DIY Plumbing Repair – Down the Drain
One common plumbing problem that often occurs at the most inopportune times is a clogged drain. Many homeowners are tempted to reach for a bottle of their favorite drain cleaner – they are easy to use, should be quick, and you do not have the hands dirty. The problem with quick fixes – as with many things in life – is that the quick fix may not be the best.
Most drain cleaners these days will not damage your plumbing when properly used. The key is toEnsure that you really begins. If your house has a septic system, make sure that all cleaners, it is indicating for use in septic systems secure. Different types of drain remover obstacle can target different types of problems and have different instructions, make sure they follow to achieve the maximum effect.
Sometimes a liquid cleaner is not enough to take on the issue. A few years ago, we received a lesson in what not to put your food disposal –Melon shells. The disposal had no problem with it grinding, but mounted a few meters down the drain once they plug into the rough.
The first attempt was the faithful old plunger. A piston is working with the concept of hydraulic pressure (simply put, can not compress it, a liquid) to move the blockade. The problem with this approach in a kitchen sink, or is that the outflow can not be the only way – there are often multiple drains and / or overflow connections which make a plungeruseless in these cases
The next step was to try and remove the sink trap. If you receive at this stage, you must make sure that you have a bucket and some towels handy. If you previously tried to block the need to clarify the basis of a chemical drain cleaner you to be careful here, as it can still residue in the tank, pipes, or trap. Before the event, make sure as much of the sink water as you can proceed.
Place the bucket under the trap and loosen the connection to thePart of the line leading from the sink to the trap. By opening downward in front of the tube segment, first you should be able to restrict flow of water to the bucket – if you are the horizontal first part, you will probably make quite a mess as the water flows in that direction. If the remaining water flows from the sink, you know clog if further down the line. If the water does not drain, then you have the distance between the trap and the sink for the checkObstruction. Usually a screwdriver or a length of bent clothes hanger is enough to check and clear any blockages.
First, check to see if there are any obstacles to be removed in the case. Either you bring it down to a different view, and when water is flowing (through them unimpeded or use a length of coat hanger for probe and remove) any blockade. If you see something blocking the trap, you should be all set. Install the trap and run the water. If you found no obstacle, it is time toSearch.
So the sink and the trap clear now what?
Here you will find tools require that you do not practice, but it's definitely a job for the right tool. Try not to break the pipe with everything that could possibly be dropped, or otherwise be placed in your sanitary – because the idea is to fix the problem, not cause major problems. The right tool for the work in this period) is usually a plumbers auger (also known as a snake. This is a long,flexible, spring like device is cracked, that "down into the pipe. You can buy a small, simple plumbing snake into any supermarket at home or plumbing supply store and they are fairly inexpensive (another example of a tool that can be used for the first time you use it instead of professional plumbers will pay).
Push the auger into the pipe until you encounter a blockade. If you are using a manual auger, you may need to rotate it (they usually screw set and have) to help grip, toTo be on the line. Once it reaches the clog, turn it on "snail" in the blocking substance. If you have a fibrous clog, you will screw you move in together with a portion of the clog – repeating as many times as you need to remove it. ) For softer clogs (like grease, you can only with the power of the screw through the clog and rely on water to help remove later, continues to clog the relaxation.
If you are not sure that you have completely cleared the clog, and you want to check beforeYou reassemble everything you use a water hose down the pipe run. Run the water slowly – you do not want to find out the hard way that the blockage is still there. Keep your bucket under the direction of testing. If it is turned off, they re-assemble your sink / trap and run your water for a while – make sure that your drain is working normally – if it is slow, you can still have a partial blockage.
Another possible solution is the "As seen on TV" water blaster variety of drain cleaners.These devices are usually very inexpensive and typically consist of a small rubber nozzle with a hose fitting on one end. The concept is simple, keep the nozzle in the channel, connect it to a hose and turn on the water. The water is filling the first nozzle of waves in the drain or pipe opening and seal / hold it in place. Then the nozzle forces water into the pipe will hopefully clearing the block by building up pressure behind it. If you listen, you hear the clear and clog waterFlow quickly through the pipes.
A few issues to be aware of these systems: If you have PVC drain fittings-do (how many sinks) do, then better that you have good connections – if minor leaks or loose fittings, you will probably end sprinkler system is one under your sink. From my own experience, there is another problem you might encounter. If you are the hose again, the pressure grew, that previously, the nozzle is to keep him away – but there areWater and pressure in both the line and the nozzle. The results similar to shaking a soda bottle and remove the cap – it makes a great funny story to tell your friends afterwards, but it's not quite as funny when you wiped the kitchen.
And finally, if none of the above have worked, it's time, into the pros. As I said in previous articles, a good contractor will have pointed out is worth every penny they charge you. Most will not only help you with your problem, but will alsoSuggestions on how to prevent it in future and, where appropriate, suggest that problems that must be addressed.