If you require a drain pipe cleaned, there are some processes you can carry out easily at home with the right protective gear. Homeowners can neglect pipes through no fault of their own, and for some, unfortunately, it can be a recipe for disaster as clogs create problems.
What is the simplest method?
Boil the kettle and put a few tablespoons of baking soda into a cup of white vinegar and pour this mixture down the drain. Allow the mixture to fizz in the drain for about five to ten minutes and then flush the drain, using the boiled water. You can also use baking soda and boiled water as a combination.
Can I buy a drain cleaner from the supermarket?
You can buy a simple drain cleaner from the supermarket, hardware store, or online. You can choose a traditional cleaner or a foaming solution.
Traditional and foaming cleansers can contain harsh chemicals which are not environmentally friendly. You can opt for a green product, and these are plentiful. According to Good Housekeeping there are some good drain cleaners for clearing tough domestic clogs.
Should I monitor the drains outdoors?
Visible debris can be cleared to prevent blocking of the drains outside. Leaves, broken toys from the garden and rubbish can cause blockages and build-ups are often not noticeable.
Using a hose, you can flush out the drain. But if the problem continues, it might be a better and more cost-effective solution to call in a professional. A professional can remedy all kinds of problems concerning drainage. If you require sewer pipe lining Wolverhampton, you can opt for a number of firms which carry out this process including wilkinson-env.co.uk/sewer-repairs-drain-lining-concrete-cutting/drain-repairs/drain-repairs-wolverhampton.
Prevention is the first step
Always pour fats such as cooking oils into a container and dispose of them safely. Prevention is always a good cure, so any excess fat from cooking food should be drained into a container rather than disposed of down the drain. One of the most common causes of blocked drains in the kitchen is the accumulation of oils from deep-fat fryers.
Vinegar mixtures and tools for stubborn clogs
White or apple cider vinegar is highly acidic, so it can work on a blockage alone or alongside other household ingredients. One option is a quarter of a cup each of salt and borax with half a cup of vinegar: the salt eats away at the clog and the borax acts as a strong multipurpose cleaner. Another is half a cup each of baking soda and vinegar, which react and foam.
Once the mixture is in the drain, cover the plughole with the plug or a cloth and leave it for around 30 minutes so the foam can work. Then agitate the blockage to shift it. A drain snake, which looks like a metal rope, is fed down until it meets the clog, then turned to catch it and pulled back out. A plunger works by forming a seal over the plughole and pushing up and down to build pressure.
If the blockage is very stubborn or hard to reach, a professional drainage engineer may be needed.
Common causes of blocked drains
Knowing what blocks a drain makes it easier to clear and to prevent. Hair is one of the most common culprits. It wraps around itself into a solid ball, and because it is coated in shampoo and conditioner it is slippery and hard to pull out. Fat is the main problem in kitchen sinks. Poured down the plughole, it sets into a plug in the pipework, so let leftover fat harden in an empty can and put it in the bin, or mix it with oats and seeds as a treat for birds.
Everyday soaps and shampoos dissolve and pass through easily unless they meet a hairball. Wipes and nappies should never be flushed, as they absorb water, swell and clog pipes in your home and further along the system.
Outside, heavy rain can overwhelm drains and wash leaves and debris into a blockage. Broken pipework is another cause, as pieces that break away can lodge in the system.