Obstructed Drainage – What a Pain!.
Obstructed Drainage – What a Pain!.
At the end of a tough day’s work, you get into the shower and enjoy the buzz of hot water on your face and then,suddenly your toes seem to go under water too – Oh no, the drainpipe is stopped once again!. A clogged drainpipe, quite disgusting and a sign of problems to come!. Or you’re in front of the toilet sink, brushing your teeth and before you know it – the sink is halfway full. Everyone hates clogged up drainage because they not only create problems but are also unhygienic and can create a mess. However, most household bathrooms will experience a clogged drain pipe at some time and one time or another. The best course of action for you is to be prepared to deal with it by learning how to unblock bathroom drainage.
Why do drains get clogged, what is the underlying cause?.
Hair, dust and other particles getting stuck in the space between the drain pipe and the pipes are the main cause. Everyday products like soaps, shampoos, detergents and so on add to the problem by building up around the solid material. Eventually this will become more and more dense and this is what prevents your water running uninhibited through your drain. If your sink or tub fills up fast with water while it should have drained out quickly, you could be in for a serious case of stopped pipes.
Some effective ways to unclog your bathroom drainpipe are listed below.
If you’re facing a stopped bathroom sink or bath drainpipe problem, there are a couple of different things you can do to get things flowing smoothly again. The first thing you will have to do is take out the plug of the blocked sink or drain pipe. With a bathroom sink this can be as easy as pulling it right out or as complicated a problem as looking under the sink and removing the nut that holds it in place. In case of bathtub drain pipe, you can either remove the overflow plate or unscrew the stopper.
It is important to remove the plug because only then you can view the things that are clogging the drainpipe inside the drains pipe. Those greasy lumps of entangled hair and residue can be seen sticking to the sides and corners of the drain pipe. Try to pull it out, as much as you can. If the debris is further down than your hand can reach, push in a bent wire or coat hanger and coax the clumps out. This step of removing the residual clumps will remove the local blockage at your drain pipe point.
However, there is a chance that you will not be able to reach the blockage with the wire so you will have to try something else. The most practical way to clean such deep-seated blockages is a drainpipe plunger. Begin by covering the overflow drain pipe with a wet towel so as to create a stronger suction from the plunger. Now position the plunger exactly over and around the drain pipe hole and push it rapidly up and down with short quick movements. When you finally release the plunger, any trapped water should immediately be drained.
If the plunger also fails to clean your bathroom drain, then you should take the help of chemical drainpipe cleaner. It should be noted that chemical drain cleaners should only be used as a final solution as the chemicals are harmful and could damage your bathroom fixtures and sanitary fittings.
You can always take expert help if this concerns you.
If after trying the various do-it-yourself methods you are still unable to unblock your drainpipe, it is a good idea to call your local trusted plumber for some help. Plumbers are equipped with tools that can remove clogs with great speed and efficiency. Calling in a plumber does cost money, but you can then rest assured that your drainage are completely cleared and will not hassle you in the near future, a good plumber will also clean up any mess created as a bonus.