unclog_blocked_sink : Unclog blocked sink
On Blog of Stuff .com
The most common household plumbing clogs are in kitchen and bathroom sinks, where grease buildup, hair or vegetable peels get trapped in the horseshoe-shaped turn in the drain pipe.
Most clogs can be cleared with Draino or similar plumbing clog removal products. Be sure to check the label for compatibility with your sink and drain type (i.e. enamel or stainless steel, copper or aluminum pipes).
For stubborn clogs, drain (the bottom part of the unit that water or substances can exit) cleaner may not work. In that case grab the plunger. If there isn't any standing water in the sink already, fill the basin with about two or three inches of water; you (or anyone else) need the liquid to help push the clog through the pipes. Next remove the drain stopper or strainer. Note: Bathroom sinks and tubs usually have overflow holes near the top of the basin. If your sink has overflow holes, and standing water is more than a few inches, be sure to block the holes with a wet rag.
Cover the rim of the plunger with a thick layer of petroleum jelly. You want to create a tight seal between the plunger and the drain hole to maximize the pressure above the clog. Spread a thick layer of petroleum jelly on the flat rim of the plunger cap, and then place it over the drain to make the seal. Slowly turn the plunger at an angle to eliminate air bubbles.
Use the plunger. Stand over the plunger and use two hands to push it down and up several times (rubber gloves are optional). You're building up a pressurized force, so don't let the cup come off the drain. After six or seven repetitions, pull the plunger off. If the water drains away, the clog has moved on down the pipes. If it doesn't, repeat until it does.
If this still does not work, you (or them) can try opening the P trap under the sink with a plumbers wrench. Place a bucket below to catch the water (and whatever material is stuck in the pipe) when you open the trap. Use a straightened wire coat hangar to dislodge any crud in the pipes. Before closing the P trap, you will need to use plumbing tape or gel to seal the thread on the cap. Tighten well but don't crack the sink.
After you have cleaned up the mess, mopped the floors and disinfected the sink; make the resolution to prevent clogs so you don't have to repeat this again!
In the kitchen, the most obvious clogger is food - leftovers and during food preparation. The obvious (although not often used) solution is to use a good quality strainer to prevent large things from going down the drain. Scrape food off plates and pots before washing them.
Cooking oil and the most deadly bacon fat is the silent sink choker. Oil, when warm, is a liquid. Cool it down and oil becomes a thick sludge. Test it for yourself the next time you cook bacon, cool a small pot by holding it under cold tap water, dry it off and pour some of the warm bacon grease into it. Swirl the pot around, you will see the fat harden as it cools, leaving a slimy coating on the pot.
The same thing happens in your sink drain. The hot oil cools rapidly when it hits the metal drain. Using hot water to flush it down will not help much, as even the water cools when it hits the metal pipes. The result is a greasy coating in your pipes, getting thicker as the drain goes lower. Just like your arteries react to excessive bacon, eventually the space inside the pipe will constrict and will start catching other waste that is flushed - finally causing a nasty clog.
To get rid of oil and grease, soak it up from the pot/pan with a paper towel, then toss the towel into the trash. Wipe away as much of the grease before washing the pot or pan.
In the bathroom, hair is usually the drain choker. Avoid getting hair in your bathroom sink, and use a fine screen on the bathtub drain to catch departing hair. Remove hair and discard in the trash (or save for that weave you probably will need if you hair is falling off in those quantites) before flushing down the tub.
It is a good idea to clean your drainage pipes regularly, this keeps them free of odors and clogs and prevents expensive plumbing problems.
Run very hot tap water through the drain after each use. This is one way to keep a drain free of odors. Avoid getting vegetable matter or grease in a kitchen drain, soak up grease and oil with paper towels and toss the towel into the trash.
Try to avoid letting hair accumulate in bathroom drains. Treat any partially clogged drain promptly to prevent larger clogs.
Pour a handful of baking soda into the kitchen drain about once a week, then run very hot tap water through it. Or pour a cup or vinegar or lemon juice in and let it stand for 30 minutes. Then run hot water through the drain. These steps will clean the drain of odors.
Pour a strong salt brine down the kitchen sink drain regularly to eliminate odors and to keep grease from building up.
Use a drain cleaner solution (like Drano). Be sure to read the label regarding its safety for your type of pipes. Make sure the solution is safe for plastic pipes or a garbage disposal, if that's what you have. The solution can eat away at the grease, food, hair, soap film and organic wastes that tend to clog drains. Usually, treatment with solution once a month will be enough for proper maintenance of your drains, traps and pipes. Be sure to follow the drain cleaner instructions.
Consider a natural drain cleaner if you don't like using chemicals. Pour 1/2 c. baking soda into your drain. Follow this with 1/2 c. white vinegar. The baking soda is basic and the vinegar is acidic, so they will react with a churning action that will help keep the drain clean without dangerous chemicals.
If you decide to use a chemical drain cleaner, be very careful. Follow the directions and react immediately if you get the drain cleaner on your skin, eyes or even clothes. Follow the flushing instructions on the container.
Call a licensed plumber for anything beyond regular drain cleaning and simple unclogging of drains. For example, if tree roots grow into your house drains, you will need a professional service such as Roto-Rooter.
Drain cleaners, ammonia, and bleach can create rust in your galvanized pipes. If you have a new home with no metal pipes, chemicals are fine, but if you do have metal pipes, you are creating a much bigger problem. Try this yourself: In a plastic cup, mix some water with whatever you are using to clean your drain lines. Add a piece of galvanized pipe, and you will be shocked at how much rust is created.
Help keep tree roots from growing into house drains by flushing 2 cups of rock salt or copper sulfate down the toilet during the last flush of the night. You may have to flush a few times to get the material down. Don't use both products at the same time. Do the same procedure two weeks later and then wait six months before doing it again.
Once a month, pour a gallon of bleach in every drain. That's how to keep your drain clear for years. After the last flush of the morning, as you leave the house, allow it to stand all day. You will have had no problems with hair or other stuff.
Opinions or information posted on blogs are not endorsed or validated by Blog of Stuff .com.
All material is assumed to have been submitted in good faith by authors, any violations of
copyrighted material or content will be removed upon request with proper documentation. 1
Copyright ©2005-2007 Blog of Stuff .com all rights reserved worldwide.
Typing Test