How to remove a blockage without the help of a specialist

How to remove a hot water blockage

Often, blockages, especially in the kitchen, arise from grease, dirt and small debris. If you have steel pipes, pour boiling water into them directly from the kettle. If the pipes are plastic, just turn on the hot water tap for 10-20 minutes. A small traffic jam will not withstand such an attack.

How to remove a blockage with a plunger

With the help of a plunger, air and water are injected into the pipe, and the blockage is destroyed under their pressure.

Fill a sink or bathtub with a little water or drain it: the liquid should cover the bottom by 1–2 cm. If the problem is with the toilet, wait for the water to subside, or drain it, no matter how unpleasant it may be: do not splash its contents all over the room …

The plunger must completely cover the drain hole, leaving no gaps for air to escape. Then firmly grasp the plunger (you can use both hands) and make several movements up and down. You will feel the pressure build up in the pipe.

Raise the plunger sharply by removing it from the drain hole. If the blockage has collapsed, water will begin to flow normally through the pipe.

Repeat the procedure if necessary.

How to remove a blockage without the help of a specialist

If the problem is in the double sink, you will have to arm yourself with an additional plunger. They need to cover the second drain hole to block the air flow into the pipe. If a spare plunger is not available, cover the empty drain with a rubber gloved hand.

How to remove a blockage with chemicals

If you don't feel like messing around with a plunger, choose one of the proven recipes.

Soda + vinegar … Pour 150 g of baking soda into the drain hole and immediately pour the same amount of vinegar (for a clogged toilet bowl, safely increase the dosage of ingredients by 1.5–2 times). The chemical reaction that has begun will be accompanied by the active release of a thick, hissing foam, so you should not be intimidated. Cover the drain hole with a rubber glove or something else so that the mixture penetrates deep into the pipe, corroding the blockage, and does not come out. After 10-15 minutes, open the tap (or drain the water) and check if the blockage has been removed. If the water still does not drain well, repeat the procedure.
Lemon acid … Boil a liter of water and dissolve 1-2 sachets of citric acid (about 40 g) in it. If you have metal pipes installed, you can pour liquid directly into the drain hole. If the pipes are plastic, wait until the water cools down to 70-80 degrees. The acid will dissolve the deposits on the pipe walls and remove the blockage in 10–20 minutes. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
Store-bought pipe cleaner … Choose any to your taste and wallet and use it, following the manufacturer's instructions. But remember: these fluids are toxic. Work with them in gloves and make sure that the product does not get on the skin and mucous membranes.

How to remove a blockage with a plumbing cable

If the blockage doesn't want to give up, take a plumbing cable. Perhaps you or someone you know has it. As a last resort, if you are not afraid to damage the pipes, use a long wire or a bending brush.

Look under the sink and find the siphon (the curved part of the pipe) there. The water in it prevents the sewage odors from entering the apartment, and through it you can get to the blockage. Unscrew or remove the siphon (depending on the design) and give yourself access to the pipe. If a bathtub or toilet needs to be cleaned, the process is simplified: you don't even have to unwind anything.

Insert the rope carefully into the pipe. Here the help of another person is desirable: he will scroll the handle of the cable, winding hair, dirt and small debris from the walls of the pipe on it.

Push the cable inward until it hits the blockage, and then gently push it back and forth to break the plug.

Pull out the cable. Reinstall the siphon and turn on the tap to flush the pipe and remove any remaining blockage.

How to avoid blockage

Remove food residues from dishes before placing them in the sink.
Do not drain any remaining cooking oil into the sink. He belongs in the garbage bag.
Place a protective screen on the drain hole.
Make sure that the hair does not end up in the sewer: in the pipes, it can cling to all kinds of protrusions and get tangled. Comb your hair before showering, collect it and throw it in the trash can.
Don't flush a lot of toilet paper down the toilet. The sewer system in your home may not be suited for this at all. If the plumbers confirm this, you will have to put an extra trash can in the toilet.
For prophylaxis, flush the pipes with hot water or special household chemicals. This will help remove salt and fat deposits.