Clogged sewers can be a a memory with these indispensable tips
Clogged sewers can be a a memory with these indispensable tips
Clogging of drains is a common occurrence in most households. In case of a complete blockage, the bathtub, sink, shower and the toilet can get filled with waste water that you have used. At this point, the offending blockage must be removed through all that built up water and chances are that the homeowner will not be able to clear it using household remedies or drain products. Calling a plumber in an emergency will be an expensive affair. The more stubborn the blockage in your drain is, the higher the cost can be. In case of multiple blocked drains simultaneously at a particular time in your home, the cost will escalate and you will regret for not having inspected your drains before.
What are the reasons for occurrence of clogged drains ?.
The primary cause of blocked drains is a lack of care. If you fail to use the drain-strainer to prevent food matter and refuse passing into the pipes from the drain, clogging of the kitchen sink’s drainpipe can occur. This is important because these particles can accumulate over a period of time and lead to clogged drains. Cooking oils and grease aggravate potential clogs by lining the pipes. Too much toilet paper flushed down the toilet invariably causes drain blockage.
Blocked toilet drains are also frequently caused by flushing foreign objects down them. The regular flushing of sanitary napkins, paper towels and baby wipes can also block the drains. Accumulation of hair in the pipes can lead to clogging of bathroom sinks, showers and bathtubs. Frequent usage of soaps, shampoos, hair gel and toothpaste can worsen the blockage further.
It is sometimes very unfortunate that these blockages can occur irrespective of what we put into our drains. Some common plumbing problems faced are due to crushed drains, rusted pipes, tree roots and scale.
In case of a clogged drain, here are few things that you can do.
You can use certain acids and chemicals which are especially meant for clearing the clogged drains. However these chemicals might have an adverse effect on your pipes and also on your health and environment. But the good news is that you can clear the blocked drains in a natural way too. One such way is to put boiling water into the drains regularly. The use of baking soda and vinegar is an alternative measure that can be taken. Household vinegar is run down the blocked drain; next, cover the drain liberally with soda bicarbonate. Allow the mixture to settle in the drains for minimum of 15 minutes, pouring boiling water and rinsing it afterward is likely to remove the blockages.
It Is Better To Examine and Prevent.
The home plumbing system can be compared to an automobile, a machine or a tool. So it also requires regular maintenance. You can do an inspection yourself since you are aware of how the drains function and how a blockage occurs, thus being alert about the current situation within your pipelines. Take the help of a professional plumber to make sure that your drains remain clean and clear throughout. It is advisable to have a plumber “snake” all of your drainpipes at least roughly once a year, as a means of preventing blockages. In case of frequent blockages on your drain or pipelines, you can get the complete check to be done quarterly, particularly before the onset of the autumn and winter storms. The major drain connections should periodically be subjected to video inspections.
Inspecting the drains on a regular basis can help in preventing an annoying and expensive problems of drain blockages.
