblique tees with a slope of the upper pipe in the direction of the drains;
  • availability of revisions for cleaning;
  • the use of siphons under each plumbing fixture, with the exception of toilet bowls, shower drains.

During operation, it is necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements:


During installation, it is necessary to maintain the slope of horizontal sections, use brackets to prevent sagging pipes. In the bathrooms of buildings that are operated seasonally, temporarily, it is better to use dry water seals, since the liquid in standard siphons can dry out with rare use.

Thus, there are several ways to eliminate the blockage of the internal sewerage. In most cases, a plunger or hook will help you, in the rest - a cable. Other methods are not very effective.

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Each of us has encountered more than once a situation where water does not go down the drain. The reason, as always, is banal - the bath was clogged. What to do? How to clean it at home, especially if there is water? The main thing is not to panic. There are several ways to independently solve the problem, we will talk about them in detail today.

What happened and how to deal with it?

The cause of blockage is the accumulation of fat on the inner walls of the sewer, soap and powder deposits, as well as hair and fibers of various tissues are added here. Where did all this come from, you ask? The fact is that the inner surface of the pipes is not perfectly smooth, this is especially true for old cast-iron structures.

This is what the reasons why the drain is clogged look like

Plastics are also subject to similar pollution, although to a lesser extent. Here, the formation of plaque begins at the joints of pipes and sealing rings. Under such conditions, it is enough to appear in one place on the fly, and the rest of the particles will cling to it, reducing the internal section of the pipe until it is completely clogged. This is the reason why the pipes in the bathroom are clogged. What to do in this case?

There are three ways to solve the problem:

  • with the help of excess pressure;
  • chemical method;
  • mechanical method.

Let's dwell on each method in more detail.

Overpressure

With the apparent complexity of the wording, we are talking about the use of an ordinary rubber plunger. This simple tool consists of a rubber bowl and a handle that holds the bowl.

Plunger and metal cable

We install the plunger on the drain hole so that the handle is located in the center of the latter, then we press hard and sharply release several times. As a result of such cyclic actions, excess pressure is created in the pipe, capable of pushing through the formed plug and thereby ensuring at least a minimum drain of the liquid.

See the video below for details.

If the first method did not help, go to the second - chemical.

But do not rush to disassemble the system in the first place that comes across. Firstly, it is troublesome, and secondly, it is not a fact that you will be able to assemble it again without outside help. Do everything competently and without haste.

Read more: What glue to glue the tiles in the bathroom and how to choose the right one?

The most convenient place for dismantling is the siphon connecting the sink to the public sewer. It enters the pipe tee and is fixed with a rubber seal or (in earlier versions) with a cable.

Rope cleaning

Neither option will cause trouble, since the pipe can be carefully removed from the rubber seal by first disconnecting it from the sink and turning slightly around its axis to the right - to the left. The cable can be carefully removed with a small hook. Rubber, if it is not damaged, can be reused during installation, but the cabling will have to be laid new.

After the siphon is removed, we introduce a metal cable into the hole of the tee, at the end of which there can be either a spring or a ruff. We introduce the cable until it hits a blockage. Then, with a translational movement, we break through the cork as far as possible and rotate the ruff or spring using the handle located at the other end of the cable.

This operation is best done together - one punches, the second rotates, although it is quite possible to do it alone. In this case, the cable must be periodically removed and cleaned of dirt.

We carry out the action until we feel that the cable goes into the void. Repeat on each side of the tee.

In some cases, a flexible cable allows you to break through the blockage directly through the drain hole of the bathroom.

More details about the process can be found here.

A small remark- the so-called “dead” water level always remains in the siphon, and when dismantled, all this disgrace will rush out, that is, onto the floor. Therefore, before you start disassembling the assembly, spread a rag, newspaper, plastic wrap - in general, everything that you don’t mind throwing away later.

The siphon is made, as a rule, in the form of an S-shaped pipe, one end of which is connected through a flange and a union collar to the drain hole of the bathroom or sink, the other, as mentioned above, enters the tee of the sewer pipe. There is also a rubber sealing ring under the union nut.

As you can see, this procedure is not the most pleasant, so we will give some tips on how to avoid it for a certain time:

  • Periodically open the tap of cold or hot water, so to speak, “idle”, allowing the clean flow of energy to flush the sewer.
  • Once a week or two, pour grease solvent into the siphon and rinse as well, but
    preferably hot water. That will be more useful.
  • Do not use washing powder in such operations, as it does not have time to
    dissolve completely in water and contribute to the deterioration of the situation.

If you need help cleaning the bathroom, you can order the services of professionals. To do this, you just need to leave a request in the form at the bottom right of our website.. The consultant will orient you on the prices for services.

That, in fact, is all that we wanted to tell you. We hope that the material was useful to you and helped to fix the problem. If it's not difficult, share the article on social networks with your friends - they will surely find it useful. The editors will be very grateful to you :)

In any even the cleanest bathroom, a blockage can form. Of course, tidy owners face this problem much less often, but it is impossible to exclude the appearance of a blockage. In order to be fully prepared and not to get confused in case of a problem, you need to have several important tools on the farm and carefully study how to clear a blockage in the bathroom.

Causes of mud plugs

Sooner or later, lumps of hair, wool, pieces of rags and other substances collect in the pipes, which form a mud plug and prevent the passage of sewage. Also, one of the causes of blockage can be a fatty coating, which contributes to the sticking of household contaminants. In order to understand what to do when the pipe is already clogged, it is important to determine the nature and extent of the blockage.

Clogged drainpipe

If this happened in an apartment building, then first you need to find out whether it is a local blockage (in the apartment sewer wiring) or a common house (in the sewer riser). When the blockage is local, you can handle it on your own, but with a common house, you can’t do without a specialist.

It is very simple to determine: it is enough to open the water at two points (bathroom and kitchen) and observe: the water does not go away only at one of the points, which means that the blockage is local; stands at both points - the pipe riser is clogged and you can safely call a plumber. And you can deal with local blockage on your own. You just need to follow a number of rules and listen to the advice of experienced people.

Removing clogs mechanically

There are several methods for cleaning pipes from blockage:

  • thermal - using hot water, boiling water;
  • chemical - with the help of corrosive drugs;
  • mechanical - with the help of a plumbing cable, opening the siphon cup;
  • pressure cleaning - using a plunger.

Attention! Do not use the thermal method on pipes that may not withstand elevated temperatures.

Sometimes filling out an application to call the master and waiting for him can take several hours. A blockage in the sewer makes it impossible to use both the water supply and the sanitary unit as a whole.

Vantuz is always at hand

In the arsenal of a good housewife at hand is all the necessary tools for any situation. Plunger is one of the most important household items. Without his help, you can not do with blockages in the bathroom or in the sink in the kitchen. Cleaning a blockage in the bathroom with a plunger is a little more difficult than in the sink. When removing such a blockage, it is necessary to close the overflow hole with a plug or a second plunger in order to create a vacuum at the cleaning site.

Removing clogs with a plunger

How to clean the pipe in the bathroom with a plunger:

  1. Lubricate the bottom of the rubber cup of the plunger with petroleum jelly.
  2. Align the plunger with the hole in the tub.
  3. Close the bathtub overflow hole with a plug or a second plunger.
  4. Pour in enough water to cover ¼ of the plunger cup.
  5. Make several progressive movements.
  6. Remove blockage.

Please note that the tub and sinks are connected and the pushes created by the plunger reach them as well. Be sure to cover the drain holes to prevent the contents from splashing out.

Plunger allows you to clear the blockage in the pipes without the help of specialists

Tip: Sometimes the problem is solved by unscrewing and cleaning the siphon cup.

If the blockage was not cleared the first time, repeat the procedure again. Please note that only those blockages that are located close to the drain can be removed with a plunger, if the pipe is clogged behind the siphon, then you should choose another method.

Rope - an effective way

If the plunger turns out to be useless, then the problem is much more serious. We'll have to resort to heavier artillery - a plumbing cable. The length of the plumbing cable is usually no more than 3.5 m. In order to clear the blockage in the pipe, it is necessary to insert it into the drain hole.

Slowly rotating the handle located at one end of the cable, it is necessary to insert the device until it rests on the blockage with the other end. With a sharp rotational movement, you need to pick up the blockage in the pipe and perform a back and forth movement, thus clearing the clogged pipe.

Plumbing cable with nozzles for clearing blockages in pipes

On the opposite side of the handle, the cable has the shape of a drill, due to which the mud plug is loosened and its small fractions immediately pass further along the sewer, and the main part of the blockage clings to the cable and is removed. When removing the cable from the drain hole, you should immediately wipe it from dirt so as not to stain all the contents of the pipe.

Attention! Take precautions when working with sewer blockages. Work in thick rubber gloves, wear goggles and a mask so as not to pick up an infection.

Do not work with the cable alone. It is difficult for one person to cope with both the direction of the cable and its rotation in the pipe. In addition, the cable is made of elastic steel, and can spring and injure you.

Chemistry will cope with any blockage

What to do if the pipe that is clogged cannot be cleaned either by the plunger or the cable, and even cleaning the siphon does not give the expected results? In this case, you have to resort to chemicals. With the help of chemistry, you can clean any blockage without applying the slightest effort.

Chemical preparations for cleaning blockages require careful observance of the instructions for use

When choosing a pipe cleaner, you should take into account all the active components of the selected drug. Some of them are so aggressive that their use is only possible in cast iron pipes. And some can be used exclusively for plastic piping.

Very important!!! When working with any chemical preparation, maximum care and protective equipment is required.

To achieve the desired result, it is necessary to pour the amount indicated on the label into the drain hole and wait until it does its job. Then open the warm water and clean the sewer pipe with water from the blockage and the flooded product.

Observe safety precautions when working with chemicals. Avoid contact with skin or mucous membranes. You should also be careful not to get such products on chrome surfaces, otherwise it can not only clean the pipe, but also clean the mixer from the chrome coating.

Chemicals easily deal with almost any blockage in pipes

Chemical preparations are also used for prophylactic purposes, small doses of a substance diluted with water are poured into the drain hole and wait a few minutes for the drug to take effect. Then washed with running warm water. This procedure is carried out at least 1 time per month.

Tip: afraid to harm the environment - use folk remedies to clear the blockage in the bathroom. They are not as effective, but they are safe.

Folk remedies

What people just didn’t come up with to clear blockages in pipes with the help of improvised means. I poured citric acid, sucked up the blockage from the pipe with a vacuum cleaner (this method is highly not recommended - it leads to the purchase of a new vacuum cleaner), but not all of these manipulations were effective enough. In practice, it turned out that it is best to eliminate blockages in the bathroom with soda and vinegar.

If you do not want to use mechanical means for cleaning pipes, folk methods are suitable for you.

  1. Cleaning with soda. ½ pack of soda is poured into the drain hole, after 5-10 minutes it is poured with hot water.
  2. Vinegar cleaning. 4 tbsp is poured into the drain hole. l. soda and pour a glass of vinegar. The hole is closed. In 10 minutes. washed with a liter of boiling water, and then with a large stream of hot water.

There are a lot of all kinds of methods invented by the common people, each housewife is trying to invent her own unique way to clear a clogged pipe in the bathroom, but often these are all in vain gestures. Most folk remedies are suitable for kitchen sinks, because they cope better with grease blockages, but cleaning with vinegar is also suitable for the bathroom.

Blockage Prevention

To avoid having to clean blockages - do not allow them to appear

In old worn-out pipelines, the likelihood of a mud plug increases due to crevices and roughness on the inner surface of the pipe. The best prevention of blockages is the timely replacement of sewer wiring and risers. Also, in order to avoid blockages, it is necessary to install a removable grate on the drain hole, which will trap unwanted contaminants and small things that accidentally fall into the drain.

It is always better to remove pollution from the outside than to get it out of the pipe, while pouring the contents of the sewer pipe into your bathroom and flooding the neighbors.

Get a plunger and a plumbing cable so that they are at hand at the right time

Do not hide the plunger and cable far away; they must be in an accessible place. In a panic, in the event of an accident and the eruption of the contents of a sewer pipe, there is not always time to remember where you threw the plunger you bought several years ago. You need to act quickly.

How to fix a clog in the bathroom with the help of available tools: video

Cleaning pipes from blockages: photo





If water began to slowly drain in the sink or shower, then there is reason to believe that the pipeline is clogged. To fix the problem, you need to know how to clean the blockage in the bathroom with soda, vinegar and other improvised means.

Causes of blockages

To fix a problem, you must first determine the cause of its occurrence. If you frequently bathe your pets in the bathroom or clean fluffy textiles, they are the cause of clogged drains. In this case, a lump of threads, hair, grease, soap residues formed in the bend of the pipe, which not only interfere with the normal flow of water, but are also sources of bacteria and an unpleasant odor.

Photo: blockage in the bathroom sewer pipe

If you have metal pipes, then perhaps they are clogged due to mineral build-up. This happens mainly in houses of old construction, because earlier only cast-iron or steel pipes were used for laying communications. If you are sure that the problem is in the "overgrowth" of the inner diameter, then you cannot do without the intervention of a specialist.

How to eliminate

The easiest way that can be implemented at home is to fill the pipe hole with soda and add vinegar. You will need:

  1. Half a pack of regular baking soda;
  2. Half a glass of vinegar;
  3. Hot water - as much as possible.

First, you need to pour soda into the drain hole, then wait 10-15 minutes, and pour vinegar into it. Be careful, a chemical reaction will begin, due to which vapors will appear. To protect yourself from their effects - after pouring vinegar, you can not be directly above the drain hole. After half an hour of exposure, pour a few liters of boiling water into the pipe and wait. Most often, simple blockages dissolve very quickly.

If the problem is serious and the hairball cannot dissolve the soda, then you can use special cleaning products. Any store sells "Mole". This is a powder designed for cleaning pipelines. It consists of serious chemical reagents, therefore it is able to dissolve almost any blockages (except for mineral ones). You just need to pour it into the problem drain and rinse it off with hot water after half an hour.

Video: Blockage in the bathroom. How to eliminate?

Eliminates odor very effectively and at the same time cleans the Domestos water passage. This tool dissolves not only fatty blockages, but also hair with dirt. For exposure, pour two caps of detergent into the bathroom pipe and leave for the maximum possible period of time. Best of all - at night. In the morning, rinse the communication with hot water. This method cannot be used to clean a clogged pipe if it is made of plastic - active substances can dissolve the molecules of the material and over time the pipe will leak.

How to get a blockage with a cable

Sometimes you can clean the lump that caused the blockage in the bathroom by hand.


Scheme: How the cable works
  1. It is necessary to remove the cover that protects the downpipe from foreign objects;
  2. Then insert a special plumbing cable into the hole. Unlike the wire that is used for the toilet, the cable for the washbasin or bathroom pipe has a smaller diameter, respectively. It's more flexible;
  3. When introducing, it is necessary to gradually twist the wire so that it can pass along the bends of the pipeline to the site of blockage;
  4. It remains to push the garbage to the main pipe. According to SNiP, the drain leading from the sink has a smaller diameter than the main sewer pipe. Therefore, if debris gets into a large communication, it will simply pass without problems and free the pipe.

At home, craftsmen also use ropes with a hook on a horse. They are designed not to push through the blockage, but to get it out. This technique is very effective for blockages close to the drain surface.


  1. You need to take the wire and bend it at the end;
  2. Enter the cable into the pipeline, scroll it gently;
  3. Gradually push it inward, as soon as you feel resistance - turn the wire and hook the blockage with the tip.

If you need to quickly clean a small blockage in the bathroom, formed from hair, you can not do without a plunger. This is a universal tool that perfectly copes with any type of mechanical pollution.


  1. Fill a sink, bathtub or shower tray with some water;
  2. Place the plunger over the water drain hole, then press it so that it sucks air from the pipeline;
  3. After that, make several movements that contribute to the movement of the blockage inside the pipeline. It is very important, when you finish the work, to abruptly release the plunger so that water under a certain pressure enters the pipeline.

After that, you can use improvised means that will remove the remnants of grease and debris from the inside of the pipe.

How to clean a siphon

Sometimes the problem is not a clogged pipe, but a dirty siphon. In this case, it is required to clean this part of the sewer directly. Before you remove it, you need to place a container under the knee to collect water.


Photo: siphon design

Using the necessary tools, remove the nut and gasket that hold the siphon to the elbow. When removed, water will pour out of it, which has lingered in the pipe, so it is better to work with latex gloves. After that, remove the debris from the knee and rinse it with detergents and hot water, be sure to wipe the inside of the pipe with a brush - this will remove hair and other contaminants from it. Reinstall the siphon.

After installing the knee, it is advisable to spill it with a solution of vinegar and hot water - then the unpleasant smell from the pipeline will be eliminated. Sometimes home craftsmen use bleach, but it destroys sewer materials.

Many people have to deal with such a problem as a blockage in the bathroom. Pollution can appear even if the bath is very clean, because there are a lot of reasons for such situations. Of course, careful 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 of getting rid of strong and minor pollution.

Causes

If not cleaned regularly, dirt in the sewer pipe can cause serious plumbing problems. When the drain is clogged, the water does not drain well, it stands, and the dirt ends up in the bathtub. Taking water procedures becomes very unpleasant.

There are a few of the most common causes of blockages.

  • Dead skin cells and hair stick to the walls. If dirt is not removed, it will accumulate over time and clog the drain.

  • The bath is dirty due to regular water procedures, frequent washing. There are traces of soap on the walls, which accumulate over time, although the water itself ends up in the sewer.
  • Lack of proper care for a long time can lead to the formation of limescale. You can not notice the appearance of such a blockage for a long time until the situation becomes too serious. Clogged pipes must be cleaned monthly, otherwise they may become unusable over time.
  • If the sewer is often clogged, it is possible that it was installed incorrectly. Pollution can quickly accumulate if the slope is very low.

  • When installing the pipeline, you need to ensure that there are not too many bends. Sand, grease, hair and other contaminants can accumulate in them.
  • Do not choose too narrow a pipe. 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 you can’t 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 tool.

Solutions

A pipe that is clogged can be cleaned by a mechanical, chemical or folk method. To improve cleaning efficiency, many people prefer to combine these methods. Consider the main features of each method.

Mechanical

Among the most common mechanical methods for cleaning sewer pipes in the bathroom are 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.

plunger

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 drains.

If you are going to remove the dirt that has clogged into the drain hole, you need to consider a few points.

  • When using a plunger, you should not additionally use chemicals. Chemicals can get on skin or clothes and cause burns.
  • Before using such a device, moisten its base with water.

It is necessary to place the plunger over the drain hole. Make sure it is completely covered by the rubber cup. Position the handle vertically. In order for the plunger to suck well, you need to put pressure on it.

Move the fixture, then remove it and evaluate the result. If the bath is very clogged, carry out the procedure again. If you clean the drain and remove the blockage, you should rinse the fixture with hot water to remove any remaining contaminants.

Cable

The pipe can be effectively cleaned using a plumbing cable. You can use this device if the plunger did 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.

The cable should be used in accordance with the recommendations of professionals.

  • Carefully insert the tool into the drain hole. At the same time, it needs to be rotated.
  • When the cable is at the 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.

A vacuum cleaner

Some use a vacuum cleaner to clean. This device is very convenient to use.

A vacuum cleaner is used in a certain way to eliminate blockages.

  • 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 blowout hole.
  • Turn on the vacuum cleaner and start cleaning the drain.

Chemical

Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands when using chemicals. You should also protect your face with special goggles and a respirator.

Several products are well suited for cleaning pipes.

  • Domestos. This tool can be called one of the most popular, because cleaning with it is very fast and convenient. In the evening, pour it into the pipes (10 caps will be enough) and wait until the morning. You should not use the bathroom at night, so warn all family members about the procedure in advance. When cleaning is complete, flush the pipes with water (it should be hot).

  • "Mole". This product is very effective in dissolving hair and other impurities. The whole procedure will take about an hour and a half. Pour the liquid, wait (how much is usually written in the instructions). Then open the faucet and flush the drain hole with hot water.
  • Tiret. Quite an effective remedy, but usually one package is enough for only two procedures. Pour in 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 together with acids, otherwise the respiratory tract may be severely damaged.

  • Mr Muscle. This tool is suitable for a variety of pipes. It is granular, but can also damage the skin, so rubber gloves must be used. Pour in the product and wait about 30 minutes. Mr Muscle will remove not only pollution, but also harmful microorganisms. Also, the product effectively eliminates unpleasant odors. After using Mr Muscle, fill the drain with hot water.
  • Sky. This tool can be called universal. It dissolves hair, removes traces of soap, destroys harmful microorganisms. The tool is sold in a bag.

Pour the substance down the drain and wait about 15 minutes. Then wash it off with clean water. Sky should be removed with the utmost care.

Chemicals are quite effective. However, if you suffer from asthma, for example, it is better to prefer some other drain cleaning method. One option is to use folk remedies.

Folk

With the help of folk remedies, you can quite effectively clean the drain. You just need to know how to use them correctly. Consider the most popular options.

Soda

Baking soda can be used 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.

How to use soda:

  • Put on 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 will be enough for cleaning). Take an old wooden spoon and mix thoroughly. When hissing sounds occur, 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 allows you to achieve good results. You need to mix baking soda (take half a glass) and table salt (half a glass will also be enough). Wait about 20 minutes and add boiling liquid. As a result of a chemical reaction, a product will be obtained that will effectively dissolve the dirt.

Vinegar and soda are gentle agents that do not damage plastic pipes. Pour boiling water into the drain hole. Pour the baking soda into a glass (halfway in) and push it down the drain. Wait a few minutes, then pour a cup of boiling water and the same amount of vinegar. When a hissing sound occurs, the cleaning process will begin.

When about 20 minutes have passed, you will need to pour a kettle of hot water into the sewer. So you wash away the dirt weakened by this remedy.

Boiling water

There are no restrictions on the use of such a product; using 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. Hot liquid works for a few seconds.

Dishwashing liquid

With the help of such tools, you can quite effectively remove fat.

They need to be used like this:

  • 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 rinse the drain thoroughly.

Together with such a tool, you can use a plunger. Such cleaning will be more effective.

Sulphuric acid

Some people use this remedy if the pollution is very strong. However, it should be borne in mind that the acid is quite aggressive. Plumbers say that this tool is not always effective, besides, it can destroy sewer pipes.