Blocked drains are a homeowner’s nightmare as they prevent wastewater from being flushed away into the sewer. Often, the first hint you have of a drain blockage is a foul smell that seeps into every corner of your home.
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If you ignore the smell and carry on running the taps or flushing the toilet, the next sign you have a blockage is when the drains overflow and flood your home, causing damage and sealing the smell in for weeks to come, and no amount of air freshener will clear the air!
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Drains can become blocked very easily both inside and outside the house. Roots, leaves, soil, gravel, and grass cuttings can be washed into the outside drainage system during a rainstorm and it only takes a twig or stone to get caught in the pipe and everything else backs up behind it.
The result is a flood into the garden which although messy is not as bad as a drain inside the house becoming blocked.
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Greywater from sinks, showers, and washing machines, and blackwater from toilets, travel through the house to the sewer often through underfloor pipes or through the walls.
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When this pipework gets blocked, it’s important to clear them quickly to prevent dirty water from backwashing and causing damage inside the house. Many things can block the drainage system: hair, oil, grease, and even children’s toys can be the culprit.
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If you come home to your house in Fareham and find you have blocked drains, the easiest solution is to call in the professionals. But, if you have the time and inclination, you may want to try a home drain unblocker first.
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Easy-To-Follow Tips For Unblocking Your Drain
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On discovering you have a drain blockage, you will immediately want to take action and try to clear away the blockage yourself or want a drain unblocker who offers the best drain cleaning services. There are a few easy steps you can take to do this, which we will now look at.
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1. Use Your Hands
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When you can see the obstruction clearly, try to remove it with your fingers. Where the blockage is caused by hair or paper, etc., making a hook out of a bent metal coat hanger, or using something like a chopstick, will help you pull the debris out more easily.
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Once you have cleared the drain, flush water through the system to check the flow is restored. It is always advisable to wear heavy-duty gloves to protect your hands from dirt (especially if the blockage is in the toilet system).
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2. Use Boiling Water
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Boiling water is effective for clearing away soap scum, mud, and if used alongside detergent, a small amount of grease or oil, and it is good practice to make a habit of flushing your drainage system with boiling water on a regular basis to help prevent blockages occurring.
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However, care should be taken when using boiling water, not only to prevent the risk of scalding but also to prevent damaging your system: if you have PVC pipes, boiling water should never be used as it may loosen the joints in the pipework and create leaks.
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Also, porcelain sink bowls may crack with extreme heat so you must take care to pour the water directly into the drain by using a jug or funnel to help you target the water correctly.
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3. Use a Sink Plunger
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All D.I.Y. stores sell cup-shaped plungers and it is worth buying one to keep under the sink. They come in two styles: the traditional plunger and a handheld pump plunger.
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Both are easy to use and rely on you creating a tight seal around the edges of the suction pad to create a vacuum that will pull up the blockage once you start pumping the plunger. A good tip is to smear a little petroleum jelly around the edge of the suction pad to give a better seal.
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It is important to cover the drain completely with the suction cup. Using a fast pumping action for 30 seconds may be enough to clear the blockage, but you should expect to repeat the action a couple of more times to be sure you have removed all the debris.
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After using the plunger, flush the system with water to check it flows properly.
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4. Use Baking Soda + Vinegar
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Since the 18th century, the chemical reaction between baking powder and vinegar has been used for a variety of purposes. When mixed together they produce a strong reaction and carbon dioxide bubbles are formed.
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It’s this reaction that can help remove a drain blockage by dislodging grime, grease, and other small debris, allowing you to flush them away through the drainage system.
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It’s as effective as proprietary chemical cleaners but is also mildly corrosive so you must take care and protect your skin from irritation by wearing gloves.
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To use, first pour baking soda directly into the drain. Wait for a while to allow it to be absorbed by the grime. Then pour into the drain an equal amount of vinegar (if you don’t have vinegar in the house, lemon juice will work too). As the alkaline and acid mix, you will see it fizz as the chemical reaction happens.
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After about 20 minutes, the mixture will have completed its work, and you can pour boiling water into the drain to flush away the solution and allow the water to flow smoothly. If the blockage is stubborn, you can repeat the process. n
5. Drain Snake
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Often when too much tissue is flushed down a toilet, a blockage can occur some distance down the pipe and be difficult to reach. In these circumstances, using a drain snake will allow you to reach the blockage and bring it closer so you can remove it.
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Available from D.I.Y. centers and plumbing stores, they are simple to operate either by hand twisting or attaching to a drill. You will need to remove the sewer cover to access the problem area and you should take care to wear protective gloves and a facemask as raw sewage has bacteria that could make you ill.
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We recommend you also wear safety goggles to prevent any splashing of blackwater in your eyes.
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If you need your toilet unblocked, it is best to call Fareham’s best drain unblocker as they have all the equipment and expertise to do the work quickly and efficiently, and without risking your health.
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Fareham’s Best Drain Clearing Services Guaranteed To Work
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Drain unblocking can be dirty, smelly, and time-consuming work always with a risk of making the situation worse if you don’t know what you’re doing, but if you live in Fareham, you don’t have to attempt the work yourself.
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Pro Blocked Drains is a well-known company serving customers all over the UK and with an office in Fareham offering a 24-hour a-day service 365 days of the year. As drainage professionals, Pro Blocked Drains knows exactly how to find the problem and has all the skills and tools to resolve it quickly and efficiently.
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With a fast response, fully qualified Safe-Contractor-Approved workers, no call-out fee, and excellent customer service, we guarantee satisfaction at a budget-friendly price.
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So, next time you have a blocked drain in Fareham call us at any time of day or night on 0800 611 82 99 Learn more about the Water Mains in Bournemouth.
