Why does the sewer become clogged and how can you clear the blockage with your own hands?

Sewer cleaning in a private house - how to clean pipes and eliminate blockages

Place of blockage

When the water stops leaving through the toilet, sink hole or bathtub, it is necessary to find out not only why the blockage occurred, but also in what place. Before you clean the sink, it is worth examining the most problematic areas. The company will ensure the uninterrupted operation of the sewerage system.

Certain symptoms indicate where sewer pipes need to be cleaned:

  1. When the fluid does not drain from the tub or washbasin, and the rest of the plumbing is functioning normally, this means that the problem is in their siphon or knee. It can also be connected to a corrugated pipe connecting the siphon to the sewer system. If the device farthest from the riser stops functioning, then it is possible that the comb is clogged.
  2. In the case when part of the plumbing equipment does not work, and the water leaves the toilet normally, this indicates a clogged junction of the comb with a tee or a cross behind the toilet. If the comb is slack, debris always collects in a counterslope area.
  3. When all the devices do not function, and the water level in them begins to rise when draining from the neighbors in the riser, then a blockage formed in the sewer bed in the basement. Another reason could be a blockage in the riser.

Waste pipe cleaning with hydrodynamic equipment

One of the alternative ways to eliminate a strong blockage in a pipe is to use various devices that supply a strong jet of water - pumps and hydrodynamic machines. Use equipment with special spiral nozzles of various sections. Such a device is placed near the toilet bowl or sink, a spiral nozzle is inserted into the drain hole, and as it rotates, it creates a sufficiently strong pressure of water that can break through even very dense blockages. This cleaning method is optimal for pipes with a cross section of 5-30 cm.

With the help of such mechanisms, you can remove the blockage in the pipe at home, both in a private house and in an apartment in a high-rise building.However, if you do not have such a machine at your disposal, you can simply use a spiral, rotating it in one direction.

Why does the sewer become clogged and how can you clear the blockage with your own hands?

It is noteworthy that the spiral machine can be used to clean blockages in the sewer of any configuration, moreover, it is not too expensive.

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 with the help of 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.

Definition of a problem area

To effectively clean pipes, you must first determine the area where the blockage has formed.In most cases, the plug is associated with a clogged siphon - a structural element that is located directly under the sink. In this case, the water may not go away at all.

If the outflow of sewage occurs, but slowly, the problem may be related to the drainage itself. This can be judged in the case when water does not leave several plumbing items at once, for example, from a sink and a bathtub.

Having determined approximately the area that does not allow drains to leave, you can begin to break through the blockage. Before embarking on a global sewer cleaning, you should make sure that the problem is not a clogged siphon, which can be cleaned quite simply.

How to get rid of bad smell from the toilet

Reasons for the appearance

Most apartment dwellers use a compact toilet. The cause of the unpleasant odor in this case is often the incomplete flushing of the water. As a result, the liquid located in the toilet is mixed with water from the tank. At the same time, part of the fecal matter remains in the water. Because of this, the toilet room will smell bad.

Why is the toilet flush incomplete?

Firstly, it can become clogged in any area of ​​the drain as a result of deposits on the walls, various objects entering the pipes, and the disposal of products containing fat in large quantities.

Secondly, insufficient draining may be due to improper operation of the tank. Perhaps, when you press the key, the drain mechanism does not allow all the water to drain. In this regard, a complete replacement of water does not occur.

An unpleasant smell coming from the toilet may be the result of:

  • depressurization of the junction of the toilet bowl and sewerage. This usually happens due to the drying of the putty or the aging of the cuff.In this case, to normalize the drain system, it is enough to replace the cuff and treat the junction with silicone,
  • cracking or displacement of the connecting pipe-corrugation. When displaced, it is enough to “return” the pipe into place, but when it cracks, it will have to be replaced,
  • malfunctions of the water seal due to various reasons. You can correct the situation by cleaning the fan pipe with boiling water or replacing the shutter. If there is a blockage in the water riser, only housing and communal services employees can eliminate it.

How to eliminate

How to eliminate the "aroma" from the toilet? First you need to determine the cause of this phenomenon.

If the urinary odor is the result of a blockage in any section of the sewer, it is enough to simply clean the pipes by removing the “plug” from them. Determining the blockage is easy: just watch the flushing process. If the toilet bowl fills up heavily with water that comes out slowly or incompletely, it means that salts have been deposited on the walls of the pipes.

How to get rid of the smell of urine in this case? The easiest way is to use a plunger. With it, you can create pressure that will help to completely eliminate the blockage.

If there is no visible result after using the plunger, you can use a special cable or pour a special chemical agent into the pipes.

A household chemical product designed for cleaning pipes is easy to purchase at any specialized point of sale. Use the product strictly according to the instructions on its packaging.

Sewerage problems that are accompanied by an unpleasant odor can be caused by incorrect operation of the drain mechanism. Determining what it is is very simple.You need to remove the lid from the tank, wait for the sound of water to stop and look at the amount of liquid in the tank. If it is incomplete, the float is incorrectly adjusted.

How to remove an unpleasant smell from the toilet bowl caused by improper operation of the tank? Most often, you just need to bend the float bar.

If problems with sewerage are caused by the deposition of salts and dirt in hard-to-reach places, then toilet bowl products will come to the rescue. For example, the well-known tool "Toilet Duck" with its unusual neck can "get" even into those parts of the toilet that are not visible to the eye, and clean them.

Prevention

Have you found out the cause of the unpleasant smell from the toilet bowl in the apartment? Take her away. Although, sometimes it is impossible to do it yourself. Therefore, to avoid many problems, it is better to follow simple preventive rules:

  1. Only toilet paper can be thrown into the toilet. In no case should you throw food waste, newspaper pages, and even more so rags!
  2. It is advisable to fix grilles on the drain holes, which will perform the filtering function. With their help, you can prevent foreign objects from entering the sewer.

Want to get rid of bad smells in your bathroom? You can help her on your own. Purchase a pipe cleaner and apply it as needed. And, of course, do not forget about compliance with the rules for the prevention of sewer clogging.

How to get rid of bad smell from the toilet How to get rid of bad smell from the toilet. Reasons for the appearance of a darling. Overview of elimination methods. Prevention of the appearance of stench.

How to clean a blockage in the sink with chemicals

If all of the above methods did not help, it's time to move on to household chemicals. The stores offer a wide range of all kinds of drugs and it is worth a little understanding of their line. It:

  • Acid.
  • Alkaline.
  • Liquid and gel.
  • Dry, loose.

What to pay attention to

  • Consider the material from which your pipes are made - not all products are suitable for all types, so always carefully study the instructions. Stop at universal ones, such as Mole.
  • Usually liquid products act more gently, by the way, they are more convenient to use.
  • The use of bulk presupposes undoubted compliance with the instructions, they almost always offer to pour boiling water over it, if you don’t do it, the powder can harden.
  • Always wear gloves, do not lean over the plumbing equipment, after adding the agent to it - a lot of heat is generated during the chemical reaction. In addition, the contents may splash out of the drain.

Using Chemicals to Clean Clogs

The most popular industrial substance is called "mole". the chemical agent KROT for cleaning sewers is a domestic preparation "Mole for pipe cleaning". Feedback from numerous buyers and the demand for such products on the market for many years confirm the excellent recommendations of this tool for cleaning sewers. This chemical preparation is available in the form of a powder, which is simply poured into the drain hole when the pipe is clogged.

If you haven't heard of it, trust me - it's much better than many imported counterparts, even though it's cheaper. Therefore, there is no point in paying for a foreign brand.

Note! When using Mole, precautions must be taken: protect hands with gloves and prevent powder from entering the respiratory tract

Wastewater treatment using the "mole" is carried out in the following order:

  1. Fill the drain hole with 50 to 150 milligrams of the substance.
  2. Then the "mole" remains inside the base for at least several hours (the indicated time is usually indicated on the label - depends on the composition and amount of these or these components in the liquid).
  3. After this time, the substance is washed with a large amount of running water.

In general, if the blockage consists of organic matter or rust, it should be dissolved after chemo.

Note! Please note that the mall is made by different manufacturers, which means that the operating instructions for each individual facility may vary slightly. Keep this in mind and be sure to read the terms of use of the purchased product so that you do not participate in any way.

Popular sewer cleaning chemicals

Wastewater treatment with "tiret"

The next most popular pipe cleaner is Tiret from a German manufacturer. This cleaner is a gel-like substance and is available in special containers in several versions: Tiret, Tiret-turbo and professional. Tiret can be used both to prevent blockages in sewer pipes and to eliminate other serious plumbing problems.

When Tiret gel enters the sewer, it spreads along the inner surface of the pipe, quickly neutralizing fat and other deposits.One of the advantages of this tool is its gentle effect on pipes, so it can be used to clean pipes of any condition and material of manufacture. Despite the rather high cost of Tiret-turbo, consumer reviews indicate the cost-effectiveness of its use, because. to eliminate blockage, a small amount of the drug is enough and it lasts for a long time.

Next, consider the method: how to clean a clog in the sink mechanically, which should be used if soda, vinegar, tiret, mole, and moth do not help.

Cleaning methods

Which of the cleaning methods to choose is determined by where the blockage occurred, what is its strength, the material of the pipes - and finally, the availability of the methods themselves. So, the thermal method is not suitable for many plastic pipes, and with thin-walled pipes it is better to be careful when using mechanical methods.

It is worth starting with them - they are simple, and in many cases effective. The first option is the most elementary - use a plunger. It is enough to draw a little water, and then apply this simple device. It helps only from a rather weak blockage located at the very drain hole - so it's best to get the plunger as soon as you notice that the water has become worse.

Read also:  Sewerage layout in a private house: drawing up a diagram and a project + stages of work

It is similar in principle to a plunger, but a pneumatic gun is more effective. But it also costs more, therefore it should be bought only in cases where local blockages near the drain often form in the plumbing system, which cannot be dealt with with a plunger.

You can fight fat plugs with boiling water.You need to gradually pour boiling water, and continue to do this even after it starts to flow well

This is important in order to properly wash off the fat - so you need to pour 7-8 liters of water

If the siphon is clogged, then you just need to unscrew it and clean it.

A plumbing cable is used for blockages away from the drain itself, when the previous methods considered are ineffective. It can be of different types depending on the parameters of the pipes. You will need to dismantle the mixer so that you can freely insert the cable into the pipe. It's flexible so it can take turns. When its tip reaches the blockage, it is necessary to rotate the cable properly until the cork is destroyed.

Why does the sewer become clogged and how can you clear the blockage with your own hands?

In especially difficult cases, when nothing else helps, it remains only to dismantle the sewer section, cut out the plug and restore the integrity of the pipes. But first you can try chemical cleaning methods. Sometimes they help with blockages that are too far away to reach even with a cable. But chemical agents will not be able to cope with scale and sand that have accumulated on the walls for years, as well as with rust. They are effective mainly against food debris and fatty plugs.

It is important to act in accordance with the instructions, otherwise chemicals can be dangerous. It is necessary to work in rubber gloves so that they do not get on the skin, it is also useful to protect your eyes with goggles

Most often used means with caustic soda. Before pouring them into the sewer, you need to remove stagnant water, for example, with a plunger. Caustic soda is good against fats, proteins, and salts, but can corrode plastic pipes. Another group of agents is based on hydrochloric acid and should not be used in copper pipes.

Different products should not be mixed, especially those where the active reagent is sodium hydroxide, with those based on hydrochloric acid. In this case, a reaction occurs, the solution foams and sprays in all directions.

After applying the product, it must be kept for some time; it can vary greatly, sometimes 20 minutes is enough, in other cases it takes a whole day - this is indicated in the instructions. When the time is up, the pipes must be thoroughly flushed. Chemicals should be used less frequently, as they have a negative effect on pipes, and in particular on gaskets and seals.

Biocompositions are also becoming more widespread: the bacteria contained in them fight blockages. They process organic matter, releasing water and carbon dioxide in the process, while being completely harmless to pipes. Their disadvantage is that the pipes cannot be used for several days (they must be blocked).

If mechanical and chemical methods have proven to be ineffective, you can also turn to automatic pipe blowing devices. It makes no sense to talk in detail about them: the installations are owned by teams specializing in sewer cleaning, and they will also carry out all the necessary operations.

Why does the sewer become clogged and how can you clear the blockage with your own hands?

Why do sink pipes get clogged?

Why does the sewer become clogged and how can you clear the blockage with your own hands?

Water should drain quickly and easily, but sometimes it stagnates in the sink.

Several reasons may contribute to this:

  • mistakes made during the installation of the drain system;
  • equipment malfunction;
  • clogging of the drain hole with small or large organic particles, represented by food residues, vegetable or fruit peels or small bones;
  • the use of pipes with a small diameter;
  • deposition on the walls of pipes of salts and other impurities contained in tap water or other liquids entering the system;
  • equipping the pipeline with bends;
  • destruction of metal elements by rust;
  • settling of fat on the walls of the siphon or water pipe;
  • twisting of the corrugation;
  • entry into the system of inorganic objects: rags, sponges, paper, plastic bags or other parts made of plastic and metal.

Effective Methods

How to break through the sink and at the same time clean the sewer pipe? There are many proven methods. The time of action, the price of special tools and the amount of effort expended are their main differences. So that you can choose the best method, I will present you the most effective.

Improvised means: 6 ways

In order to clean the pipe with high quality and at the same time not damage its structure, you should first resort to the simplest methods.

The instructions presented in the table will tell you how to clean the sink in the kitchen with improvised means:

Image Description
Method 1. Hot water Hot water flushing is suitable for plastic pipes. Turn on the maximum pressure of hot water for 10 minutes.
Method 2. Soda You can clean the drain with plenty of soda. Pour a pack of baking soda into the drain hole and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then drain some water.
Method 3. Salt A dense cork of fat and food waste can be removed with ordinary table salt.

Pour one large glass of salt into the drain and immediately pour the same amount of water.

Method 4. Soda + salt

  1. Mix a glass of soda and a glass of salt in a container.
  2. Add 2 cups of water and mix well.
  3. Drain the resulting mixture into a drain.
  4. Wait 15 minutes and flush the blockage in the pipe with running water.
Method 5. Soda + vinegar
  1. Pour a glass of baking soda into the drain.
  2. Pour 200 ml of vinegar on top.
  3. Plug the hole with a stopper and wait 20 minutes.
  4. Rinse with running water.
Method 6. Washing powder Pour 2 scoops of powder (example in the photo) into the drain and turn on the water supply for 5 minutes. The loose blockage will disappear.

Mechanical cleaning: 3 methods

Now let's find out how to clean the sewer in the kitchen with special plumbing tools:

Image Description
Tool 1. PlungerHow to use a plunger? The mechanism is quite simple:
  1. The drain hole is covered with a bowl of a plunger.
  2. Several pushes are made in the direction of the drain using the tool handle.
  3. The process is repeated 15–20 times.
  4. The plunger pulls up with effort.
Tool 2. Plumbing cable
  1. Push the cable through the drain as far as possible.
  2. At some stage, you will feel a seal in the pipe - this is a blockage.
  3. Start scrolling the cable in parallel by raising and lowering it.
  4. As soon as you feel that the cable is free to slide through the pipes, the plug is removed.
Tool 3. Wrench and screwdriver
  1. Place an empty bucket under the sink.
  2. Using a wrench, remove the siphon (either unscrew the manhole cover or unscrew the sump).
  3. With any oblong tool (in our case, a screwdriver), scrape off the accumulated fat and food debris from the siphon.
  4. Replace the siphon.

Chemical cleaning: 2 products

You can also clean the blockage with the help of aggressive household chemicals. Such funds are available in liquid and bulk form. Instructions on how to use them correctly:

Image Description
Remedy 1. Powder
  1. Pour all the powder into the drain.
  2. Leave on for 8-10 hours, preferably overnight.
  3. Drain some water and evaluate the result.
  4. Repeat if desired effect is not achieved.
Remedy 2: Clog Fluid
  1. Shake the contents of the container well.
  2. Pour about 250 ml of cleaner into the sink.
  3. Leave it like this for 4 hours.
  4. After a while, turn on the maximum water pressure for 5 minutes.
  5. If necessary, repeat the process from the beginning.

3 Use of chemicals

The action of chemicals is based on the fact that they corrode various deposits. This method is applied to plastic and cast iron pipes. It is recommended to carry out such cleaning for prevention once every 2-3 months.

Before using any chemicals to clean pipes at home, you should learn how to work safely with them.

Always remember the following precautions:

  1. It is necessary to prepare protective equipment: glasses, rubber gloves, a mask to protect the respiratory tract, which will help to avoid burns of the mucous membranes during chemical reactions.
  2. It is necessary to ventilate the room during the use of funds and after.
  3. Do not lean over the sink when a chemical reaction is taking place and gurgling is heard, this can be dangerous to your health.
  4. Do not use products with different chemical compositions at the same time.

It should be noted that using chemicals can damage aluminum pipes and sinks, since chemical reactions (most of them) can occur with the release of a large amount of heat. Therefore, before cleaning, you should carefully read the instructions to find out if this product is suitable for your sewer system.

Use of chemicals:

  1. Pour or pour a chemical agent that is used for its intended purpose into the drain hole.These can be gels, liquids, powders or granules.
  2. Pour in about 2 cups of water.
  3. Leave for 15 minutes
  4. Flush the sewer system with running water for 10-15 minutes.

Causes of clogging

Before proceeding directly to the topic of the article, I would like to understand the reasons for the formation of blockages. Because each of them requires a certain approach to itself. And if the reason is incorrectly determined, then the blockage will have to tinker for a long time.

With a kitchen sink, everything is clear. The causes of blockage can be small debris, which gradually accumulates in some place in the pipe. But garbage itself cannot do this. In order for it to begin to accumulate, sticky material is needed. Its role is usually performed by fats and oils. That is why all experts say that only installing a grease trap can prevent blockages in the sewer system.

Oil plugs can be dealt with in a variety of ways. It all depends on the thickness of the accumulated layer, in which garbage has already begun to collect. More on this later.

As for the sink and bathtub, as well as the shower stall, soap and hair are the causes of blockages in them. The most unpleasant type of clogging, because it can only be removed mechanically until the same hair is removed from the pipe. In addition, it should be noted that soap, combined with other debris, creates a very strong cork, which is not easy to get rid of.

Why does the sewer become clogged and how can you clear the blockage with your own hands?
Grease trap in the kitchen sewerage system

And the last plumbing fixture where a blockage can form. This is a toilet. True, problems are rare here, but it happens. Even a large piece of poor quality toilet paper can be the cause.But since the drain design of the toilet bowl has a diameter of at least 100 mm, the problem is solved quickly.

Start by cleaning your sink or sink drain

Most often, the drain in the kitchen or bathroom is clogged. It is there that there is a lot of fat and small debris (food leftovers, hair) for objective reasons. The sooner you start a "war" for the free passage of water, the better. And to get started, it’s worth applying a simple four-step instruction:

  1. Boiling water. If the pipes are steel or cast iron, then about 1 liter of boiling water should be poured into them. If plastic, then just run hot water from the tap in a small stream for about 20 minutes. This is the perfect way to dissolve a bar of soap that has fallen into the drain.
  2. Soda and salt. Pour ½ tbsp into a glass of water. salt and 1 tbsp. soda, mix well and pour into the drain. After 10–15 minutes, we clean it with a plunger or a rag folded into a dam lump.
  3. A vacuum cleaner. Quite an unusual move, but very effective. The only condition: the vacuum cleaner must have a blowing function. It is necessary to seal the vacuum cleaner pipe with a rag and insert it into the drain. When turned on, a strong air flow will push through the formed plug.
  4. Clean the siphon. To do this, remove it and, having cleaned it well of debris from the inside, rinse it with running water.

If the steps taken did not help, then the cork is already too dense, and it needs to be treated differently.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

A video showing in detail the procedure for cleaning and washing with your own hands the elements of the drain siphons under the bathroom, sink and kitchen sink:

The video talks about how to clean the sewer system with caustic soda:

A short video about the procedure for hydrodynamic flushing of the sewer system in the apartment:

The considered options for eliminating the causes of blockages in the sewage disposal system by flushing are the most effective. Their effectiveness and the ability to perform at home is confirmed in practice.

Knowledge of the above instructions and tips for the maintenance and prevention of sewage, as well as their observance, will help to avoid undesirable consequences, and will provide an opportunity to use plumbing equipment with comfort.

Rating
Website about plumbing

We advise you to read

Where to fill the powder in the washing machine and how much powder to pour