Blocked Drain pipes – What a Pain In The Neck!.

Unfortunately, most of us have experienced being in the bathroom with the water level rising rapidly. Is there anything as inconvenient and messy as a Blocked Drain pipe!. Or you’re in front of the toilet sink, brushing your teeth and before you know it – the sink is halfway full. Nobody likes to deal with a blocked drain because they are a real hassle and they give an impression of being unsanitary (because they are). But it is something that most people will have to deal with every once in a while. The best course of action for you is to be prepared to deal with it by learning how to unblock bathroom drainage.

Why do drainage pipes get clogged up?.

There is no mystery to getting a Blocked Drain. Hair, dust and other particles getting stuck in the space between the drain pipe and the pipes are the main cause. Everyday products like soaps, shampoos, detergents and so on add to the problem by building up around the solid material. Finally the accumulation becomes too thick to allow any water to pass through and it is then that the drains get completely plugged resulting in a blocked drain. If you notice water getting accumulated in your tub or sink, you definitely have choked drainage.

How to remove the drain pipe blockage.

Time to roll up your sleeves and tackle the blockage – here are a few tips on what you can do to unblock your bath or sink drainpipe. The first thing that you need to do is to remove the plug of your sink or bath drain. With a bathroom sink this can be as easy as pulling it right out or as complicated a problem as looking under the sink and removing the nut that holds it in place. For a bathtub you may be able to simply take out the plug, otherwise you might have to take off the overflow plate in order to get at the assembly.

You may be able to see the obstruction in the blocked drain clearly after the plug has been taken out. Whilst messy, it is nothing, but a mound of hair and fragments around the components of the bathroom drain. Clear out as much of the blockage as possible. If it is out of reach, you can use a wire clothes hanger to remove it if you can hook into the debris and pull it. As soon as the clog is got rid of, water will start running freely through the drain pipe.

However, there is a chance that you will not be able to reach the blockage with the wire so you will have to try something else. A drainpipe plunger can help you get rid of blockages that are too deep down to reach by inserting your hand. To begin with, you should plug the overflow drainpipe to make sure that the plunger has optimum suction. Then, put the plunger over the blocked drain pipe and push up and down half a dozen times. When you let go of the plunger, any excess water should flow out right away if you have dislodged the blockage.

If the plunger also fails to clean your blocked drain pipe, then you should take the help of chemical drain pipe cleaner. This method should only be used as a last resort because the chemicals used are dangerous and can be harmful to your bathroom fixtures.

Bring in the Pros for a professional drainage solution.

After taking all the steps that you can carry out yourself, if the blockage still remains, it will be wise to call your neighborhood plumber or drainage services company for some assistance. Professional plumbers will have specialist equipment and know-how to unblock your blocked drain in next to no time. Although availing plumber services can be a costly proposition it gives you the much needed peace of mind as the water starts running and the mess is cleaned up.

Aggravation time – you have a blocked drain

This has happened to all of us – the water fast submerging our feet while are taking a shower. Is there anything as inconvenient and messy as a blocked drain!. What about that wet sinking feeling when you are brushing your teeth at the washbasin on a lousy Monday morning and the filled sink just refuses to drain!. The prospect of sorting obstructed drainage out is not a happy one; it can be messy and time consuming. However, obstructed drains are something that cannot be avoided; every household has to cope with it sooner or later. The best way to manage plugged bathroom drainage is to learn how to unblock them.

Why do drains get obstructed, what is the underlying cause?.

They get plugged when dust, hair and other particles get entrapped between the pipes inside the bathroom drainpipe. The problem aggravates when bathroom products like soap, shampoo, conditioner, detergent, and the like begin to accumulate on the mass. When the offending mass becomes too dense to allow any water to flow through freely, the problem is identified as a blocked drain pipe. When waste water drains very slowly or just stands stubbornly in the washbasin, you know you have a clogged up drainpipe problem.

Some effective ways to unblock your bathroom drain pipe are listed below.

If you want your water to start running freely then there are a few things you can do to rectify the problem. First of all the plug should be removed. With a bathroom sink this can be as easy as pulling it right out or as complicated a problem as looking under the sink and removing the nut that holds it in place. For a bathtub you may be able to simply take out the plug, otherwise you might have to take off the overflow plate in order to get at the assembly.

Once you remove the plug, you may then be able to see the source of the clog. Chances are you’ll see a clump of hair mixed with other materials just below the drainpipe in the blocked drain. Clear out as much of the stoppage as possible. If it is out of reach, you can use a wire clothes hanger to remove it if you can hook into the debris and pull it. There is a good chance that by removing this mass of material the problem will be rectified and your water will flow smoothly.

However other methods can be used in case the blockage is unreachable even with a hanger. clogs which are very deep can be removed with the help of a drain pipe plunger. In the first step, use a wet cloth to cover the overflowing drain pipe, and then use the plunger; this will make the suction stronger. Now put the plunger over the drain pipe and move it up and down continuously at an even pace. Hopefully, after doing this and once the plunger is taken away, any water should flow freely down the drain as the vacuum created shifted the obstruction.

You may have to turn to a chemical solution, if the plunger fails to do the job. Chemicals should be applied only after all else fails because they are hazardous and can damage your bathroom hardware.

Bring in the Pros for a professional drains solution.

If all the steps outlined above fail to clear the blocked drain pipe, then it is best to call in a crack team – a qualified and experienced plumber or drainage contractor from your area. Plumbers have special equipment to clean the plugged drains speedily and effortlessly such as a drainage snake, drains contractors also employ water jetting to clear blockages and cctv drainage cameras to view inside the drainpipe. Although availing plumber services can be a costly proposal it gives you the much needed peace of mind as the water starts flowing, the blocked drain is cleared and the mess is cleaned up.

Empty out those blocked drain pipes rapidly

What are some of the best remedies to open blocked drain and waste pipes of your bathroom? The typical plunger is easiest and speediest solution. What’s involved is very clear, cover the blocked drain pipe with the plunger and push. But don’t just shove the plunger into the drainpipe and start pumping it violently, you could make matters much worse. Ideally the plunger’s bell shaped head should be used to cover the drainage fully, you can then push the plunger down and then pull it up again to create suction in a slow rhythmical manner. The suction created when the plunger is pulled up will hopefully dislodge the material clogging the toilet, tub or sink in your bathroom. Some washbasins and bathtubs are provided with over spill openings that have to be blocked temporarily with a wet cloth for the plunger to develop effective suction.

An alternative for plunger is a chemical drains clearance product, one that uses corrosive chemical to unclog the blockage of the blocked drain pipe. These products should be used only when the plunger has failed to clean out your bathroom drainage. The solutions should be left alone for sometime as they loosen up the clog, then you should pour down hot water into the drainpipe to clear the whole thing out. Use rough clothes that cover your body fully as things could get a bit mucky and some of the strong chemicals may spill on you and burn exposed skin. If you plan to use the plunger after the application of chemical to remove the remaining blocked drain debris, then eye protection is essential because the chemical laden water may back-splash on you and burn. The chemical product comes with specific manufacturer’s directions; it is important to read and follow them carefully.

Another thing that you can do, if the plunger doesnt remove the blockage, is to use the pliers and pipe wrench to open the nuts that hold the P-trap in place. Now, this process can be really messy, so keep the towel and bucket handy. Use an electrical tape to encircle the jaws of your wrench so that you can get a better grip on the pipes and also maintain their chrome finish without scratching them. After disassembling the P-trap, examine the trap for anything blocking the mouth of the pipe. But in case you are unable to find any blockage, chances are that the problem lies deep down between the soil stack and the trap and you will need additional tools.

A toilet auger can be used for unclogging the toilet. With a bathtub or sink, however a blocked drain snake should be used. drainpipe snakes are designed to reach deep down into the far reaches of your narrow pipes. With the help of the adjustable handle, you can literally drill into the blockage and pull out the clog from the drain pipe. Once, you have taken out the obstruction, re-fix the P-trap and rinse the drainage with hot water to make sure that the entire clog has been removed. Everything should be sealed properly after the whole process is over, the P-trap and pipes should also be checked for any leaks.

After trying all of these methods and you still have a blocked drain problem, it is time to contact a drainage contractor or local plumber. Professional plumbers can identify and solve serious problems like aged pipes caving in, tree root invasion, blocked sewer line or soil stack; these should not be attempted by the homeowner as you will not have the right tools to solve the problem.

Solve your stopped drainage issues

We’ve all been there – we’re in the shower, and suddenly we feel the water start to rise up around our feet. It’s definitely not a very good feeling! A clogged up drain sounds horrible to begin with. And it’s not confined to the bath and shower, you could be brushing your teeth getting ready for bed only to be confronted with the sink filling up rapidly. Obstructed drains are not only a major nuisance for household work; they are also unhygienic health hazards. However, most household bathrooms will experience a choked drain at some time and one time or another. The best course of action for you is to be prepared to deal with it by learning how to unblock bathroom drains.

Why do drainage get clogged up, what is the underlying cause?.

Blocked drainage can result from trapped solid objects such as hair, dust and particles between your bathroom drain pipe and the attached pipes. The condition gets worse when products like conditioners, shampoos and detergents accumulate in the already choked drains. Finally the accumulation becomes too thick to allow any water to pass through and it is then that the drains get completely clogged. So, if you are finding the water isn’t flowing freely through your drain resulting in water rising quickly in your bath or sink chances are that you have a clog in your plumbing system.

Clear Up Your drains fast.

You can do a number of things to unblock your bath or bathroom sink drain pipe. The first thing you will have to do is take out the plug of the blocked sink or drain. In case of a bathroom sink, the plug can be removed easily with a simple pull or it might need the complex effort of unlocking the hook keeping it in place from under the sink. In case of your bathtub, the plug can be unscrewed at the mouth of the drainage or the overflow plate can be removed to expose the assembly.

The removal of the plug may allow you to spot the cause for the blockage. Chances are you’ll see a clump of hair mixed with other materials just below the drainpipe. Try to pull it out, as much as you can. If the mass is located in a region, where it is difficult for you to grasp it and pull it out, then use a wire clothes hanger to dig into the clump and pull it back through the drainpipe pipe. Your drain pipe is likely to get unclogged if you remove the soap scum, hair and other particles from it that you can see.

However other methods can be used in case the blockage is unreachable even with a hanger. The most practical way to clean such deep-seated clogs is a drain pipe plunger. To begin with, you should plug the overflow drain pipe to make sure that the plunger has optimum suction. Now, place the plunger straight away on the opening of the drain pipe,and thump it up and down a number of times. As soon as you release the plunger, the trapped water may drain away immediately.

Even the plunger may not clear the most dense and hardened matter inside your plumbing – that’s when you will have to deploy a chemical drainpipe clearing product. This method should only be used as a last resort because the chemicals used are dangerous and can be harmful to your bathroom fixtures.

You can always take professional help if this concerns you.

If you are unable to unblock the drains even after trying all the methods, it is only advisable to call a professional plumber who has experience of drainage work. Plumbers have special equipment to clean the clogged drainage speedily and effortlessly such as a drainage snake, drainage contractors also employ water jetting to clear blockages and cctv drainage cameras to view inside the drainpipe. Taking professional help will cost you a bit but it is definitely worth it.