Clogged sewer solutions
A drain refers to a pipe that moves water waste and water from one building to a sewer. A sewer acts as a collection point of all water and its waste from different buildings. Materials commonly used in drain pipes are the; plastics polyvinyl chloride(PVC) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(ABS) which are preferred due to their ease of use, light weight and resilience. Other kinds of materials used are cast iron pipe, which can withstand ground movement and protect against roots, clay tile pipe which is long lasting and resists most sewage and the bituminized fiber pipe which is easy to use and light. These different material pipes have shortcomings which leads to the less use of them. Cast iron pipe are faced by rust and corrosions, clay tile pipe are susceptible to root infiltration and bituminized fiber pipe are brittle and thus fail frequently. The PVC and ABS are the best choice for do it yourself because of their friendly characteristics such as being cheap and available.
There are different factors that contribute to clogged sewers. They are; tree roots, debris, broken pipes, grease and fat, sagging sewer lines and mineral buildup. Tree roots happen when there are cracks and leaks in underground pipes which attract tree root growth. The roots grow larger once inside the pipes causing blockage and damage. This can be resolved by clearing the roots which requires professionals. Debris, are made of soap scum, foreign objects, toilet paper and food particles which accumulate forming clogs.
Pressure cleaning may help resolve some of the debris. Broken pipes allow dirt to enter into pipes causing blockage and which require pipe replacements. Grease and fat results when fat or greasy substances are flushed through the drain solidifying in the drains and causing clogs. Plunging and use of detergents in hot water will help free the clogs. Sagging sewer lines result from shifting sink holes, age and shifting soil which prevents water from draining. Mineral build up result from use of hard water which reduces flow and causes backups. Descaling by a professional will help in removing the buildup.
Several methods maybe used at the home set up to fix clogged sewers without a plumber such as; use of trusty plunger,soda,hand drain snake, cleaning sink traps ,use of boiled water, use of caustic soda and use of baking soda and vinegar. A plunger removes clogs by use of suction by fast and sharp plunging motions. It can be used in toilets and sinks. Many sodas at room temperature can be used to unblock drains since they have a corrosive quality which can work on clogs if poured down the drain and left for two hours. Hand drain snake is a tool used to dislodge debris. A steel wire is snaked into a drain and gets twisted when it hits a barrier to remove the debris, this requires some efforts and a bucket should be availed if working on the sink for the water to drip on.
The trap is the U-shaped pipe beneath the kitchen and bathroom and is a major point in blockages. Here, the pipe is opened with a bucket present to receive water, and a wire used to unclog the further parts in the sink traps. Use of boiled water frees debris and melts oil and grease. Some detergents should be added to the water to prevent hardening of oils again in the drain.in using caustic soda, 3 cups of caustic soda are mixed in ¾ cold water in a bucket, after it starts fizzing and heating it is poured down the blocked drain and left for around 30minutes after which it is flushed with hot water. Care must be taken when using this chemical to prevent contact. In using baking soda and vinegar, the fizzing action when 1/3 cup of baking soda and vinegar are mixed helps remove hair, grime and gunk that has built up in drains.
Use of home remedies may be rendered useless in some serious cases and a professional plumber should be contacted. In deep clogged sewers ,plumbers do; traditional repairs and replacement which involves digging areas surrounding the main sewer, correcting the problem and filling it back, use video inspection whereby a video camera is used to locate where the problem is in the sewer and the plumber comes up with the appropriate repair option, and use of trenchless sewer line repair methods whereby small holes are made to assess the beginning and end of a pipe after which a new pipe is pulled through the old one. Some of the tools used to unclog by plumbers are; a plunger, drain cleaning chemicals, snake, wire brushes and a pipe wrench.
Conclusion
Clogged sewer is a common problem that every person needs some basic knowledge to handle. Use of different home remedies work out so well and thus one should try the simple ways before involving a plumber. Care must be taken however, when using chemicals that may irritate the skin and use of hot water in plastic materials to prevent damages. Consultations should be made when do it yourself methods fail since it could be an indication of a serious problem. Prevention of blockages by avoiding flushing unflushable materials remains the key way in preventing blockages. Assistance in case of clogged sewers is a call away.sharpline Drain Clearing and Plumbing Solutions has the experience, knowledge and the latest equipment to fix your clogged sewer. For more information, please call 1300 993 212.