Every housewife, no matter how good she is, sooner or later encounters an unpleasant phenomenon: a clogged sewer pipe. How to clean sewer pipes at home, what methods of quickly and efficiently getting rid of a blockage in a pipe exist, and which of them are most effective? This article is devoted to an overview of the most effective chemicals, as well as alternative methods for solving the problem of cleaning sewer pipes.
A plumbing cable will help you quickly and efficiently get rid of blockages in the pipe
Content
Causes and signs of a clogged sewer pipe
The following signs are evidence of the need to clean the sewer in the house:
- the speed of draining water in the sink in the kitchen or bathroom noticeably slows down or stops altogether;
- the drain hole gives off an unpleasant odor.
Unfortunately, even a fine mesh on the drain hole does not guarantee that grease and food debris from dishes when washing dishes, hair or animal hair when bathing, will not get into the sewer pipe. In addition, the pipe itself also accumulates rust and mineral deposits from the water, which, when combined with household waste, form a "plug" - a blockage that can stop the drainage flows.
Household waste that forms a plug can stop drainage flows
Slower drainage of water in the sink or bathtub, or the appearance of an unpleasant smell from the drain hole, means that the sewer pipe is clogged with grease, food debris and other small household waste and needs urgent cleaning. Otherwise, this can lead to a serious problem in the sewer pipe, when it will no longer be possible to clean it without the help of a professional plumber. Displacement or freezing of the soil can also be the reasons for clogging the sewer in a private house.
What is the most effective way to clean sewer pipes at home?
To answer the question of how to clean the sewer pipe on your own in the most effective way, it is necessary to take into account the place and degree of pipe clogging, as well as the material of its manufacture.
Today, the most popular methods for cleaning sewers at home are as follows:
- chemical cleaning of drain pipes using special preparations;
- mechanical method of cleaning with a plunger or plumbing cable;
- home remedies for cleaning the drain pipe.
Drain plug siphon - sectional view
As for the differences in sewage cleaning in an apartment and in a private house, the choice of a solution to this problem is approximately the same here. However, in a private house there is also the possibility of cleaning pipes outside the house - provided there is a sewerage plan.
Sewer cleaning chemicals
The modern chemical industry offers a variety of special products that give a quick and high-quality sewer cleaning result. The advantage of this method is the high efficiency of the drugs and the convenience of their use. Among the most popular chemicals that have received good reviews are Mole, Domestos, Tiret and Tiret turbo, as well as Mister Muscle and others.
Popular chemicals for sewer cleaning
Chemicals come in the form of powders, gels, and liquids. The action of the various preparations is almost identical and is based on dissolving deposits on pipes or hardened blockages. Chemicals are easy to use because to use them, you just need to pour or pour the contents of the container into the drain hole, wait for a while and rinse with plenty of water into the sewer pipe.
Helpful advice! INCarefully read the instructions for use of the chemical, since certain preparations are not used for all types of sewer pipes. Having aggressive properties, chemicals can negatively affect the coating composition of some pipes, for example, plastic ones, causing destruction of the material of manufacture.
Cleaning scheme for clogged pipes under the washbasin
Below we will consider the most popular chemical remedies for removing blockages in a pipe.
Pipe cleaning mole
The most popular chemical agent for sewage cleaning is the domestic drug "Mole for Pipe Cleaning". Reviews of numerous buyers and the demand for such products in the market for many years confirm the excellent recommendations of this tool for cleaning the sewage system. This chemical is available in powder form, which is simply poured into the drain hole when the pipe is clogged.
Important! When using the drug Mole, you must observe precautions: protect your hands with gloves and do not allow the powder to enter the respiratory tract.
The plunger is the easiest method for cleaning the sewer
The mole has the strongest corrosive properties and copes well with fatty deposits on pipes. However, it should be borne in mind that the composition of the active substance of the Mole preparation has increased aggressiveness and is suitable only for metal and metal-plastic pipes. On various trading platforms, the Mole preparation is presented in several versions: Mole-turbo, Mole-asset and Mole-professional. The strongest action is possessed by the means "professional" and "asset".
Tiret
The second 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.
Plumbing rope is one of the methods of mechanical pipe cleaning
When Tiret gel gets into 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, sinceto eliminate the blockage, a small amount of the drug is enough and it lasts for a long time.
Related article:
Sink food waste disposer: what it is and why is it needed in the kitchen. Installation and operation rules. Main characteristics and parameters of chopper selection, manufacturers overview.
Mechanical methods for removing blockage in a sewer pipe
Methods of "ambulance" cleaning the sewer in case of clogging - include mechanical methods of removing the plug using a plunger and plumbing cable.
Ventuz
The simplest option for mechanical cleaning of the pipe from the "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 the blockage, especially if the problem is not long-standing. Every housewife should have a plunger at hand, so that at the first signs of a clogged sewer pipe, you can easily and quickly deal with this problem.
Removing blockages in the washbasin drain pipe with the REMS Pull-Push plunger
To use the plunger, you must fill sink or a bath with water, then put the plunger on the drain hole and press and pull the handle several times. The water and air in the pipe are "sucked in" and flow upward, dragging out debris particles. After that, it is necessary to collect all the dirt that came from the drain hole and repeat the procedure. 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. the blockage has been removed.
Plumbing cable
If the pipe clogging is caused by large pieces of household waste getting stuck or a serious plug of grease and dirt, then the plunger may not be able to clean the drain. In this case, it is advisable to use a more effective device - a plumbing cable for cleaning the sewer. The cable is a flexible metal steel wire with a cross section of about 3-4 mm with a handle at the end. This plumbing assistant can be purchased at specialized plumbing stores.
Wire rope cleaning is an effective way to remove blockages
The technology for using a plumbing cable for cleaning a sewer pipe is as follows:
- take off siphon for access to the sewer;
- roll up the plumbing cable into a ring and stick the end of the cable inside the sewer pipe;
- turn the cable handle, gradually pushing it further into the pipe;
- periodically remove the cable from the pipe, cleaning it from dirt and debris;
- repeat the procedure several times.
Plumbing cable for cleaning the sewer system
Important! After using a plumbing cable to clean the sewer pipe, it is necessary to flush the sewer well with plenty of hot water, preferably boiling water.
Home remedies for drain pipe cleaning
Many families, especially those with small children, are wary of using harsh chemicals to clean sewer pipes and choose to use a variety of safe home remedies. Indeed, there are too many chemicals around us in everyday life, so if it is possible to replace household chemicals with safe home remedies, it is quite appropriate to use them. An alternative to household chemicals used for cleaning sewer is regular baking soda and vinegar. The advantage of this method of eliminating blockages in the pipe is its safety, low cost and ease of use. How do you clean a sewer pipe using these simple tools?
Baking soda and vinegar are the most economical remedies for cleaning clogged pipes.
As you know, soda is an alkali, and vinegar is an acid. The reaction that occurs when acid and alkali combine is accompanied by rapid heating and the release of carbon dioxide.This "volcanic kit" perfectly dissolves debris, dirt and grease accumulated in the sewer pipe. It is convenient that all the necessary components: soda, vinegar and boiling water, are completely accessible and are available in every home. Moreover, despite the obvious cost-effectiveness of this method, it is quite effective.
Thus, if an unexpected blockage occurs, there is no need to run to the store in search of the necessary chemical, you just need to pour half a pack of dry soda into the drain hole and pour half a bottle of ordinary white vinegar there (you can slightly heat it to improve the process). Then you need to close the drain hole with a rag and wait about 30 minutes to 2 hours. The resulting violent reaction will tell you that the process is going in the right direction. Then the rags are removed and about 3 liters of freshly boiled water are poured into the sewer pipe. Dissolved dirt and debris will go down the drain and the pipes will be completely clean.
The principle of cleaning a sewer pipe using a cable
Mixed method of sewage cleaning
This recipe assumes the use of a mechanical method of clearing the blockage in the pipe together with home remedies. With this option, the following sequence of actions is required:
- clean the drain from debris and dirt;
- pour 1 liter of boiling water into the sewer pipe;
- wait about 15 minutes;
- apply a plunger;
- pour 1 glass of baking soda into the drain and pour boiling water in a 1: 3 ratio.
Soda not only cleans the sewerage system from fat deposits, but also disinfects the pipe, eliminating unpleasant odors.
With the help of a plunger, you can easily deal with any plugs and blockages in the pipe
Helpful advice! This method of cleaning a pipe at home can also be used for prophylaxis, from time to time carrying out a procedure that helps prevent more serious clogging of the sewer.
As you can see, in order to eliminate the blockage in the sewer pipe at home, there is no need to call an expensive plumber. With the help of the available and reliable recipes described above, it is quite possible to get by on your own.
