Sewer clogging is a fairly common problem that homeowners face at the wrong time. In some cases, blockages can be dealt with on their own, using available means such as cable, plunger, as well as all kinds of cleaning products for pouring into pipes. If you do not have the appropriate skills and knowledge, it is best to take the help of a specialist who will help to cope with a more serious situation. Otherwise, you can aggravate the situation, which will cause damage to plumbing fixtures and flooding the neighbors.
Types of blockages in the sewage system
Clogging of sewage can occur for several reasons, among them it is necessary to distinguish man-made, mechanical and operational. The first case arises when one pipe or part of the system deviates or collapses. Mechanical obstruction is caused by the entry of large objects into the sewer. Operational blockage occurs at a time when the effluent cannot perform its functions due to the buildup of deposits on the inner surfaces of the pipes.
Causes of Clogging
Clogged sewers can occur due to improper use of the system. People encounter such problems when various wastes dumped into plumbing fixtures, such as crusts, as well as cleanings. Wastewater cannot penetrate sewer pipes. Among other things, the elements contained in water can grow on the walls of metal and cast iron products over time. Formed roughness clings to toilet paper, hair, buttons and threads. Little by little the clearance is reduced, which causes the sewage system to stop working.
Under the influence of low temperature, fat from kitchen sinks and dishwashers freezes, it builds up and covers the entire drain gap. Sometimes the blockage of the sewage system also occurs due to an error made during installation. If the toilet has a special design or is not compatible with the system, then the drain line may have the wrong slope. Social problems lead to blockage of the riser, which can be initiated by residents of apartments on any floor.
Clogging with a plunger
Sewage blockages can be cleaned using different methods, most often a plunger is used. Alternative solutions may be the use of chemical or improvised means, as well as pouring the system with boiling water. Every house should have a plunger, which is the simplest plumbing fixture. Its main purpose is to clean the system from blockages. For use, you need to close the drain, as well as additional holes that are necessary to protect against overflow. So much water should be drawn into the sink to hide the plunger bowl. In order to ensure a snug fit of the rubber part to the surface, the edges can be greased with petroleum jelly.
If the sewage system turned out to be inoperative, you can clean the blockages yourself. The plunger for this is pressed tightly to the drain hole, and then you need to make up and down rocking movements. The bowl should not be torn off the surface. In order for the siphon not to fail, it is not necessary to exert great physical effort. Otherwise, the air pressure will be excessively large. At the end of the procedure, the plunger must be pulled up. If you notice that the water goes into the drain rather slowly, the procedure can be repeated until the cleaning is complete. It is not always possible to eliminate a sewage blockage in this way. This is the main disadvantage of the method, which consists in the inability to get rid of old blockages.
Siphon cleaning
As practice shows, most often the blockage is concentrated in the siphon, which is represented by a curved pipe section. To clean it, it is necessary to unscrew the removable part, and then remove the debris and dirt. Some masters additionally process with a degreasing compound. You can get rid of fat deposits with boiling water, which in the volume of one pan must be poured into the sink. To prevent the described problem, each time after washing the dishes, it is necessary to skip boiling water for 20 seconds.
Use for cleaning hot water and chemicals
The elimination of sewage blockages is most easily done with hot water. It will fix the problem by dissolving the fat. But in most cases, this method does not give the expected result, so it is advisable to combine it with others. On sale today you can find special chemicals based on alkali and acids, which are presented in the form of liquids, powders and gels. When choosing, make sure that the products are harmless to the pipes. The most popular is the “Mole” for cleaning the sewer. For the bath, it is recommended to use compounds that are able to dissolve the hair, for the kitchen - fat. Experts advise choosing a gel-like product that spreads over the entire surface of the system, dissolving deposits.
Using vinegar and soda
If the sewerage clogged the house in the evening, and there is no way to get other means, it is recommended to use vinegar and soda, which can be found in any house. A packet of soda is poured into the sink, followed by a glass of vinegar. After half an hour, boiling water must be poured into the system. In no case should you use an electrolyte for batteries or sulfuric acid, as they can damage the sewage system.
The use of plumbing cable
You yourself may well be cleaning the sewer. The elimination of blockages, according to users, is most effective when using a plumbing cable. If the obstruction is localized in a place that is sufficiently far from the drain hole, then it will be possible to cope with the problem only in this way. The item is represented by a metal flexible string, the length of which can reach 10 meters. At one end there is a pen. For cleaning, a cable is installed in the siphon, which must be positioned in the right direction. Next, the master begins to rotate the handle, for convenience, you can use the help of another person. When the string collides with an obstacle, it must be moved forward and backward until the plug is removed. In the process of cleaning, debris will stick to the cable, which is why during the work it is necessary to remove it from the pipe. After completion of work, you need to screw on the siphon and drain the hot water. By the formation of a funnel, it can be judged that the procedure was carried out correctly.
Cable and washcloth cleaning
If it is necessary to eliminate the clogging of sewer pipes, which are made of cast iron or plastic, you can use a nylon 4 mm cord and a washcloth for washing dishes. The size of the latter should be selected so that it can pass through the pipes, but does not get stuck in them. Before starting, the pipes should be cleaned and rinsed by passing the end of the cable through them. It should try to bring to the toilet. Then a nylon cord is attached to it, the length of which should be two pipe lengths. After that, the cable along with the cord is pulled out, the elements are untied from each other. The main part will be in the pipe, and the cable will no longer be needed. A metal washcloth is imposed on the cord so that it is located in the center. The cord extends one end, then the other, the washcloth extends along the pipe. The operation should be repeated at least 3 times, each of which is accompanied by washing the pipes with boiling water.
Hydrodynamic cleaning
This method is resorted to when all of the above methods are not allowed to achieve a positive result. Hydrodynamic cleaning involves the use of special machines, which can have different sizes and power. They are equipped with special nozzles and eliminate blockages in pipes of different diameters, the latter can vary from 5 to 150 centimeters. If we are talking about an intra-house sewer system, then you can use a compact device that fights the most difficult blockages. This method has many advantages, which are expressed in the guarantee of a positive result, as well as the safety of pipes with simple technology. The water jet will remove not only sediment, but also debris, and will also extend the life of the pipeline. During operation, there is no emission of dust and dirt, there is no harmful effect on the environment and the surface of the pipes. No matter how complicated the wiring, a variety of nozzles will cope with arbitrarily serious blockages. You will have to pay for such a procedure.