How to address your choked waste pipes issue
How to address your choked waste pipes issue
How would you handle a plugged drain pipe in your toilet? – Keep a plunger handy for such emergency situations. Using a drains plunger is relatively simple to do. What you don’t want to do however is to vigorously pump up and down like a jack hammer. Ideally the plunger’s bell shaped head should be used to cover the drainpipe fully, you can then push the plunger down and then pull it up again to create suction in a slow rhythmical manner. So any material that is stuck into the bathroom, sink or tub drainage should come out with the upward pull on the drains plunger. overspill outlets are present in few sinks and tubs, so the outlets should be covered with a wet towel or sponger before using the plunger otherwise air can enter and reduce the impact of your actions.
An alternative for plunger is a chemical drains clearance product, one that uses corrosive chemical to unclog the blockage of the drainpipe. The chemicals are normally applied only after an unsuccessful attempt to remove the blockage using a plunger. The chemicals must sit for a while as it eats away at the blockage, then you must run hot water down the drainpipe to flush it out. Wear proper clothes while dealing with chemicals, remember the strong chemicals can spill on your clothes and spoil them so be careful with that. After chemical flushing, you may try the plunger again – this can cause the chemical/water mix to splash back on you – eye guards are highly advisable here. Make sure to follow the supplier’s guide so that you won’t come across any issues.
If both the plunger and chemicals fail to alleviate the clogging problem you have, then you can try unscrewing the nuts on the P-trap with pliers or a pipe wrench to gain access to the pipe. Keep a bucket and towel to deal with the mess that will follow. Chrome plated fittings can be protected from scratches by taping up the teeth of the pliers or wrench; that should also give you a firmer grip on the nuts of the trap. You will be able to check the drains P-trap for any stoppages in the pipe opening after you remove it. Unfortunately if you can’t find anything, the problem probably runs a lot deeper and could be anywhere between the trap and the soil stack.
If you are trying to unclog your toilet you can use a toilet auger. A drainage snake should be used if you are trying to unclog your sink or tub. drainage snakes are designed to reach deep down into the far reaches of your narrow pipes. Once you have pushed deep enough, rotate the handle to screw and hook into the blockage and slowly draw it out, this should pull the blockage with it. After you have successfully removed the the blockage you should put the P-trap back into place and check if water can flow through freely. Everything should be sealed properly after the whole process is over, the P-trap and pipes should also be checked for any leaks.
If all these methods fail then you need to call in a professional plumber. You will need to call a professional plumber or waste pipes service when the obstruction is in the sewer or soil track or when it is due to tree roots, or when the pipe has collapsed due to some reason.