How to clean the sewer pipe

As the water supply system in its fundamental sense reached our days practically without changes, so the problem of blockages got to our days. In this regard, it will be very useful to have information on how to clean the sewer pipe.

Types of blockages

Analyzing this problem, for a start it is worth saying that according to the methods of occurrence and the structure of the blockage that forms in sewage pipes, it can be divided into several types:

1. Occur as a result of the operation of the sewer system,
2. Are formed as a result of improper operation of the sewer system,
3. Arise in the siphon: the siphon is located under the sink, its design includes a grid and a sump, which are most often the cause of blockages,
4. Appear as a result of improper sewer design.

Ideally, depending on the type of blockage, methods and means of its elimination should be chosen. Before you begin to eliminate the blockage, it is recommended to find out what kind of pipes used in the manufacture of sewage systems. The fact is that previously only pipes made of metal were used, and today it is possible to use various materials, mainly on a plastic base.

In addition to the above, it would be nice to try to determine the approximate location of the blockage. This refers to the simple method - you need to look into all the elements of plumbing, that is, sink, bathtub and toilet. If the water does not escape only in one of them, then a particular part of the sewer system is clogged, and if the problem is observed at once in all plumbing elements, then you can be almost sure that the main drain pipe, better known as the riser, is blocked. In this case, it is recommended not to take any measures, but to immediately seek qualified assistance. In principle, in order to avoid misunderstanding, you can always resort to the help of plumbers, however, if it is not the main pipe that is blocked, then it is quite possible to eliminate the blockage in the sewage system on your own.

Methods to eliminate blockages

So, if the decision is made in favor of rejecting the services of a professional plumber, then it is worthwhile to determine the main options for eliminating blockages.

1. Special chemicals.
2. The use of mechanical devices and tools.
3. The use of special technical devices.
4. The struggle of folk remedies.
5. The combined use of various methods.

Let's talk about each of the methods in more detail.

Chemistry

When using special chemical cleaners, you must first read the instructions on the packaging. As a rule, the tool is simply poured into the sink or another element of the plumbing, and after some time the active ingredients that make up the tool eliminate the blockage. It remains only to flush the pipe with water. However, we must remember that this method is not effective in the mechanical form of blockage.

Vantuz

If there is a mechanical clogging of the pipe, namely, the ingress of a foreign object into the system, and the use of chemical compounds does not bring results, it makes sense to use technical devices. For example, the use of the well-known plunger can be quite effective. Perhaps the description of the principles of its use can hardly be considered necessary, suffice it to say that the effectiveness of this method has been proven over decades of its use.

Plumbing cable

If the plunger does not help either, then you can resort to a more radical method of cleaning the blockage, namely the use of special plumbing wire. For this, the siphon located under the sink is removed (it will not be flushed out of it), as a result, you can access the sewer pipe directly. Next, the cable is inserted into the pipe and with continuous twisting pushed into the depths. Usually this process takes place without much effort until the rope rests on the clog itself. To eliminate it, it is necessary, without stopping the rotational movements, to move the cable further, thereby mechanically destroying the blockage. After this happens, the pipe must be flushed with running water. This is done to remove blockage residues from the pipe walls. When using this method, it is necessary to take into account that plastic pipes, due to their smoothness, are not prone to clogging, and the cable can scratch them and, therefore, create additional conditions for further blockages. Therefore it is necessary to exercise maximum caution.

Electrocompressor

If, however, when removing the blockage, there is also a desire to preserve the pipe intact, then the use of special technical devices, such as electro-compressors, seems quite appropriate. In order to clean the sewer pipes in the home using this method, you must first plug all sewage holes except cleaned with plugs or other means. Next, the hose connected to the compressor is inserted into the pipe and, if possible, sealed with special adapters. The compressor turns on. It feeds water into the pipe under pressure and simply pushes the blockage into the central pipe. The method is good because with sufficient efficiency does not harm the pipes.

Soda and Vinegar

One of the specific features inherent in the Russian person, no doubt, is ingenuity. And the presence of this quality is nowhere seen in methods of dealing with blockages of sewage pipes. One of the most famous of these is flushing the pipe with hot water. A bucket of hot water is simply poured into the clogged pipe and if the blockage is not too serious, it will soon collapse. Also another popular method of combating pipe clogging, namely the use of soda, was also widely spread. Rather than one soda, and its combination with acetic acid. First, soda is poured into the pipe, then vinegar is poured. The resulting chemical reaction quite effectively relieves the pipe of blockages caused by the layering of fat deposits on the walls of the pipes. It is appropriate to combat blockages of sewage pipes in the kitchen. This method should also be used in other cases if plastic pipes are used in the sewer system.

Alteration of sewer system

Well, it is also worth saying that if blockages of the same pipe arise with regularity, this means that there is an error in the design of the entire system. And then there are two choices, as mentioned in one famous film, the “red and blue pill”. That is, you can put up with the reality and periodically clean the blockage, or go to extreme measures and change the design of the sewage system. And to be honest, the second option only seems impracticable and difficult. Usually we are talking only about replacing the pipe with a version with a larger diameter or changing its angle of inclination. By the way, you can always get around the complexity and invite plumbing.

In conclusion, it should be said that blockages of sewage pipes are a rather unpleasant problem, but quite solvable. Depending on the type of clogging and the material used to make the pipes, you can choose the most appropriate way to eliminate the clog.

Tip! The compression method is preferable to the others, since it is both efficient and safe, but at the same time it requires additional costs for specialized equipment or the services of professionals.

At the same time, plumbing cable is an effective and cheap tool, but it can damage the walls of pipes, which will cause additional problems. In general, here, as in the rest, there is always a downside. However, one must remember that preventing a problem is always more preferable than dealing with its consequences.

Tip! About once a month it is worthwhile to carry out preventive washing of sewage pipes with the use of cleaning agents. This will minimize the risk of blockages and eliminate problems.

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