It will not be a secret for anyone that special care is needed for plumbing in a living room. Otherwise, it may just go bad. Surely every person faced the problem of a clogged sink. This is quite natural, because during the operation of plumbing equipment, various human vital products get in it every now and then, which impede the normal flow of water. Faced with this, most people immediately call plumbing. However, specialist assistance is not necessary at all, since there are many options for solving the problem. Let's look at how to remove garbage in the sink at home in various ways. Following the instructions given, you can quickly and easily return it to operation.
Causes of pipe clogging
This aspect should be given special attention. Before we talk about how to remove clogging in the sink, let's first understand why it clogs. Among the most common causes are the following:
- The formation of plaque on the inner walls of the pipe, reducing its diameter.
- Food or other foreign objects entering the sink.
- Mechanical damage to communications, as a result of which a normal drain is disrupted.
- Failure to observe the correct angle when installing the equipment.
Regardless of the cause of the problem, the methods for solving it are the same. Next, each of them will be examined in detail.
Cleaning Methods
So, how to remove blockage in the sink at home? The solution to the problem depends largely on the cause. If the installation of the equipment was not performed correctly, then you need to redo everything with the correct angle. If the pipe is clogged, then you can clean it in one of the following ways:
- mechanical (plunger or plumbing cable);
- soda and vinegar;
- household chemicals;
- hydraulic pump;
- folk remedies.
Each method is effective in its own way, but has its own nuances. Let's take a closer look at each of them.
Preparatory stage
What is he like? Before starting work, it is necessary to remove from the sink all objects that may interfere. After that, remove the filter screen and clean it. The floor should be covered with unnecessary rags, since dirty water with garbage can pour from the siphon and fill everything around. To make it easier to deal with clogging, the sink is pre-filled with boiling water. It will soften organic formations, and they will be much better succumbed to elimination.
Clogging a sink with a plunger
Many people are interested in the question of how to quickly remove blockage in the sink. If it is not too old, then you can try to clean the pipe with a plunger. What is the peculiarity of this method?
The procedure is as follows:
- The appliance is attached to the drain hole.
- Rhythmic up and down movements are made, allowing you to create a kind of hydraulic shock.
- The more active the movement, the more debris will come out of the pipe.
In this case, the main thing is to prevent the garbage from going back. To do this, you need to quickly install the filter mesh. If it is not, then the hole should be plugged with a stopper and pump out water. The duration of the procedure depends on the degree of contamination.
Cleaning with a plumbing cable
How to remove blockage in the sink without plunger? Another effective method of mechanical cleaning is the cobra. It is an elastic steel cable that can pierce even large traffic jams.
Work is carried out according to the following scheme:
- The cable slips through the drain pipe until a blockage is detected. As a rule, in most cases it is localized in a siphon.
- As soon as you find a place of accumulation of debris, start to rotate the "cobra" clockwise.
- If the water starts to leave normally, then the problem is solved. But itโs too early to stop. Slide the plumbing cable through the pipe as long as its length allows.
- If everything worked out, fill the sink with hot water and powder.
It is worth noting that removing the clogging of the sink at home with the help of a โcobraโ will not work if it is too deep. In this case, you will have to dismantle the siphon and try to further clean the pipe with a cable. If you do not want to disassemble the plumbing, then you can use one of the methods that will be described later.
Soda and Vinegar Cleansing
If you do not have a plunger and a โcobraโ, then that's okay. There is one good way to clean the sewer system using the improvised tools that are in every home. Do you know how to remove blockage in a soda sink? If not, just stick to the following instructions:
- Pour a glass of ordinary baking soda into the pipe.
- Then pour the same amount of vinegar.
- Leave the sink for 1 hour so that both components dissolve contamination.
- Rinse the drain with boiling water.
This method is good in that it is safe and environmentally friendly. In addition, both components, unlike household chemicals, are very cheap. That is why many people are interested in how to remove blockage in the sink with vinegar. However, this method will be ineffective if food debris and other foreign objects accumulate in the pipe. For very severe blockages, special industrial products should be used. About which are considered the best, will be discussed later.
Clogging
Let's dwell on this aspect in more detail. How can you remove blockage in the sink if soda and vinegar do not help? In this case, specialized cleaners are the best option. They are available both in liquid form and in powder form. Specialists do not recommend the use of solids, as they are too concentrated and can lead to damage to pipes. Gel-like are more gentle and safe for human health.
All funds are divided into two main groups - alkaline and acid. The former are used to eliminate liquid contaminants, while the latter are able to completely dissolve even solid materials, including metal. However, at the same time, they significantly reduce the service life of the pipeline, so they should be used only in the most extreme case. The following chemical cleaners are most in demand today:
- "Mole" is a Russian-made cleaner that combines good quality and relatively low price. It copes well with any blockages and eliminates the stench.
- "Tiret" - according to many qualified plumbers, this tool is one of the best today. The main advantage is that it can be used with any type of pipe.
- "Mr. Muscle" is a universal cleaner that allows you to quickly eliminate small blockages. In addition, it depresses pathogenic microflora, inhibiting its spread.
How to remove blockage in the sink using household chemicals? Each tool has its own characteristics, so you must first read the instructions for them.
The general procedure is as follows:
- The right amount of substance is poured into the drain hole.
- The sink is left for 30-40 minutes.
- The system is washed with hot water.
Many cleaners are toxic, so you need to work with them in rubber gloves.
Hydraulic pump cleaning
How to remove blockage in the sink if none of the above methods helped? One of the modern methods of cleaning sewage systems is a hydraulic pump. Let's look at what is special about this method. The pump creates a pressure of about 300 atmospheres in the system, so that any plugs and contaminants are broken and discharged through pipes into the general sewer.
There are two types of equipment:
- Manual The tank is filled with water, after which the nozzle is docked with the drain hole and pumping is started. The procedure is performed until the water begins to drain normally through the pipes.
- Electric. The hose is connected to the water supply, after which the compressor is turned on, which performs all the work for a person.
It is worth noting that hydraulic pumps are quite expensive, so it is more advisable to rent them or order a cleaning system from companies specializing in the provision of such services.
Cleaning folk remedies
There is no way to purchase expensive household chemicals or it can not be used due to pipe incompatibility? Not a problem, because you can remove the blockage in the sink with folk remedies. One of the methods based on the use of baking soda and vinegar has already been described above. But there are many other equally effective methods. For example, if water does not drain due to accumulation of organic waste or fat, then salt can be added to the pipe. In a few hours it will completely corrode the resulting blockage, and you just have to rinse the pipes with hot water.
Some people claim that aspirin tablets work well when cleaning pipes . They are thrown into the drain hole, after which they pour a glass of vinegar. However, after this procedure, the sewer system must be driven away with a strong pressure of water. This method not only eliminates even severe blockages, but also eliminates the characteristic stink.
And the last effective way is citric acid. It is necessary to dilute 40 grams of crystallized powder in three liters of hot water and pour liquid into the drain hole. If there are plastic pipes in your house, then you first need to cool it a little.
Preventive actions
Above was answered in detail the question of how to remove the blockage in the sink. All described cleaning methods work well and allow you to quickly solve the problem. However, there are a few general rules, thanks to which you will never clog pipes. These include:
- Use the sink exclusively for its intended purpose, namely, for washing dishes. Do not pour tea leaves and leftover food into it.
- Close the drain hole with a filter mesh. It will prevent large and small debris from entering the siphon and pipe.
- After you wash the dishes, leave the water briefly turned on so that it rinses off any grease and dirt from the walls of the siphon.
- Rinse the drain several times a month with boiling water and soda.
In addition, if you are planning a repair, replace the metal pipes with plastic ones. They are more practical and durable in use, and also not susceptible to corrosion, so they will clog much less.
Conclusion
As you can see, cleaning the sink is much easier than many people think. Therefore, if you encounter a similar problem, then do not immediately call the plumber. Try to eliminate the blockage yourself by any of the methods described in this article. In extreme cases, you can completely disassemble the siphon and clean it, because it is in it that garbage accumulates most often because of the specific design. If all else fails, then it will be possible to turn to professionals for help. But as practice shows, in most cases it does not come to that.