Bathroom renovation portal. Useful Tips

How to clean hair from a bath. How to clear a blockage in the bathroom: various methods and folk remedies

A blockage is a problem that sooner or later all the owners of both apartment buildings and country cottages face. But to solve a sudden misfortune, it is not always possible to attract a professional master.

Let's take a closer look at how to eliminate the blockage in the bathroom on our own and what measures to take in the future to prevent the problem,

Any blockage is formed due to violation of the established rules for the operation of the sewage system. In multi-storey buildings, the blockage can be local - within one apartment, or general, when the common sewer main is clogged.

The reason for the blockage of the pipe in the bathroom can be:

  • settling on the walls of mud lumps formed from particles of fine debris and hair;
  • layering of fatty deposits on pipes;
  • insufficiently consistent pipe slope at the installation stage;
  • deterioration of the sewer system as a whole.

Households can not always keep track of what is deposited on the drain grate. Animal hair, fabric fibers and long hair, together with the waste water, drain into the drain and get stuck in it.

If the fibers are not removed in time, then with the next portion of the drained water they descend into the sewer pipe, where they gradually lay down, forming a lump that delays the passage of water

The choice of the best way to eliminate local within the apartment depends on the size of the mud "plug". A general blockage will most likely have to be removed with the use of professional equipment.

Mechanical methods of elimination

The fight against clogging of the pipe passage channel should be started as soon as even a slight stagnation of water is detected. You can solve the problem using one of the methods described below. To achieve the maximum effect, it is worth trying to apply two approaches at once, carrying out mechanical and then dry cleaning.

Often, to combat the blockage, it is enough to perform simple manipulations, as in the example of removing the plug from a siphon with a semi-automatic overflow:

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Moidodyr, come back, or how to clear the blockage in the bathroom and sink

No one is immune from minor domestic troubles. Sewerage blockage is a problem that everyone faces sooner or later. This article is about how to unclog a bathroom, washbasin or kitchen sink.

Investigation

Dear reader, we are adults and we understand that any, even the simplest work requires a clearly formulated terms of reference. In our case, before starting to clear the blockage, you must:

  • If possible, find out what caused it. For example, sand and grease require a different approach;
  • Locate the blockage. Agree that it makes no sense to disassemble the siphon under the kitchen sink if the comb (intra-apartment sewer) in front of the tee or the sewer riser is clogged.

Cause

As a rule, it is not difficult to identify the cause by recalling your last actions before the sewer blockage and interviewing family members. Deduction, Mr. Watson: If the water from the bath stopped leaving after a very dirty dog \u200b\u200bor wet boots were washed in it, the reason is not difficult to guess.

In addition, there are typical causes of blockages:

  • Baths are dominated by hair, pet hair and thread... They are collected directly on the outlet grid;

  • The bath siphon is often clogged with the proverbial sand;
  • The kitchen sink is characterized by food waste and body fat.

The fat from the plates, which has settled on the walls of the sewer pipes, is the leading cause of blockages in general. As a rule, it is collected in sewer sections with a minimum slope and where hot water is actively cooling down, draining into the sink - in the sink knee and on the first meter of the comb from it.

Location

If the water does not leave only one plumbing fixture and at the same time the sewer pipe with the siphon elbow removed from it is not overflowing with drains - obviously the problem is outlet, knee or siphon... In the case of a bath, you will have to rely on circumstantial evidence - the work of the sink and sink is on. You will hardly want to crawl deep under the tub and detach its harness from the comb.

If the water drained into the sink or washbasin enters the bath through the outlet, while the toilet is functioning normally, it is clogged comb in front of the tee... If the toilet does not work either, while the drains of the apartments upstream of the riser do not enter your sewage system, it is clogged tee or cross behind the toilet... This can happen if you drop a rag or paper towel down the toilet.

Finally, if the water level in the bathtub and toilet rises even with the taps closed, there is blockage of the riser or bedding... Typically, a locksmith from your home service organization is called in to deal with them during the day and from the city emergency service at night. The work is done free of charge.

Captain Obviously, the water level on the top floor will not rise without your participation, even if the riser is clogged. Just because of the lack of neighbors from above.

Elimination

Sand

How to clear a blockage in a bathroom if its siphon is clogged with sand?

An ordinary plunger.

In the photo - an ordinary plunger. Price - 150 rubles.

  1. Put some water in the bath;
  2. Plug the overflow tightly with a damp cloth. If this is not done, the plunger will waste air between the outlet and overflow;
  3. Cover the outlet with a plunger and pump it with several strokes;
  4. Drain off large amounts of water to remove any remaining blockage.

What to do if the bathtub is clogged and you don't have a plunger?

Open the siphon for cleaning. In new straps, it is enough to unscrew one plastic cover for this, in old ones - remove the union nut connecting the outlet and the tubular siphon.

How to break through a blockage in a bathroom with an old-style cast iron trim? Obviously, it will not work to disassemble it for cleaning: after half a century of operation, it is not always possible to turn the outlet out of the cast-iron siphon even after annealing with a blowtorch.

Place the hose from the washing machine on the mixer and direct a strong stream of water into the outlet. The stream will easily pass through the metal grate and wash away the sand that has clogged the siphon.

Hair

How to remove hair that clogs the outlet grille?

Option 1:

Option 2:

  1. With continuous rotation, we feed a thin plumbing cable through the outlet grate;
  2. We take out and clean it from the coiled hair;
  3. Repeat it several times if necessary.

Option 3:

  1. We substitute a low basin or any dish of a suitable size under the bath siphon;
  2. We unscrew the release. The plastic grille is turned off with open pliers inserted into it, the metal one is removed after unscrewing the fixing screw in the center;

  1. We clean the outlet grate from hair, wool and threads;
  2. We put the release in place and check for leaks.

Food waste

What to do if the kitchen sink is clogged, while the rest of the plumbing fixtures are working properly?

Siphon cleaning

As a rule, small food waste is collected in the siphon sump. How do I remove them from there?

  1. We substitute a bucket or basin under the siphon, so as not to fill the floor or cabinet with foul-smelling drains;
  2. We unscrew the bottom of the siphon and carefully, so as not to lose the O-ring, shake out its contents;

  1. We collect the siphon and check it for leaks.

What to do if the gasket has lost its elasticity and after assembly the siphon leaks?

It is enough to wind up the thread on the siphon body. For winding, you can use FUM tape, ordinary electrical tape and even a strip of polyethylene cut off from an unnecessary bag.

Household chemicals

A severe blockage, in which the water does not leave at all, can often be cleaned with specialized sewage products. The most famous of them is the domestic Mole, a preparation based on sodium hypochlorite.

Mole - a means for clearing blockages.

How to use this remedy?

  1. Pour it into the sink outlet. Do not be too lazy to first scoop out water from it: a decrease in concentration reduces the effectiveness of the Mole;
  2. We are waiting for 1 - 3 hours;
  3. We wash the sewer with water.

Any chemicals can only help with organic blockages. They will not dissolve sand or debris in your drain. A mole and other means will be useless even with a large size of the fat plug in the pipes.

Handy chemicals

Instead of specialized drugs to combat blockages, you can use numerous improvised means - as long as they include acid or alkali in sufficient concentration.

Here are some examples of such substances:

  • Plain or caustic soda;

Caustic soda, it is also caustic soda NaOH.

  • Preparations for cleaning the sink from scale (Domestos, Sillite, etc.);
  • Battery electrolyte;
  • Hydrochloric and oxalic acids;
  • Citric acid sachets.

How to use these folk remedies? Just like specialized household chemicals: pour them into the sink drain and leave for several hours to dissolve the organic cork. Dry preparations are first diluted with water. Better - hot: this will dissolve the blockage faster.

Fat

What is the best way to clear the grease plug?

If the water leaves at least slowly, a simple instruction will help get rid of fat: open hot water and gradually increase its pressure... The water, however, must be really hot - at least 60C. In the summer, when the DHW temperature barely reaches 40 degrees, the method will not work.

A sewer comb, which is deadly clogged with fat, is pre-cleaned with a plumbing cable; then the remaining fat is again washed off with hot water.

Plumbing wire is another inexpensive and very useful tool.

How to unclog a blockage using a rope with your own hands?

It is more convenient to do this work together, with an assistant. One person pulls the cable to prevent it from folding in loops, and rotates the handle, the second feeds the cable into the sewer through the socket closest to the blockage. The cable runs through the fat plug with noticeable resistance.

Finally, the most versatile and effective way of dealing with fat plugs for owners of plastic sewers is to disassemble it and shake out the fat. In the same way, obstructions of the knee under the sink are eliminated.

Prevention

How to get rid of systematic blockages or at least reduce their number to a minimum?

  • Replace the cast iron drain with a plastic one... Its walls are not overgrown with deposits (except for fatty ones);
  • Eliminate counter-slopes... Any area with a negative slope is a place where debris will accumulate, gradually reducing the pipe clearance;
  • Put in sinks and tubs nets for issues... Hair, wool and small debris will remain on them, and not clog the drain;

  • Wash the dishes with the hottest water possible... I noticed for a long time that the peak in the number of blockages in the intra-apartment sewage system occurs in the summer, when the temperature of the hot water decreases;
  • If the layout of your apartment allows it, install a washing machine in the kitchen, at the maximum distance from the sewer riser. Each time hot water with dissolved powder is discharged, the machine will rinse the comb, removing the slightest traces of grease from it. Thanks to this simple recipe for 8 years of life in my previous apartment, I have never encountered a blockage.

Not only sewage

It is not only the sewer pipe that can get clogged. This problem also concerns the water supply system. What can be done if the pressure of cold or hot water suddenly drops?

Often it is possible to clear the blockage without using a tool and without leaving the apartment:

  1. Unscrew the aerator from the mixer gander (spout). It includes a filter - several small stainless steel meshes, which are easily clogged after water outages. From six to eight grids, one or two can be left. The plastic aerator itself is cleaned of sand and scale with a pin or a sharpened match;

  1. If the pressure drops on one of the faucets (in the bathroom or in the kitchen), the second is working normally - turn off the valve at the entrance to the apartment on the water with which there are problems. Then open the appropriate water tap on the mixer at normal pressure. Plug the jumper of the faulty mixer with your finger and open both taps or lift the pressure adjustment lever.

With a high probability, the debris from the constriction of the water supply system will be washed out by the thus created backflow of water and carried away into the sewer.

Conclusion

I hope that my experience will help the dear reader in the fight against minor everyday troubles. To learn more about how you can clear a blockage in the bathroom, the video in this article will help. I look forward to your additions and comments. Good luck, comrades!

Many people have to deal with such a problem as a blockage in the bathroom. Contamination can appear even if the bathtub is very clean, because there are many reasons for such situations. Of course, neat owners have to deal with blockages much less often, but they should also know how to most effectively clean pipes at home. This article discusses the most popular methods for getting rid of heavy and minor dirt.

Causes of occurrence

If not cleaned regularly, contamination in the sewer pipe can cause serious problems with your plumbing. When the drain is clogged, the water does not go well, it stands, and the dirt ends up in the bath. It becomes very unpleasant to take water procedures.

Among the most common causes of blockages, there are several.

  • Dead skin cells and hair adhere to the walls. If left untreated, dirt builds up over time and clogs the drain hole.

  • The bath becomes dirty due to regular water procedures, frequent washings. Traces of soap remain on the walls, which accumulate over time, although the water itself ends up in the sewer.
  • Prolonged lack of proper care can lead to the formation of limescale. You may not notice the appearance of such a blockage for a long time until the situation becomes too serious. Dirty pipes must be cleaned monthly, otherwise they can become unusable over time.
  • If the sewer is often clogged, it is possible that its installation was carried out incorrectly. Contamination can quickly accumulate if the slope is very low.

  • When installing the pipeline, you need to ensure that there are not too many bends. They can collect sand, grease, hair and other contaminants.
  • Avoid choosing a pipe that is too narrow. Dirt in such elements accumulates much faster.

Having figured out what exactly caused the pollution, you can decide how best to eliminate it. If you think that you cannot deal with the problem on your own, you can seek help from a specialist. However, many people prefer to do their own cleaning, keeping their budget. There is nothing difficult in such work. You just need to understand some of the nuances in order to choose the best remedy.

Remedies

A pipe that is clogged can be cleaned by mechanical, chemical or traditional methods. Many people prefer to combine these methods to improve cleaning efficiency. Let's consider the main features of each method.

Mechanical

Among the most common mechanical methods for cleaning sewer pipes in a bathroom, one can single out the use of a cable, a plunger or a vacuum cleaner. If everything is done correctly, it is quite easy to "break through" the blockage.

Ventuz

Many people prefer to use a plunger to get rid of blockages, so this simple device is available in many apartments. It is a flexible rubber product with a long, straight handle. The rubber element is used as a suction cup. The plunger is well suited for cleaning a wide variety of drain holes.

When going to remove dirt that has gotten into the drain hole, you need to consider several points.

  • When using a plunger, do not use additional chemicals. Chemicals can spill onto skin or clothing and cause burns.
  • Before using such a device, moisten its base with water.

Place the plunger over the drain hole. Make sure it is completely covered by the rubber cup. Place the handle vertically. In order for the plunger to suck well, you need to press on it.

Move the device, then remove it and evaluate the result. If the bathtub is very clogged, repeat the procedure. If you clean the drain and remove the blockage, you should rinse the device with hot water to remove the remaining dirt.

Cable

The pipe can be effectively cleaned using a sanitary wire. You can use this device if the plunger fails. You can create a plumbing cable yourself. To do this, straighten the wire hanger and bend it at the end, making a small hook. With this tool, you can easily remove stuck hair.

Use the wire rope as recommended by a professional.

  • Carefully insert the fixture into the drain hole. In this case, it must be rotated.
  • When the cable is at its maximum possible depth, turn it several times and remove it.
  • Hair and other debris will be at the end of the cable. Continue until the dirt is completely removed. Then you will need to turn on hot water.

Vacuum cleaner

Some people use a vacuum cleaner to clean. Such a device is very convenient to use.

To remove the blockage, the vacuum cleaner is used in a certain way.

  • Take the rubber nozzle from the plunger and attach it with electrical tape to the pipe of the vacuum cleaner. Then the product can be cleaned of glue using alcohol.
  • Remove the garbage bag from the vacuum cleaner and connect a hose with a pipe to the blow hole.
  • Turn on the vacuum cleaner and start cleaning the drain.

Chemical

When using chemicals, rubber gloves should be worn to protect the skin of the hands. You should also protect your face with special glasses and a respirator.

Several products work well for pipe cleaning.

  • Domestos. This tool can be called one of the most popular, because cleaning with it is very fast and convenient. In the evening, pour it into the pipes (10 caps will be enough) and wait until morning. You should not use the bathroom at night, so inform all family members in advance about the procedure. When cleaning is complete, flush the pipes with water (it must be hot).

  • "Mole".It is very effective in dissolving hair and other impurities. The whole procedure will need to be spent about an hour and a half. Pour in liquid, wait (how much is usually written in the instructions). Then open the tap and rinse the drain with hot water.
  • Tiret.Quite an effective remedy, but usually one package is enough for only two procedures. Fill with Tiret and wait a few minutes (if the contamination is strong, you can wait about half an hour). Then rinse off with water. Tiret should not be used with acids, otherwise the respiratory tract can be severely damaged.

  • Mr Muscle.This product is suitable for a wide variety of pipes. It is granular, but it can also damage the skin, so rubber gloves must be used. Add the product and wait about 30 minutes. Mr Muscle will remove not only dirt, but also harmful microorganisms. It also effectively removes unpleasant odors. After using Mr Muscle, fill the drain with hot water.
  • Sky.This tool can be called universal. It dissolves hair, removes soap residues, destroys harmful microorganisms. The product is sold in a sachet.

Pour the substance into the drain and wait about 15 minutes. Then rinse it off with plain water. Remove Sky with utmost care.

Chemicals are quite effective. However, if you suffer from asthma, for example, it is better to prefer some other method of cleaning the drain. One option is to use folk remedies.

Folk

With the help of folk remedies, you can clean the drain quite effectively. You just need to know how to use them correctly. Let's consider the most popular options.

Soda

You can use baking soda in a variety of ways. However, in any case, it should be borne in mind that when using such a product, there should be no water in the bathroom.

You need to use soda like this:

  • Wear safety glasses and rubber gloves. The use of caustic soda can cause chemical burns. Pour about 2 liters of water into the bucket. Pour caustic soda into it (3 cups are enough for cleaning). Take an old wooden spoon and mix thoroughly. When you hear a hissing sound, pour the resulting liquid into the drain hole. Then you need to wait about half an hour and rinse the drain with hot water. If it does not clear the first time, you can repeat the procedure.

  • The next method also produces good results. Mix baking soda (use half a glass) and table salt (half a glass will also do). Wait about 20 minutes and top up with boiling liquid. The result of a chemical reaction is a product that effectively dissolves the dirt.

Vinegar and baking soda are gentle agents that do not damage plastic pipes.Pour boiling water into the drain hole. Pour baking soda halfway into a glass and push it down the drain. Wait a few minutes, then pour a cup of boiling water and the same amount of vinegar. When the hissing sounds are heard, the cleaning process begins.

When about 20 minutes have passed, you will need to pour a kettle of hot water into the drain. This will wash away the dirt weakened with this product.

Boiling water

There are no restrictions on the use of such a tool; with the help of boiling water, the drain can be cleaned daily. However, it will not help if the pollution is very strong. Water must be poured into the drain hole several times. The hot liquid acts for a few seconds.

Dishwashing liquid

With these tools, you can remove fat quite effectively.

They should be used as follows:

  • pour boiling water into the hole;
  • add a quarter cup of dishwashing liquid;
  • after 20 minutes, refill the liquid (it should also be boiling);
  • wait 30 minutes and turn on hot water to thoroughly rinse the drain.

Together with such a tool, you can use a plunger. This cleaning will be more effective.

Sulphuric acid

Some people use this remedy if the contamination is very strong. However, it should be borne in mind that the acid is quite aggressive. Plumbers argue that this tool is not always effective, and it can also destroy sewer pipes.

The bathroom is one of the most visited places in the house. Continuous washing leads to the accumulation of a large amount of hair and other organic waste inside the drain. As a result, a strong blockage is formed, and the water does not leave, and in the future, an unpleasant odor from the drain may appear. You can clear a blockage in the bathroom using simple tools.

At home, a plunger will help to cope with a clogged blockage in the bathroom. In order to avoid an air passage, it is necessary to close the upper water drainage hole with a plug or rag. Vaseline or any greasy cream will help to ensure a tighter fit of the plunger to the rim of the toilet. Then you need to put the plunger on the drain hole and begin to vigorously and abruptly drive out the dirt in order to get rid of them.

If the use of the previous method did not bring any results, then you can proceed as follows. For more effective protection against blockages, it is necessary to fill the bath with water exactly one third. Using a plunger, pump it into the pipeline and pull it out. At the same time, movements should be sharp. It is necessary to continue a similar procedure until it is possible to completely pierce the drain hole in the pipe from contamination.

Mechanical cleaning with a rope

What to do in a situation when boiling water in combination with a plunger cannot cope with blockages in the sewer? In this case, the surest way would be a cable. Care should be taken, since such a device can easily damage plastic pipes, and they will leak.

To make your own cable, you need a flexible metal wire. Then one end of the cable must be bent to form a small hook. It will be convenient for them to catch the debris stuck in the drain hole and pull it out. As for the second end, then a piece of fabric should be tied to it, making a handle.

It is necessary to carefully tuck the cable inside the drain pipe and try to push through the accumulated dirt. For better cleaning, you can turn the tool clockwise. Then you need to pull out the cable with the remaining debris.

To flush out the blockage completely, you need to flush the drain with a strong stream of boiling water from a shower or tap. This method is one of the most effective today. This is what most plumbers use.

Soda for small blockages

Soda in combination with baking soda will help to cope with a small blockage in the bath without a plunger. For this:

  • pour 125 mg of each product into the drain hole;
  • pour soda and salt with 3 cups boiling water;
  • do not use the bathroom for 7 hours;
  • after this time, the drain should be rinsed with hot water.

One of the most popular ways to remove debris from the drain with handy tools is to use baking soda and vinegar. These components react with each other and effectively remove the blockage. For such a procedure, you will need acetic acid 70% (200 ml) and 3 tbsp. l. soda.

Be careful when handling vinegar as it is very easy to get a chemical burn. Soda is poured into the drain and poured with acetic acid. Then you should wait 40-50 minutes and gently clean the drain with boiling water until the foam from the soda and vinegar disappears completely. It should be remembered that this method will only help to destroy organic waste. If the bathtub is clogged and needs to be cleaned of inorganic contaminants, then it is best to use a cable, plunger or store-bought preparations.

Other effective ways

If the tub is not too clogged, you can use lemon. To do this, squeeze the juice from three medium citrus fruits into the drain and wait 40-60 minutes. To get more juice, you can pre-hold the lemons in boiling water. After that, you need to spill the drain with very hot water. Thanks to this method, not only the debris in the bath is eliminated, but also the unpleasant odor.

Video - proven cleaning methods:

You can remove dirt in the drain hole with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a backflush function. The action of this method is based on the use of a strong air pressure. Experts do not recommend using this method, as water can get into the vacuum cleaner. If you do decide to remove the blockage in the tub using this method, you should wipe the rim of the drain hole dry. Then attach the vacuum cleaner tube, previously wrapped with a rag, to the drain and turn on the backflow.

What if traditional methods do not help?

Chemicals sold at hardware stores can help you quickly and effectively remove clogged debris. They are designed to remove organic contaminants (hair, pet hair, food residues, etc.). They resort to their help when it is impossible to cope with a clogged bathroom with folk remedies.

In what form is the best way to purchase household chemicals? Despite the fact that these drugs are sold in the form of foams, powders, gels and granules, they all have almost the same composition.

Cleaning clogged sewer pipes in the bathroom with KROT cleaning agent - video:

The following tips will help you clean up a heavily soiled pipe:

  • it is very important to read the instructions before using chemical clogging solvents;
  • experts recommend choosing solvents in order to remove blockages by the nature of the pipe (for example, plastic or cast iron);
  • both powder and liquid preparations have the same effectiveness, therefore it does not matter which type of preparation will be used to clear a strong blockage in the bathroom;
  • clogging solvents in liquid form are immediately poured into the drain, and granules or powders are poured, and then boiling water is poured into them;
  • after the drug has run out of the time allotted for it by the instructions, you need to thoroughly rinse the drain with a stream of hot water.

It is also very important to wear rubber protective gloves when handling such chemicals.

Measures to prevent contamination in the bath

In order to prevent contamination in the drain of the sink or bathtub, it is necessary to devote time to preventive procedures. Their implementation does not require much time, and the tools that need to be used will be found in every home.

So that the water pipes are not contaminated with waste, and there is no situation when water does not go well, it is necessary to close the drain holes with special nets for protection. This device will help to minimize food particles and other organic waste entering the drain.

  1. The accumulated garbage should be dissolved at least once a month. This even applies to situations when the blockages are not too large and water flows freely into the sewer. This procedure will prevent the formation of traffic jams. It can be carried out using the tools sold in the store (Mole, Tiret Turbo, etc.).
  2. Replacing such chemicals can be a regular laundry powder. To prevent blockages, it is necessary to close the drain holes of the bathtub and sinks every 4–5 months. After that, pour in a handful of powder and cover with very hot water. Remove the plugs after 5 minutes. This method will also help get rid of the unpleasant odor from the plum.
  3. To prevent blockages from appearing for a long time, you can spill the drain hole with boiling water from the kettle. This procedure should be carried out within 2-3 minutes.

It is also very important to remove any hair that has entered the drain after every shower.