From time to time in any household there is a problem of clogging of sewer pipes. It is completely impossible to avoid this, since used water constantly flows into the sewage system, and other waste products can enter with it.
Blockages: causes, methods of elimination, prevention
The most common places of sewer pipe clogging are the following objects in descending order:
- Kitchen sink where food residues and grease are constantly deposited. Although plastic nets help in collecting waste, sometimes it will seep through it as well.
- The bathroom mainly collects hair after shampooing.
- The toilet becomes clogged if baby diapers, sanitary napkins, plastic bags, and so on are thrown into it.
The main causes of pipe clogging are:
- improper installation of pipes;
- ingress of foreign objects;
- build-up formation during long-term operation;
- improper care or lack of it as such.
In order for the sewage system to work, the blockage must be removed. It is advisable to do this even at the initial stage of pollution, since over time it will only increase, thereby aggravating the problem. Sometimes the specialists of the management company are called in to eliminate pollution. But, if the problem is not running, then it is quite possible to deal with it on your own.
You can eliminate the blockage mechanically or chemically. The best remedy the fight against blockages is its regular prevention. Blockages can cause an accident not only in one residential area, but also affect neighboring apartments. But, if you carry out regular prevention, then it will cost a penny and will not allow the problem to develop. One of the most effective ways is to clean the sewer system with soda and vinegar, which will help both remove the blockage that has appeared and prevent it from appearing.
Cleaning the sewer with soda Consider different ways getting rid of clogged pipes.
Mechanical methods for eliminating pollution in the sewer
To remove a strong blockage, use a special cable. To do this, wearing gloves, take the cable and push it into the hole in the pipe. Further, in a circular motion, it is pushed further and further, seeking to break through the drains. As soon as the cable rests against the clogged waste, it is necessary to take it away and destroy the accumulation with a sharp movement. The process can take some time, and therefore requires patience, but you can be sure that the problem will definitely be solved in the end.
In case of a slight congestion, you can try pouring out a bucket of hot water first, sometimes this is enough. If problems persist, then a plunger comes to the rescue. Using the device is extremely simple:
- they block the drain so that air does not enter there;
- then water is poured so that it covers the rubber part;
- holding at an angle, it is necessary to make a series of sharp forward movements with a plunger and then remove;
- if the water is gone, then everything is in order and the blockage problem is solved, otherwise, the manipulations are repeated.
Mechanical drainage treatment Removal of blockage with ready-made chemicals
The most common way for housewives is to use ready-made chemicals sold in stores. Their assortment is teeming with variety and according to their action they can remove various degrees of pollution. The time of their action also differs.
It is advisable to wear rubber gloves during use. The contents of a bag or container are simply poured or poured into a pipe and wait for the place indicated on the package. Ease of use is probably the only advantage of ready-made chemicals.
They have more disadvantages:
- they will not cope with all congestion;
- these are potent agents that, when removing the blockage, can harm the pipe itself;
- the chemical substances contained in the composition are harmful to health;
- lead to significant cash expenditures.
Sewer cleaning with chemicals Removing clogging with baking soda and vinegar
There is a much less costly and, at the same time, effective way to eliminate pollution. This application folk methodsprimarily baking soda and vinegar.
The method also belongs to a number of chemical ones, and if you recall the school laboratory work in chemistry, then here it will manifest itself in practice. This is an acid-base neutralization reaction.
But, instead of using concentrated products that can harm the pipe, ordinary soda is taken, which is available in the kitchen of any housewife. It is alkali. By adding acid (vinegar) to it, an acid-base reaction begins.
This reaction will occur in the pipe. There are several ways to clean pipes using traditional methods. For the first of them you will need: soda, vinegar (white distilled is best) and a rag to close the sewer hole.
To clean the sewers with soda and vinegar, the following series of manipulations are carried out:
- a dry pack of baking soda is taken, half of it is poured into the pipe;
- half a glass of vinegar is heated and poured there, which will cause a strong reaction - therefore, so that everything does not leak out from the sewer, the hole should be tightly covered with a rag;
- the pipe is left like this for thirty minutes, during which it is necessary to boil up to two liters of water;
- after half an hour, the rag is removed and boiling water is slowly poured into it.
During the reaction, vinegar bubbles, in contact with soda, and produces carbon dioxide. Produces sodium acetate and carbon dioxide, clearing blockages naturally... After the procedure, water should pass freely in the pipe. If the expected result does not follow, then you need to repeat everything again. This method is perfect for working in the sink and bathroom. But in the case of the toilet, the situation is more complicated. The fact is that there it will not be possible to plug the pipe with a rag, and therefore the entire contents of the pipe may splash out. Therefore, a mixture of baking soda and vinegar will not work here. But you can use another, even simpler way.
Clearing blockages with vinegar and soda Other ways to remove blockage using folk methods
It is best to use the following method at night. To do this, take salt and soda in half a glass, pour out into the sewer pipe and immediately fill it with a whole teapot of boiling water, after which do not pour water there for eight hours.
Considered useful for sewer pipes, also wine vinegar. To clean the sewer, you will need a glass of soda and wine vinegar. The procedure is carried out as follows:
- soda is poured into the drain hole;
- after five minutes, wine vinegar is poured into it and the outlet is closed with a rag;
- after half an hour it is carefully removed and a kettle of hot water is poured in a thin stream.
It is believed that it is better to prevent the problem than to fix it later. This statement is also true for the functioning of the sewage system. Therefore, it is very useful, from time to time, to prevent pipe contamination. From the article it became known how to clean the sewer with soda and vinegar, soda and salt or soda and wine vinegar. For prevention, you can use any of these alternative methods, and the amount of funds will be required less than to eliminate the blockage. Their great advantage is that, despite their effectiveness, they practically do not cause harm and, at the same time, cost a penny.
Regular sewage prevention is required
Therefore, the use of such methods will not only help to solve the problem with sewage, but also serve to neutralize the environment, as well as save family budget funds.
Comments:
When operating a home sewage system, sooner or later there will be a need to clean the system. This is due to the fact that domestic wastewater leaves a layer of sediment from dirt and grease on the pipe walls, which prevents wastewater from passing normally to the sewer. A small gap no longer ensures the proper functioning of the pipes. Even modern metal plastic pipes are not insured against the formation of such blockages, therefore, it becomes necessary to regularly clean the system.
How to clean the sewer with your own hands quickly and efficiently? Fit different methods - this is mechanical cleaning with a traditional plunger or a metal cable, the use of corrosive chemicals. But there is a tool that any housewife has in the kitchen. It is versatile and helps to quickly break through a blockage in 30 minutes. These are ingredients such as soda and vinegar. A solution of these substances perfectly corrodes dirt.
Vinegar and soda
A bucket is required so that all the debris and dirty sludge that has accumulated in the pipe does not spill onto the floor. When performing such work, one must be prepared that this process is dirty and lengthy. There is little pleasant in such cleaning, but the blockage will be eliminated of any complexity.
Chemicals
If it is necessary to clear heavy blockages caused by deposits of dirt and grease, the mechanical method may not always be effective. In addition, often modern pipes are not always readily available, so many experts recommend the use of liquid products and powders poured into the drain hole.
To clean the sewer, you can use a variety of drugs, but you need to focus on what exactly they are intended for. Most of the chemicals are corrosive, so you need to pay attention to which pipes the manufacturer recommends their product for: for metal, plastic, metal-plastic. If washing is carried out, then hands should be protected with gloves, try not to inhale fumes. If the blockages are small, then soda for cleaning pipes will be best of all, which is not only much safer, but also cheaper, does not have a negative effect on health, unlike household active chemicals.
To clean sewer pipes at home, you can use a variety of tools, including mechanical ones. Although there are numerous chemicals on store shelves that can quickly clear up any blockages, one of the most effective and inexpensive is a mixture of regular baking soda and vinegar.
What people have not tried, but soda and vinegar for cleaning pipes deservedly remain one of the most popular means. These substances interact to create a sizzling foam, which removes the blockage. Since these ingredients are found in almost every kitchen, it is possible to clean the pipes immediately.
1
The most reliable way to eliminate sewer collapse is to call a specialist with the equipment. This option is simple and effective. However, the services of a specialist are too expensive, and you can wait for his arrival indefinitely.
The standard way to get rid of a blockage in a sink is to use a special product. However, it happens that such substances are not always present in the house, and go for them to the store in this moment impractical. Strong chemicals have a negative impact on the health of the host.
Traditional methods for dealing with blockages are designed for immediate action.
Traditional methods for dealing with blockages are designed for immediate action. They are affordable, and such components are found in almost all homes, they do not harm your health. Home remedies are as effective as professional ones. The only drawback is the impossibility of cleaning if the cause of the blockage is the ingress of large inorganic objects into the sink.
2
The siphon under the sink acts as a filter, so it is the first to clog. Before clearing the blockage, the part should be disassembled, all waste removed from it. Then the siphon should be treated with boiling water to eliminate unpleasant odors and disinfect.
The siphon under the sink acts as a filter, so it is the first to clog.
The second element that most often gets clogged is the pipe under the sink. Fat adheres to the walls of the passage, as a result of which it becomes clogged. It is for this occasion that soda and vinegar are intended. To delay the problem, you can install a mesh in the drain hole. The latter will retain food debris and other waste.
The sewer itself is least likely to clog. In this case, it will be extremely problematic to clean it. You will have to use a lot more funds, but the effect will not be guaranteed. If 2-3 cleaning processes do not bring results, you will have to call a specialist with special equipment.
3 Method technology
Before you clean the drain with soda and vinegar, you should prepare for the process. It is necessary to inspect the siphon, drain the dirty water from it. During this process, it is necessary to substitute a container under the pipe where the dirty liquid will drain. Wipe the sink dry so the soda can break through more easily.
For manipulation, you will need the following materials: half a pack of soda, half a glass of pure vinegar without any impurities, a rag and boiling water. At the end of this procedure, a brush comes in handy. Work should be carried out in thick rubber or acrylic gloves.
The cleaning process is elementary: half of the package must be carefully poured into the drain hole, while it should not be allowed to come into contact with water and other liquids. Next, pour half a glass of vinegar into the hole and immediately seal it with a rag and napkins, creating an airtight environment inside to prevent the foam from coming out.
So, you need to keep it for 30 minutes, after which the blockage will come out. Then you need to pour a full kettle of boiling water into the sink. After this action, it will be ready for further operation. If all else fails, the procedure can be repeated several more times.
4
If cleaning the pipes with soda and vinegar is not possible for any reason, alternative options can be applied. Soda can be combined with other substances. It is enough to have salt on hand to clean the pipes. These substances must be taken in 150 g. First, soda should be poured into the drain hole, then salt. Next, pour out a lot of hot water and leave the sink for 8-9 hours. Due to the long period of action of these substances, the procedure should be carried out at night.
Pour soda into the drain hole, then salt, pour out a lot of hot water and leave the sink for 8-9 hours
Other popular ways to remove blockages in pipes include the use of soda, salt and tartar. This time, salt and soda must be mixed in a jar (150 g each). Then you need to add a ground stone (70 g) there. The mixture must be poured into the drain hole, then pour boiling water. However, this procedure is more acceptable for preventive measures.
5
It will not be superfluous if the cleaning process is enhanced by the usual plunger, which removes blockages using excess pressure. But it is better to use it at the end of all manipulations. The rubber nozzle is placed over the hole, after which it is necessary to press it hard 2-3 times. It is important to ensure that no gaps appear under the nozzle, otherwise the effect will not follow. After strong pressing shocks, you need to sharply tear the plunger out of the sink.
It will not be superfluous if the cleaning process is enhanced with the usual plunger
You can clean the pipes in the sink using a metal cable or wire. There must be a hook at their ends. To make these tools easier to wield, you need to screw a spiral into one end, which will serve as a handle. The wire or cable should be lowered with force while making a rotating motion. This will remove the blockage. At the end of the process, the pipes should be treated with hot water.
6 Prevention of blockage
Pipe cleaning is laborious, time consuming and unpleasant. There will be a persistent unpleasant odor in the kitchen during the clogging process. And there is no complete guarantee of success. There are certain preventive rules that are ways to delay or prevent tubal collapse. Many of them are elementary, but the owners often ignore them.
For example, at least once a week you need to do heat treatment pipes. You should open hot water in the tap for 15-20 minutes, but it is better to boil it in a kettle and pour it into the hole. It is not recommended to wash the dishes in cold water, as it does not affect the grease washed off from the dishes. These deposits accumulate on the pipes and form plaques, but the hot temperature of the liquid will prevent them from accumulating.
Vinegar can be used to prevent blockages. Once a week, you can pour half a glass of this substance into the sink. Drain filters should not be ignored. Small and large nets can be easily pushed in and out. After washing the dishes, all of their contents should be thrown into the basket.
Do not allow food residues to fall into the sink. Most often they cause blockages. Throw away small food debris. At least once every six months, it is advisable to disassemble and clean the pipes.
These simple rules will help save the owners from a large number of problems associated with an unexpected blockage of the sewer. Usually, such problems bother you at the most inopportune moment and can cause a lot of trouble. Therefore, the sink itself and the filter should be thoroughly cleaned from food debris, and preventive measures should be constantly taken to clean the pipes.
If your water slowly passes through the drain hole, this means that a blockage has arisen in a certain section of the pipe and you need to eliminate it (the faster the better).
Since the blockage provokes an unpleasant odor, inconvenience of using the sink or bath, the development of bacteria.
But if you do not take any measures to eliminate the blockage, then it will be much more difficult to clear the blockage. And not the fact that you can cope with it with ordinary home remedies.
This article describes the reasons for the formation of blockages, methods of cleaning them.
How to clear a blockage in a pipe, causes of blockage
A blockage can form due to a violation of the rules for using the sewer, although in reality it is quite difficult to track what exactly got into the drain.
The main "generators" of blockages:
- Clothes spools;
- Long hair;
- Small garbage;
- Pet hair.
Most often, it is from these things that a lump is formed, which partially overlaps the pipe and does not allow water to pass normally.
Although the "educators" still depend on the location of the blockages, for example, if a blockage is formed in the kitchen sink, then such a blockage consists more of food debris than of wool and hair.
How to unclog a blockage with home remedies?
It often happens when there is no purchased chemicals at home specifically to eliminate blockages, but you need to get rid of the blockage as soon as possible?
In this case, they usually use home remedies that can be found in any apartment.
First, pour ordinary boiling water into the pipe (if the pipes are steel), if you have plastic pipes, then boiling water will not work, just pour hot water from the tap for a few minutes.
For example, use regular lemon to clean pipes. To do this, you need to buy (or take) several lemons, squeeze juice from them and pour it into the drain hole (if there are no lemons, but there are lemon acid - then you can pour half of the lemon juice concentrate).
Wait an hour (no water should enter the pipe). Rinse the drain after an hour big amount hot water.
If there is a vacuum cleaner at home with a blowing function, then with its help you can get rid of the blockage. We wrap the pipe of the vacuum cleaner with a rag (so that it fits tightly into the drain hole) and with a strong stream of air we try to push through the blockage.
You can also use washing powders to eliminate blockages (there are special additives in the powders).
Enzymes actively break down fatty deposits that accumulate on the pipe walls. We take 200 grams of washing powder, pour it into a saucepan (5 l) with hot water, stir it and pour it into the drain hole with a thin stream.
You can also use a plunger.
We clean the blockage with soda
If you are afraid to use purchased chemicals, then you can use "folk" ones, which are not expensive and will not damage the pipes.
The simplest remedy that is found in almost every home is soda (you can use caustic soda, but this is not important).
Several ways to clean the drain with baking soda:
You need to pour a whole pack of soda into the drain, and pour boiling water. You can plug the drain with a wet cloth or stopper. We leave it overnight and in the morning we open the hot tap and leave it to pour down the drain for a few minutes.
Dissolve a glass of soda ash in a half-liter jar, mix and pour the resulting solution into the sink. We leave for an hour - 1.5, after this time we rinse with a strong stream of hot water (you can additionally use a plunger).
Although the following technique is considered the most effective: 1 glass of soda is poured into the drain hole, then a glass of vinegar (sometimes 200 grams of soda and a liter of vinegar are advised).
Then the drain is closed with a stopper and after 30 minutes it is rinsed with water under pressure (you can fill the sink and then just remove the stopper).
If you have removed the blockage, a funnel will appear and the water will quickly go into the drain hole.
How to clear a blockage with vinegar
Vinegar and baking soda are often used to clean pipes, however, these substances can irritate the eyes, hands, nose, and throat. Therefore, when working with them, do not forget to protect your hands (gloves), eyes and respiratory tract.
Wear special clothes that can be washed later if you have spilled on yourself.
If you have already used a store-bought product, then you should not combine it with vinegar and soda, when interacting with each other, they can emit harmful fumes.
Using vinegar + soda, you can clean:
- Sewer drains,
- Toilet;
- Pipes;
- Sink.
What is needed to eliminate the flow:
- Baking soda;
- White vinegar;
- Lots of boiled water;
- Clean rag;
- Rubber gloves (if clearing a blockage in the toilet).
Sequencing:
We take a regular package of soda, pour some of it into the drain (the sink should not have water at this moment), no additional chemicals (only soda and vinegar) can be added.
After the soda, pour the vinegar (you can warm it up a little).
Then he quickly plugs the hole with a rag (or cork) so that the "foam" moves inside the pipe, and not out.
We leave the pipes to clean for 30 minutes.
Prepares the kettle and put it on the fire, when the water boils, slowly pour this boiling water into the hole.
After that we rinse the sink with tap water
It will not work to clean the toilet in this way (you will get a foam fountain in your toilet), it is better to just fill in only soda, after a certain time, go through with a stiff brush.
How to clear a blockage with a cable
If the use of home chemicals does not always give a successful result, then the use of a cable for plumbing is a guarantee of removing the blockage.
It can be easily purchased at the store, matching the size and design. Often a handle is installed at the end of the cable.
The sequence of clearing the blockage using a plumbing cable.
It is quite difficult for one to do this, it is better to do it in 2.
Roll out the oilcloth on the floor, close the walls (so that no dirt gets in)
We disassemble the siphon, remove it and wash it thoroughly with water (often there is a blockage in this part), after rinsing we move it aside.
We push the free end of the cable into the sewer (scrolling the cable by the handle), one person pushes in, the second rotates.
If the cable is pushed in easily, it means that it has not yet reached the blockage, if it is more difficult, then the blockage is already close, but at this stage the rotation cannot be stopped.
If the cable is stuck, it means that you have found a jam, continue twisting and gradually pushing it deeper.
The first time it may not work, then it takes out the cable, clean it of dirt and put it back in again.
After cleaning the pipe, put the siphon in place and wipe off all the dirt.
You can additionally pour a kettle of boiling water into the drain.
You can also get rid of the blockage yourself: with a cable or using home remedies without calling a plumber.
Also, pay attention to what material your pipes are made of, if you have steel pipes - then you can pour boiling water, but if they are plastic, they can be believed from the effects of hot water (boiling water) but cope with the action of ordinary hot water from the tap.
In the sewer pipes, at one far from perfect moment, a blockage may form. The reason for this is the accumulation of household waste. Even a replacement cannot protect against clogging. metal pipes plastic. The main signal that the pipes need to be cleaned is a persistent nasty smell or a liquid that does not drain well into the sewer.
The place where the blockage occurs most often:
- kitchen sink. Of course, you can fight for the cleanliness of the sewage system with the help of mesh filters, but they are not always able to save the situation.
- drain in the bathroom. The clogging of the sewer pipes occurs due to the fault of the hair remaining there.
- toilet flush. Clogging is possible due to the flushing of rags, bags, hygiene items, etc. into the toilet.
Remember! Improper use of the toilet leads to the appearance of sewage blockages that require mandatory cleaning.
Clear sewer pipe you can do it yourself, without calling a plumber and without resorting to chemicals. Of course, these substances will come in handy for clearing the sewer blockage. But do not forget, firstly, about their toxicity, and, secondly, about their cost.
By the way, before you start cleaning the drain, you should try to remove the blockage of the pipe with a siphon located under the bath / sink. Having disassembled the siphon, it is necessary to clean it and reinstall it in place. If the smell remains, then, in this case, in order to clean the sewer pipe, it is best and safest to use proven methods: vinegar and soda. With the help of baking soda and vinegar, you can not only clean the sewer, but also clean the drain and the surface of the bathtub, sink and toilet bowl from rust.
Remember! It is possible to immediately clean the sewer pipe using folk remedies only if chemical solutions have not been used. The use of vinegar after products purchased in the store is allowed only the next day after cleaning.
Cleaning the clogging of sewer pipes with soda
You can quickly clear an unstable blockage in the sewer with baking soda.
Before cleaning the clogged pipe, it is necessary to prepare required material:
- baking soda;
- large size rag;
- boiling water;
- plunger.
First, you need to remove the accumulated debris from the drain. A rag will be a good helper in this matter. Then you need to pour 1 liter of boiling water into the drain hole and leave the sink for half an hour. Further, the cleaning of the sewer is carried out using a plunger. After manual cleaning of the blockage is done, soda comes into play. A solution made from soda with boiling water in a ratio of 1: 3 must be poured over the drain hole.
Such a benefit from cleaning sewer pipes lies not only in the fact that you can unclog the blockage, but also in the fact that this solution is capable of disinfecting the sewage system.
In the event that cleaning the sewage system with soda alone was not enough, it is necessary to duplicate the cleaning with soda.
As a drainage option, baking soda can be combined with salt. To do this, equal proportions of soda, salt and water must be mixed and lowered into the drain. Cleaning, in this case, will take place overnight.
Cleaning the clogged sewer pipes with vinegar
If the soda could not break through the sewer, there is still a blockage in it and the pipes still need to be cleaned, vinegar will come to the rescue. You can clean the drain with vinegar if you add baking soda to it. Both cleaning and preparation of the solution, in this case, is carried out directly in the pipes.
When cleaning pipes with vinegar, the following safety rules must be observed:
- it is recommended to clean the sewer pipe with a vinegar solution only when wearing rubber gloves.
- cleaning with vinegar also requires special safety glasses. The safety measures taken to clean the sewer pipe with vinegar are necessary because vinegar is a corrosive product. Once on the skin and mucous membranes, vinegar can even cause burns to the latter.
Remember! When working with vinegar, safety is very important!
You can qualitatively clean the clogged drain only by following the instructions.
To break through the sewer with vinegar, you must have the following material:
- vinegar;
- soda;
- boiling water;
- large rag.
Having collected the necessary material, we proceed to the cleaning process.
Pour the floor of the soda package (cleaning in this way does not require water) into the drain hole and immediately add 150 ml of vinegar there. In order to efficiently clean a clogged drain with vinegar, it is necessary that the latter be warm. After dropping vinegar and soda into the drain hole, you should quickly close the drain with a large rag and leave the mixture for half an hour. After the time has elapsed, remove the rag and slowly pour boiling water into the hole.
If the first cleaning did not give a noticeable result, it must be repeated.
It is possible to clean the sewer in this way not only quickly, but also safely for both an adult and a child in the apartment.
