More often, blockages are found in the kitchen, where food is constantly prepared, greasy dishes are washed. But blockages can accumulate in the bathroom. Usually they are hair, wool, pile and sand. Cleaning the sewer pipes is necessary, otherwise an unpleasant odor will begin to appear in the room. Water will not merge well.
Causes of the problem
If clogging is present in the bathroom, water will not pass through the hole. It will flow back along with the dirt. Before you understand how to clean the pipes in the bathroom, you must first establish the cause of the blockage.
Such a nuisance arises due to the following circumstances:
- Lack of preventive measures. Gradually, dirt accumulated in the pipe, but no one followed it, did not clean the drain in time, which led to blockage.
- The pipes have become unusable. They were shaken, growths appeared on them.
- There is a foreign object in the sewer that prevents grease and dirt from passing through the pipe. Such an object, for example, may be a stone.
- Much depends on the material, because blockages often appear precisely in cast-iron pipes, and such troubles rarely happen with plastic products.
- When installing the sewer, the pipes were installed incorrectly, with a slight slope.
- One of the family members dropped an object, a rag, waste into the sewer pipe. Often young children can push a part of the constructor or something else into the drain hole.
Cleaning methods
So how to clean the pipes in the bathroom? In this situation, you can act in several ways:
- thermal - the method of exposure to boiling water is used;
- chemical - blockage is removed by chemicals;
- mechanical - a plumbing cable is used, the master can simply take the siphon apart;
- pressure - use an ordinary plunger.
Try to remove the blockage in the bathroom as soon as possible in order to avoid larger troubles. Depending on the type of pipe, a specific method of solving the problem is chosen. For example, if pipes are made of plastic, they can be quickly cleaned with ordinary boiling water, but chemicals should be used with great care. In some cases, they can damage the plastic.
Using a plunger
Cleaning sewer pipes is most often carried out using a plunger. This simple device is available for almost any housewife. The device has a simple design in the form of a small handle (made of wood or plastic), at one end of which there is a nozzle made of rubber. The principle of operation of the device is simple - it creates pressure, destroys the garbage stopper, and it begins to move up the pipe. The blockage is washed off with water, and if it appeared on the surface, then it is simply thrown away.
Despite the fact that the device is as simple as possible, not everyone can understand how to use the plunger correctly. For successful cleaning, you need to follow just a few rules. How to use a plunger?
- If there is an overflow hole in the pipeline, you need to cover it.
- The rubber nozzle is pressed to the sewer hole and make quick and rhythmic movements.
- It is necessary to ensure that the rubber part does not depart from the surface of the sink or bath, and fits as tightly as possible to it.
- After several movements, the plunger must be sharply torn from the drain.
- The steps are repeated until all debris has been removed.
Plumbing cable
If the plunger did not work out the problem, then how to clean the pipes in the bathroom in this case? A plumbing cable comes to the rescue. Usually the length of this device does not exceed 3.5 meters. To eliminate clogging, insert the element into the drain hole.
At one end is a small pen. It must be rotated and the cable lowered until it abuts against a blockage. The master makes sharp movements back and forth, destroying the blockage and thereby cleaning the pipe.
On the other side of the cable there is a small device in the form of a drill. It is he who loosens the blockage into small particles and helps to bring it out. Raising the cable, you need to quickly clean it from dirt and repeat the action. Such pipe cleaning is not carried out independently, because the cable is very difficult to control, and in the process of cleaning it can injure a person.
Siphon cleaning
Sometimes cleaning pipes takes a minimum of time and effort, because for this it is enough to clean the siphon from dirt. You must act according to the following instructions:
- Put an oilcloth or rag on the floor to protect it from water and dirt. It is recommended to install a container under the sink or bathtub so that all the liquid drains into it.
- First, unscrew the lock nut, then remove the flask. All liquid that previously had the function of a water trap drains into the tank.
- The siphon is washed with water, and with the help of household chemicals plaque is removed from the pipes.
- The design is reassembled.
After all work is done, you need to check the siphon for leaks. To do this, just turn on the maximum set of water. If you clean this regularly as a preventive measure (at least once a month), you can prevent future blockages.
Using a vacuum cleaner
Sometimes you can solve the problem with a vacuum cleaner. How to clean the pipes in the bathroom in such an unusual way? To do this, you need equipment that has a backflush function. In the process of cleaning you need to be extremely careful, since the work is carried out by electrical equipment. The vacuum pipe must be wrapped with a thick cloth, and the drain hole must be wiped dry. The vacuum cleaner is tightly attached to the drain and include the appropriate function. Under sufficiently intense air pressure, the blockage quickly collapses.
Any housewife can clean the sewer pipes from clogging with the help of improvised means. It is not necessary to buy chemicals, because alternative methods can be no less effective.
Vinegar Soda
One of the most effective methods is the use of soda and vinegar. But how to clean the pipes in the bathroom using well-known means? You need to follow the instructions below:
- Pour 0.5 packs of soda into the drain.
- Acetic essence (at least 70%) is slightly heated and also poured into the drain hole. It is enough to pour half a bottle.
- Two substances form a powerful reaction that quickly destroys all the dirt and grease in the pipe.
- Thirty minutes later, boiling water is poured into the drain to rinse the blockage.
Usually just one try is enough to clean. If the blockage does not work out, you need to repeat the action. With minor contamination, lemon juice is used instead of vinegar. The pipe is also washed with boiling water for 3-5 minutes.
Soda solution
How to clean a pipe in a bathtub with soda? This substance will perfectly cope with such a nuisance if the main cause of blockage is a fat plug. To do this, first pour half a pack of soda and a similar amount of salt into the drain. Then clean the pipe with boiling water. For 7-8 hours, it is recommended to use the bath for its intended purpose.
However, the most effective alternative method for controlling blockage is a special solution based on soda. To do this, about a third of the soda is calcined in a dry frying pan, cooled, added to a glass of water and mixed. The resulting liquid is poured into the pipe. It is not recommended to use the bathroom for the next few hours.
Boiling water is a simple and effective assistant
First you need to establish the scale of the problem. If clogging is observed in only one area, then the problem can be solved quickly. If the water does not come off in all the pipes, it is necessary to call specialists - you cannot cope here on your own.
Boiling water can be used only in that situation if metal pipes will be cleaned. The cleaning principle is simple. It is necessary to heat about 4-5 liters of water and, slowly, pour it into the drain. If the blockage is not removed from the first attempt, all actions are repeated. Cleaning will be much more effective if the plunger is additionally used. Boiling water will not solve the problem if water has accumulated in the pipes and is shown outside, collecting near the drain. You need to understand that boiling water simply can not get to the blockage. When using a plunger, you need to be extremely careful not to get a burn from hot liquid.
How to clean plastic pipes in the bathroom? In this situation, you can not use boiling water. The liquid should be moderately hot. Washing powder is added to it. Just a few tablespoons per liter of water is enough. The liquid is poured into the drain slowly and carefully.
Chemicals
They are considered the most effective means in the fight against blockage. Chemicals can eliminate even the most serious pollution, reviews say. Many people choose chemistry, without wasting time on other methods. After all, it is easy to use, and the effect is simply amazing. In hardware stores, you can find many products in the form of a gel, solution and powder. Before you buy a chemical product, you need to read the instructions and do not neglect several important rules:
- The drug is selected depending on the material from which the pipes are made.
- Powders and liquids have identical efficacy.
- The powder is poured into the drain and water is added. The liquid preparation is simply poured into the pipe.
- Using chemicals, it is recommended to wear gloves.
The most popular cure for clogging is Mole. It copes with almost all blockages and is suitable for most pipes. They release it in the form of a gel, solution and small granules.
Tiret Turbo (gel to remove complex blockages) is just perfect. Reviews about him are only positive. How to clean the pipes at home? Depending on the complexity of the blockage, you need to wait a certain time until the substance completely dissolves the cork. Typically, the drug acts in just five minutes and does not have a sharp unpleasant odor.
The drug "Mr. Muscle" will perfectly cope with blockages of any complexity. The tool can be used for plastic pipes. The blockage will literally dissolve within a few minutes. On sale you can find "Mr. Muscle" in the form of compact granules or a special gel. The greatest demand is precisely granules, which are in packaging designed for one application.
Preventive actions
In order not to encounter constant blockages and possible unpleasant consequences, you need to follow some simple recommendations:
- It is necessary to cover the drain hole with a mesh so that a large amount of debris and hair cannot get into the pipe.
- At least once a month, you need to use a special preventive chemical agent.
- It is enough to wash the pipes once a week with boiling water.
- After each water treatment, it is recommended to clean the drain from the hair.
- About 1-2 times a month, a siphon is cleaned.
Conclusion
So, we found out how to eliminate blockage in the bathroom and what means are suitable for this. As you can see, in most cases the problem can be dealt with on your own in a short period of time. However, do not forget about precautions when using aggressive substances.