Cleaning sewer pipes: an analysis of the most effective methods

Introduction

In order to avoid blockages, it is necessary to take preventive measures in a timely manner

To increase comfort, apartments and private houses are equipped with a system of channels for removing sewage.The process of active operation leads to the fact that various contaminants are deposited on the surface of the pipes from the inside:

• rust (inside)
• calcium precipitate
• sand
• body fat
• soap waste
• hair, animal fur
• other waste of human activity

Unpleasant smell when clogged

The cause of blockage can also be improper pipe installation, for example, an incorrect slope, many turns and connection elements. Such difficult situations usually lead to a complete replacement of the entire system.

It will not be possible to avoid clogging if you do not timely prevent the condition of the sewer system. The use of physical force, simple tools and special cleaning equipment will keep the pipeline networks in working order.

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Preventive measures

It is impossible to prevent the appearance of operational plaque, since detergents and hot water wash it off only partially and do not completely dissolve it. If the mucous and fatty film is removed in time, the prevention of blockages will be effective.

The main condition for the proper operation of the sewer system is the correct design and installation. Pipes must be of the correct diameter and installed at an angle of about 5º (slope by 5-10 cm for every 1 m of length). The correct slope will not allow sewage and small debris to stagnate and exfoliate in the pipes.

First of all, do not drain fat from pans and other utensils into the sewer. It is better to collect it in unnecessary containers and throw it away with other food waste.

If this option is unacceptable, it is better to throw the remains of oils and fatty foods into the toilet.In the bathroom, the drain pipes have a larger diameter, and toilet bowl cleaners remove grease more efficiently than other detergents.

Another 1 rule - at least once a day, the sewer must be washed with highly heated water and once a week - with any of the special means described above. For example, you can get rid of greasy plaque and an unpleasant odor in the following way: pour 3-4 tbsp. l. baking soda and pour 1 cup boiling water.

Instead of boiling water, you can pour a glass of table vinegar into the system. The resulting foam will destroy and partially dissolve the greasy coating and wash away debris. To prevent the foam from coming out, the drain is closed with a cork for 10-15 minutes. After this time, 1.5-2 liters of boiling water is poured into the pipe. Once every 2-3 weeks, you can simply pour a large amount of boiling water into the system.

This implies the selection of the optimal diameter of the pipes and their location under an average slope (5-10 cm per 1 m of length). With a smaller slope, all waste washed into the sewer will stagnate, with a larger one, the drains will begin to delaminate. Water, as the lightest substance, will rise and drain quickly, grease and other contaminants will settle against the walls, quickly clogging the pipe.

Chemical cleaning

You can also remove blockages in pipes at home with the help of household chemicals, of which there are a lot on sale. True, before starting work with them, you should ensure your safety - put on gloves, goggles, a mask and take care of airing the room.

It is worth noting that it is preferable to use any other cleaning method than a chemical one, since the chemicals contain acids and caustic alkalis.In addition, you should not combine several agents of different composition, otherwise, if they react with each other, you can seriously damage the pipeline.

The sequence of dry cleaning is as follows:

• according to the instructions, the required amount of the active substance is poured into the drain channel;
• pour about 0.5 liters of water there;
• leave the composition for 10-15 minutes for the reaction;
• spill the system with plenty of water - about 2-4 buckets.

If the blockage in the pipe is very thick, then mechanical cleaning should be used.

Cleaning preparation

Before clearing the blockage sink in the kitchen at home, you should determine the cause of its formation. The acceptable method depends on what exactly needs to be done with the sewer pipes or drain system.

You can eliminate the blockage with different tools, so preparatory work is carried out first:

• tools are prepared, and most often it is necessary to remove the blockage with a plunger or a cable, sometimes household chemicals help;
• a small flashlight and a small brush are purchased;
• a bucket is placed next to it;
• manipulations with the sink and drain are recommended to be carried out only with protective rubber gloves;
• the sink before work is freed from foreign objects: sponges, dishes and cleaning products.

Using a plunger

A plunger is a primitive and inexpensive plumbing tool. It allows you to clean small blockages formed due to the ingress of small organic pieces into the drain hole.

Elimination of blockage is carried out as follows:

• the rubber bowl is pressed tightly against the surface of the sink, and the drain hole is located strictly in the middle;
• as soon as a tight connection is created, strong translational movements are made;
• all actions are carried out using the handle, which is equipped with a plunger;
• due to such efforts, a hydraulic shock is formed;
• due to the pressure surge, small particles in the drain hole or pipe begin to be pushed in different directions.

After this procedure, the remains of food pass into the sewer.

The use of a plumbing cable

If there is a strong blockage, the plunger will not cope with it. This refers to a situation where a rag or a metal object has fallen into the pipe. You can remove such a blockage using a plumbing cable. In appearance, it looks like a regular brush, equipped with a flexible handle of considerable length.

The cable allows you to push various large and strong objects into the pipe, as well as partially remove plaque or rust.

The cleaning process is divided into stages:

• the cable is inserted through the drain hole into the pipe;
• scrolls slowly in one direction;
• the cable moves away from itself, gradually pushing through the sewer pipe;
• sometimes it is pulled out, which allows you to get stuck objects out of the pipe;
• a little water is periodically supplied to drain the remaining dirt and foreign objects.

You can replace the cable with a metal hanger, but it is only suitable if the blockage is located next to the drain.

Siphon cleaning

Not only the sewer pipe, but also the siphon can be clogged. It can be replaced or cleaned. It accumulates a lot of dirt and food residues, so the water stops passing freely.

The siphon is designed to prevent odor from the sewer from entering the room.First you need to remove the device, and then disassemble it.

The process is divided into stages:

• the nuts connecting the siphon to the outlet of the sewerage system are unscrewed;
• the tank is pulled out, and during this procedure the integrity of the seals must not be violated;
• the element is cleaned of contaminants with a brush;
• you will have to clean the nozzles, for which a brush or brush is used;
• after cleaning, the siphon is installed in place.

After the end of the process, it is necessary to drain some water to make sure the connections are tight. If the product is in poor condition, it is advisable to change it by installing a new siphon.

How to clear a blockage in the sink with a plunger and a cable

In some cases, before moving on to folk remedies, it is worth trying to get rid of pipe blockages with the help of mechanical cleaning. The simplest option for mechanically cleaning a pipe from a “plug” is a plunger. This simple device works on the principle of a pump, pumping water, air and dirt out of the pipe. Sometimes using a plunger is the most effective way to clear a blockage, especially if the problem is not chronic. A plunger should be at hand for every housewife, so that at the first sign of clogging of the sewer pipe, you can easily and quickly deal with this problem.

With the help of a plunger, you can easily cope with any plugs and blockages in the pipe.

At home, even the fairer sex, who do not have much strength in their hands, can quickly break through the cork with a plunger.

• Pour water into the kitchen sink, press the wide part of the appliance firmly against the drain and press firmly several times. The hydraulic pillar that will be created in this case will push through the cork and break it into several parts.You just have to wash the dirt with a powerful pressure of water.
• If your sink has two sections, then you need to arm yourself with two plungers at once and break through the blockage, working at the same time. That is, in any case, if you clean the cork in one section, then the drain of the second must be very tightly closed. There are no two plungers - plug the hole with a rag or hold it with your hand.

Removing a blockage in the drain sink pipe with plunger REMS Pull-Push.

To use the REMS Pull-Push plunger, it is necessary to fill the sink or bathtub with water, then place the plunger on the drain and press and pull the handle several times. Water and air in the pipe are “sucked in” and flow upward, dragging debris particles out. After that, it is necessary to collect all the dirt that has come from the drain hole and do the procedure again. It is advisable to repeat the operation until it becomes noticeable that the water becomes cleaner and easily goes into the sewer hole, i.e. blockage has been removed.

Causes of sewer blockage

If you find that the water is not draining well and an unpleasant odor has appeared, then the resulting blockage is to blame. The smaller the problem, the easier it is to get rid of it. Therefore, first you need to determine the cause of the garbage plug.

Problem #1 - Accumulated Fat

The fat deposited on the walls of the pipes from the dishes causes the majority (about 70%) of traffic jams. Most often, such a blockage appears in the kitchen: the sink, the drain from the dishwasher are the most problematic areas.

Such accumulations are formed slowly: their inner layer is jelly-like, and the outer one, adjacent to the pipes, is more knocked down. They are formed, in addition to fat, food particles, threads, etc.

The most common cause of clogged drains is grease that settles on the walls of pipes after washing dishes. It is enough to shine a flashlight, and you can see the place of blockage

Problem #2 - Heavy Waste

Particles that are heavy in weight provoke the appearance of man-made blockages. Of the total number of causes, they make up no more than 10% and appear most often in apartment buildings.

Consider heavy: sand, debris from repairs, poorly flushed solutions, animal litter, hygiene products, rags, wet wipes, toilet paper and newspapers that enter the sewer through the toilet.

In addition, a mechanical plug in the pipes can be "organized" by organic waste - vegetable peelings, onion husks, food particles. Often the causes of blockages can be children's toys - Lego elements, beads and any small items that accidentally fell into the sewer.

A clogged siphon is often a key cause of blockages, both in the kitchen and in the toilet. It needs to be cleaned about once every 2-3 months.

Problem #3 - Hitting Hard Objects

Damage to the pipe can form a blockage due to the ingress of solid particles of different sizes into the system. For example, a piece of wood, plastic, which can get stuck somewhere in the middle of the pipe.

There, other debris and grease will layer on this item. It is they who will provoke the growth of a large cork, which is not so easy to break through. In a private house, the cause may be the deformation of a pipe adjacent to the main sewer, or the external pressure of a large object.

Problem #4 - unprofessional editing

Unprofessional installation of sewer pipes in an apartment or house can create big problems for the owners in the form of recurring blockages.

The installation of sewerage must be approached with all responsibility. An incorrectly selected angle of inclination or too many joints can cause frequent blockages.

For example, installing pipes at too sharp an angle, or, conversely, at an insufficient slope; a large number of creases, too small a cross-section of pipes, the presence of gaps between pipes, incorrectly selected parts or the absence of them.

Problem #5 - Service life and care

A long service life of pipes can cause blockages. But PVC pipes are practically not subject to such wear.

This is more true for cast iron pipes, since their inner surface has some roughness. It is subject to corrosion and sediment from passing debris and sewage remains on it. Over time, the sediment accumulates and compacts, so the permeability of the pipes will decrease.

The lack of necessary care and planned cleaning of plumbing is also a common cause of traffic jams. For cast-iron pipes, such cleanings must be carried out once every 2-3 months, and for plastic pipes - at least once a year. Having determined the cause of the blockage, it is necessary to find out the place of its deployment.

The best pipe cleaning gels

Gel products are the most popular. They are characterized by good fluidity, but they envelop pipes better than liquids, they are evenly distributed over the surface of the formed plug and dissolve it more efficiently, at the same time eliminating plaque accumulated on the walls.

"Ruff" - an inexpensive universal gel

5

★★★★★
editorial score

96%
buyers recommend this product

Active gel that is suitable for cleaning any type of pipes. Due to its thick consistency, it penetrates deep into the blockage, even if there is water left in the system.Ruff action is aimed at removing fats, hairballs, food debris, paper and organic waste. Also, the tool copes well with unpleasant odors from the sewer.

To eliminate the cork, it is recommended to use 500 ml; for prevention, you can pour less gel.

Pros:

• affordable price (about 80 rubles per 1 liter);
• removes most blockages;
• removes odors;
• suitable for all types of pipes;
• available in most stores.

Minuses:

• high consumption;
• leaky packaging.

Many buyers note a poor-quality cover that can leak. Therefore, after purchase, it is recommended to store and transport Yorsh gel only in an upright position.

Tiret Turbo - against strong blockages

5

★★★★★
editorial score

94%
buyers recommend this product

See review

Tiret Turbo - gel for express pipe cleaning. To remove even complex blockages, it is enough to fill it for 5-10 minutes. The products are much heavier than water, thanks to which the gel can be poured into a filled sink. Tiret quickly "sinks", easily penetrating to the place of pollution.

The manufacturer recommends pouring 250 ml of gel, which indicates an economical consumption of funds. Tiret Turbo is sold in bright red bottles of 0.5 or 1 liter. The lid has a child-resistant lid and microscopic holes to ventilate the contents and prevent excess gases from accumulating. After using the gel, the room must be ventilated.

Pros:

• sold in almost every store and supermarket;
• suitable for metal and plastic pipes;
• short duration of action;
• small expense;
• thoughtful packaging;
• removes even difficult blockages.

Minuses:

• expensive (about 350 rubles per 500 ml);
• not suitable for toilet bowls, rubber and copper pipes;
• acrid smell.

Buyers are advised to track stocks on Tiret Turbo - you can often buy it at a better price.

Grass Digger Gel - antibacterial agent

5

★★★★★
editorial score

91%
buyers recommend this product

See review

Grass Digger Gel dissolves fatty deposits, hair, food residues. Also, the tool effectively fights bacteria and unpleasant odors from the sewer. For prevention, it is enough to fill in the reagent for only 5 minutes; in case of complex blockages, it is better to leave it in the pipe for several hours.

According to the instructions, the powder should be poured with 300-500 ml of water, depending on the intensity of pipe contamination. The product does not have a pronounced pungent odor, so it is not necessary to ventilate the room after using it. Grass Digger Gel is sold in packages of different sizes - in bottles of 0.75 liters and canisters of 5.3 liters.

Pros:

• low price (about 100 rubles per 750 ml);
• several types of packaging;
• removes unpleasant odors;
• sold in most stores;
• no pungent odor;
• acts quickly.

Minuses:

big expense.

With complex traffic jams, you need to fill in at least 500 ml of the product, which makes the gel consumption uneconomical.

What do we have to do

• Do not throw away food debris and hygiene products (cotton wool, tampons, diapers, napkins and others) into the drain holes - they tend to swell and increase significantly in volume, including harmless breadcrumbs or rice. In addition, fat tends to settle on the inner surface of the pipes, attracting other debris to itself, resulting in a narrowing of the passage.
• Do not flush trash, rags, plastic bags, or other waste down the toilet.The drain hole is designed for water and soft organics. The maximum that is allowed is to flush toilet paper.
• Install protective screens in the sink and sink to trap debris.
• Be sure to keep an eye on the drain holes so that food and other debris do not remain on the protective grid. This must be done after every wash.
• Clean the drain twice a month with baking soda and vinegar. To do this, pour a pack of baking soda into the drain hole, then add a sufficient amount of vinegar there and close the lid. Soda reacts with vinegar and qualitatively eliminates fat and organic matter. After half an hour, pour a couple of liters of boiling water into the sink.
• Enzymes are enzymes that dissolve dirt. They are poured into the drain and left overnight, washed with hot water in the morning.

The opinion of a professional plumber. People! Don't be fooled by ads! I am an emergency plumber. All advertised products only interfere with our work - they do not dissolve hair and organic matter, but create a caustic slurry that is very difficult to clean, and also corrodes hands. The maximum for which this chemistry is needed is prevention. But even here I recommend using not Mole or Tiret, but a simple folk remedy - dissolve a pack of salt and soda in hot water and spill all the plums for prevention at night. Everything! Don't waste money on nonsense!

Hydrodynamic cleaning method

What to do if the sewerage in a private house is clogged, and there is no way to call the master? All plumbers recommend cleaning pipes using special devices - hydromechanical devices, high pressure pumps, home car washes. They allow you to remove gaps of any complexity.They are recommended to be used for pipelines whose diameter does not exceed 30 cm. Special nozzles are also additionally used to clean the sewer. They allow you to carry out all the work more efficiently, taking into account the individual characteristics of the existing system.

Hydrodynamic cleaning of sewer pipes

How to clean the pipeline in this case? The principle of operation of the equipment is simple - a flushing head of the apparatus is sent to the drain of problematic plumbing, which supplies water under high pressure. In this way, even the most dense blockages are pierced, which is difficult to achieve in other ways. If it is not possible to use a special hydro-mechanical installation, you can use a regular garden hose. It is connected to the sewer and pumped with water.

The disadvantage of this method is the complexity of its implementation. To eliminate sewer blockages, partial disassembly of the system is required, which is not always comfortable.

Required parameters

Efficiency and safety are the main parameters

Choosing the composition, initially find out:

• clogging degree
• localization
• the material from which the pipes are made

The cleaning agent must meet the following parameters:

• safety
• efficiency
• optimal combination of cost and quality

Liquid formulations are suitable for any situation. Powders are not always able to get to the problem or cope with a large degree of pollution.

The products presented below are distinguished by their effectiveness and worthy of the attention of the buyer.

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Folk ways

You can also clean the pipes with tools that have been tested more than once.

soda and vinegar

Instruction:

1. Pour soda into the drain and pour vinegar in a ratio of 1: 1 (for the first time, you can take ½ tbsp.).
2. Close the hole with a stopper.
3. After 5–7 minutes, rinse the drain with a small pressure of hot water.

Baking soda and vinegar is the most famous folk remedy for cleaning drains.

Vinegar and Alka-Seltzer

If there is no soda in the house, but there is a hangover cure, then they perfectly replace each other. True, only for cleaning the drain.

Instruction:

1. Throw 2 Alka-Seltzer tablets into the drain.
2. Pour 1 tbsp. vinegar.
3. After 5 minutes, rinse with a large pressure of hot water.

Hangover cure is a great replacement for baking soda

Causes of blockages

The presence of curved pipes makes the toilet vulnerable to clogging, no matter how carefully and carefully it is operated. But it has been noticed that more often the owners of old faience structures with cast-iron pipes still face problems.

Over time, they are covered from the inside with various salt deposits and prevent the passage of the water flow. Chemicals that can be purchased at any supermarket or hardware store do a good job with such organic deposits.

Cleaning agent for clogs in sinks, bathtubs, toilet bowls

The second reason is the ingress of foreign objects: small children's toys, felt-tip pens and colored pencils, paper, food waste - whatever. And chemistry is unlikely to help here, you will have to use mechanical tools, for example, a plunger. But he will not be able to remove larger items such as a floor cloth, he will need a special plumbing cable.

If a cat lives in the apartment and you use litter for the tray, carefully read the disposal rules. The fact is that mineral, clumping and absorbent fillers are made from clay. Getting into the sewer, under the influence of water, the clay tightly cements the duct, and only a professional can remove the concrete plug.

Folk methods of dealing with the problem

If there are no chemicals, and the blockage is insignificant, then you can clean the pipes using folk remedies. They are safe not only for human health, but also for pipes.

Boiling water and salt

A solution of hot water and salt eliminates small plugs. But this method is not suitable for plastic pipes, since the maximum temperature they can withstand is 70 degrees. First, salt is poured into the drain hole, and after 20-30 minutes liquid is poured.

A solution of baking soda and vinegar

This method will allow you to clean the drain system from fatty deposits. 200 g of powder is poured into the hole, after which 200 ml of acetic acid is poured there.

To improve the effect, soda can be calcined in a pan to a golden hue. For the reaction to be successful, the hole in the sink must be closed. After 15-20 minutes, the pipe should be washed with hot water under pressure. This method will only help with relatively recent blockages. Old traffic jams require drastic measures.

soda and salt

The drain is cleaned as follows: first, the dry components are mixed (half a glass each). The composition is poured into the drain hole and left for 10-12 hours. After that, the pipe is washed with hot water.

Lemon juice or acid

Acid crystals are poured into the siphon hole, then it is filled with water and vinegar.An acidic environment is created to clean the pipes from limescale. Acid is poured into the pipe in an amount of 100 g, and then 250 ml of boiling water is poured. After 20 minutes, the pipe is washed with boiling water. If lemon juice is used, then it is simply poured into the drain for an hour. Requires 100 ml of liquid.

Alka-Zeltzer

This is a medical preparation, which contains citric acid and acetylsalicylic acid. Additionally, it contains soda.

When interacting with water, these components enter into a chemical reaction. To clean the drain, it is enough to throw 2-3 tablets of the product into it and clog the hole.

The procedure lasts no more than 20 minutes.

washing powder

In this case, a granular agent is required. 2 measuring spoons of powder are poured into the pipe. Next, boiling water is poured into it for 5 minutes.

Vinegar, baking soda and chlorine

Before cleaning with the use of these components, all liquid is removed from the sink. Soda ash and baking soda (50 g each) are poured into the drain, and after half an hour vinegar and chlorine (150 ml each) are poured into it. The hole must be well sealed, otherwise a pungent smell will appear in the room. After 40 minutes, the drain is washed.

Soda and vinegar for cleaning pipes: 6 ways to clean the sewer at home There can be various reasons for clogged pipes. To combat the problem, various store tools are used, for example, Mole. However, you can get rid of it with the means that can be found in ...

Rock salt

You can clean plugs in cast-iron pipes with coarse salt. To obtain the reaction, vinegar essence is additionally required. First, 300 g of salt is poured into the pipe, 2 liters of boiling water are poured, as well as 100 ml of essence. After 30 minutes, the drain is washed.If necessary, the procedure can be repeated.

Alkali-based preparations

Alkaline products clean well with fatty deposits. Popular is the drug KEMI in orange granules

You will have to work with them carefully, as the substance is caustic. To clean the sewer pipe, pour 1 cap of the product into the sink and pour it with hot water

Alkaline-based liquid cleaners are more effective at removing clogs.

Caustic soda

Strong blockage can be cleaned with caustic soda (caustic soda). Powder in the amount of 2-3 is placed in a metal container and 12 liters of liquid (cold) are poured.

The composition is gently stirred for half an hour.

It is important to take precautions so that the composition does not get on the skin or mucous membranes. The powder must be completely dissolved

After that, the bucket is put on fire so that the mixture warms up to 70 degrees. Half of the composition for cleaning is poured into the drain hole and left for 1.5-2 hours. Further, the remaining part of the substance is introduced into the pipe, after which again wait 2 hours.

After the action of soda is completed, the pipeline is washed with hot water.

Blockage Prevention

So that the sewer system does not cause you problems, you need to follow a few simple rules. Make sure all drains have screens to filter water from contaminants. Do not throw rags, food or grease containing waste into the sewer. It is better to use a bucket designed for garbage. When cleaning, pour boiling water over the drain holes. At least 2 times a year, flush the sewer with chemical compounds to prevent blockages.

Stick to the rules:

• The toilet is designed for one purpose only.Use a trash can to dispose of leftover food and other garbage;
• Pouring out water after cleaning the apartment, check if you left a rag in the bucket;
• There must be nets on the drain holes of the bathtub and sinks;
• Wash dishes only with hot water, statistics show that the maximum number of local blockages occurs in the summer, after the temperature of the water in the hot water supply decreases to 40-45 degrees.

Chemical way to clean the sewer

To clean the sewer system, which is clogged, there are many means. They are sold at any hardware store. Such products contain aggressive chemical compounds that can break down deposits on the walls of the pipeline. Most Popular:

Mole;

Domestos;

Tiret Professional.

Most prepared liquids or powders contain caustic soda. Therefore, all work on cleaning the sewer must be carried out with rubber gloves and a respirator. On contact with the skin, they cause thermal burns. Also, when using such funds, they are strictly forbidden to mix with each other. As a result, they may release toxic substanceswhich are extremely dangerous to humans.

After pouring the finished liquid into the sewer, it is recommended not to use the plumbing fixture for some time. This is necessary to complete the chemical reaction and completely clean the sewer.

Varieties

The market is replete with a variety of colors and names

Household chemicals for wastewater treatment come in different consistencies:

• liquid
• powdered
• gel-like

All of them contain caustic soda - a substance of active action.It is a strong agent that quickly dissolves organic soiling and soap scum.

Each of the species has a different effect on human health (on contact), the condition of the pipes and the cause of the blockage. The most active are powders, although gels are safer for the person himself and communication.

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