How to remove a blockage in a sewer pipe: how to clear a strong one using mechanical methods, remove it with folk remedies and household chemicals at home?

The appearance of blockages in the drainage system is a fairly common problem.
You can solve this using several methods, using home recipes, household chemicals, or mechanical pipe cleaning. When starting work, you should determine the area where the traffic jam has occurred and, preferably, determine what exactly causes the difficulty in the passage of water.

We will tell you in this article how to remove a blockage in a sewer pipe, including a severe one.

Reasons for appearance

A clogged sewer is manifested by a violation of the rate of water flow, sometimes accompanied by the appearance of an unpleasant odor. The system becomes clogged for various reasons.

The most common include:

High water hardness, which causes limescale deposits to form on the inner surface of the pipes.
Read also: How to get rid of tape marks on glass: popular methods
Accumulation of fat deposits. As they increase, the clearance in the drainage system narrows greatly over time, and may even disappear completely.
Food waste, garbage, hair, etc. entering the drain.
Incorrect installation of the drainage system.
The siphon has not been cleaned for a long time.
Damage (deformation) of pipes.
Corrosion on the inner surface of pipes (typical of metal).

Most often, blockages form in cast iron pipes, which are prone to corrosion and do not have smooth internal walls.

Lemon juice: natural and safe

Lemon juice is acidic. The citric acid it contains is capable of dissolving fatty deposits (acid hydrolysis of fats). At the same time, lemon juice, unlike acetic acid, does not form volatile caustic vapors, and therefore is not capable of damaging the mucous membranes of the lungs and eyes. True, citric acid is dangerous for the skin of your hands if it has cracks, scratches, burrs, etc. In this case, you should work with gloves.

Squeeze the juice from 4-5 lemons into a cup and then pour it down the sink drain. To prevent the acid concentration at the site of exposure from falling, refrain from using the sink for 1–1.5 hours. Then flush the drain with hot water. If necessary, repeat the procedure 2-3 times.

Natural lemons can be replaced with concentrated lemon juice (half a cup of concentrate is enough) or a solution of dry citric acid (take 2-3 packs of powder for 1 cup of water).

Using lemon juice is safer than using vinegar. However, the efficiency of this method is somewhat lower, especially if you take into account the high cost of the components. The use of dry citric acid will help increase efficiency. Lemon juice can also be used instead of acetic acid in baking soda-based formulations.

Identifying the problem area

To effectively clean pipes, you must first determine the area where the blockage has formed. In most cases, the plug is associated with a clogged siphon - a structural element that is located directly under the sink. In this case, the water may not drain away at all.

If wastewater is flowing slowly, the problem may be related to the drainage system itself. This can be judged when water does not drain immediately from several pieces of plumbing, for example, from a sink and a bathtub.

Having determined approximately the area that does not allow drains to escape, you can begin to break through the blockage. Before you begin global sewer cleaning, you should make sure that the problem is not a clogged siphon, which can be cleaned quite simply.

How to clear a clogged plumbing cable

If the clog doesn't want to give up, use a plumber's cable. Perhaps you or someone you know has it. As a last resort, if you are not afraid of damaging the pipes, use a long wire or a bendable brush.

Look under the sink and look for the siphon (the curved part of the pipe). The water in it prevents sewer 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 your bathtub or toilet needs cleaning, the process is simplified: you don’t even have to unscrew anything.

Carefully insert the cable into the pipe. Here, the help of another person is desirable: he will turn the handle of the cable, winding hair, dirt and small debris from the walls of the pipe around it.

Push the cable in until it hits the blockage, then gently move it back and forth to break the blockage.

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

How to clean mechanically?

Methods for removing blockages in the drainage system mechanically are among the most effective. To implement them you will need one of the tools:

plumbing cable;
powerful vacuum cleaner;
plunger

Cable

A plumbing cable is a simple and yet very effective device that will help cope with even severe blockages. It is most often made of metal. There is a handle on one end of it, and a split end or a nozzle for cleaning the drain on the other.

Procedure:

Pull out the corrugation that comes from the siphon.
Disconnect and clean the siphon.
Lower the working end of the cable into the drain and move it towards the blockage. At the same time, it is necessary to make rotational movements with the handle, helping to scroll the cable.
As it moves along the pipe, the cable will clear the blockage. Periodically it is necessary to take it out and remove any debris clinging to the working end.
Return the corrugation to its place.
Pour hot water down the drain.

After use, the cable should be cleaned and dried, and only then sent for storage.

plunger

This is a tool for clearing minor blockages . Its use can be combined with the use of other methods of clearing blockages, for example, with household chemicals.

Using a plunger is simple. Place it in a sink or bathtub with standing water using a rubber nozzle on the drain and press on the handle. Then they suddenly lift him up.

To clean, you need to repeat the procedure several times. Completes the cleaning by flushing hot water (or boiling water) down the drain. A plunger may not help with a global blockage; in this case, you need to use other methods.

Vacuum cleaner

Using a vacuum cleaner is an extraordinary method that can only be adopted if the following conditions are met:

the device has high power;
the clog is concentrated in the sink;
There is a function of blowing air in the vacuum cleaner.

If all points correspond, then the procedure is as follows:

The tube coming from the vacuum cleaner should be wrapped in cloth.
Insert the tube into the drain and secure it.
Turn on the unit, setting the power to maximum. If the blockage that is blocking the flow of water is close to the drain, the vacuum cleaner will be able to push it out.
Turn off the vacuum cleaner and remove the tube.
Use a plunger.
Run hot water.

It is worth paying attention to vacuum cleaners from Karcher.

Types and methods of pipe cleaning

The main methods of cleaning sewer pipelines can be divided into several groups:

Mechanical. Often the cause of a blockage is a dense plug formed after solid food waste, large debris, and fibers from rags get in and stick together. In this case, the simplest and most effective way to break through a pipe in the kitchen is to use mechanical devices in the form of a steel spiral.

Hydraulic. Popular cleaning methods are the use of moving water masses or fast jets to remove plugs and clean the walls of pipelines from dirt deposits. It is difficult to find an apartment or private house where the household does not use a simple mechanical device for removing blockages called a plunger. For professional cleaning of long-distance sewer pipelines, plumbers use hydrodynamic cleaning technology. Its essence lies in the impact of powerful narrowly directed water jets on the pipe walls and plug, simultaneously pushing the hose forward; during operation, water is supplied to the long pressure hose by an electric water pump. For household sewer cleaning with your own hands, the hydrodynamic method can be used by owners of Karcher car mini washes or similar devices. To clean sinks, you can buy a special long hose for mini sinks with various nozzles in the retail chain, designed to clear pipes from blockages.

Rice. 3 Karcher mini washer and pressure hose with nozzle

Chemical. When choosing how to clean pipes, many people prefer chemical cleaning products, which are widely advertised in the media. According to the manufacturers, their products are capable of dissolving plugs in pipes made from any organic waste, human hair and animal hair, paper fragments, fatty deposits, and limescale. An alternative to factory-made chemicals are folk remedies, the main ones of which are vinegar, salt, baking soda and caustic soda.

Related article:
Sewer cleaning - methods, options, tools and means. A separate article describes in detail how to independently deal with sewerage blockages in a city apartment and private house. Read it, it might be interesting.

How to remove using folk remedies?

The principle of operation of folk methods is to use the means that already exist. This will solve problems quickly enough.

If the blockage is severe, then traditional methods will be ineffective. Instead, it is better to use mechanical ones or infuse special preparations.

Boiling water

The most accessible cleaning method is to pour hot water down the drain. This method can be applied to various types of pipes, but with some limitations:

for metal communications you can use boiling water;
for plastic water supply, the water should not be higher than +70ºС.

For high-quality rinsing, there must be at least 2 liters of hot water.

Lemon acid

Citric acid can be used to clean drains. Application procedure:

70-100 grams of acid are poured into the drained drain hole.
Pour a glass of boiling water (for metal pipes) or hot water (for plastic pipes).
Leave for 20-30 minutes to act.
Rinse with hot water.

Lemon juice is not an effective remedy for clearing clogs, so it is not advisable to use it.

Soda and vinegar solution

If the problem with difficult water passage is due to fatty deposits inside the pipes, then you can use a recipe based on soda and vinegar.

To do this, first remove water from the sink or bathtub, which is located in front of the section of pipe with the blockage. ½ pack of soda is poured into the drain . And a glass of table vinegar is poured on top.

Immediately after this, the drain hole is plugged with a plug. After 20 minutes, when the reaction is over, hot water is released. Additionally, you can use a plunger.

Requirements for means for dissolving blockages

Any composition for cleaning sewers is subject to a certain set of requirements. If an industrially produced product does not comply with them, it will not be allowed for sale. There are no such strict restrictions for a homemade solution, but it is advisable not to ignore them. We will use these criteria when assessing the effectiveness of the formulations being analyzed.

Here are the requirements for means for dissolving blockages in sewer pipes:

Efficiency. The ideal composition should remove blockages anywhere in the sewer system. Real formulations rarely achieve such effectiveness, having certain limits of applicability. Expanding the scope of application requires the introduction of potent substances into the composition, which is not always possible or justified.
Health safety. It is advisable that the product does not burn the skin of the hands and mucous membranes. Unfortunately, this requirement directly contradicts efficiency. Therefore, it is recommended to wear protective gloves when using many recipes.
Safety for the materials from which the pipes are made. This criterion sounds quite strict: the composition used should not destroy the cast iron and polymers from which the sewer system pipes are made.
Availability and low price. The rarer the components are and the more expensive they are, the worse the product will meet this effectiveness criterion. It is for this indicator that homemade compositions often outperform gels, powders and solutions made in a factory.
Easy to use. The composition should not require long exposure or use according to a complex algorithm. In addition, an ideal product should “forgive errors” when used, i.e., remain effective even if the instructions are not strictly followed.

Recommended: Which cleaning products are safe to use in the kitchen?

Having decided on the principle of operation of homemade pipe cleaning compounds and formulated criteria for assessing their effectiveness, let’s move on to analyzing methods of dealing with blockages that have stood the test of time.

Use of household chemicals

Special household chemicals give good results in clearing clogs. They are available in dry and liquid form.

When choosing a specific product, you need to consider:

price;
exposure time;
convenience of packaging;
release form;
compound.

Disposable sachets are convenient because you do not need to measure the amount of the drug - the contents of the entire sachet are poured into the drain.

Bagi Pothan

Bagi is a trademark of an Israeli company. The product is available in the form of granules . Use the drug by pouring the required amount (about 100 grams per drain hole). After this, hot water is poured in according to the instructions.

The Pothan product is effective and has an aggressive effect, dissolving not only food waste in pipes, but also hair and even diapers. Bagi is used to clear blockages in metal and plastic pipes. Exposure time – 3 minutes. It should not be exceeded.

The price for a container of 600 grams is about 700 rubles. Read reviews here, here and here.

Sanfor

The product in gel form is intended for effective cleaning of sewer pipes. Thick in consistency, the gel easily penetrates the clogged area, despite the presence of water. Sanfor eliminates unpleasant odors, dissolves food contaminants and hair in the drain.

For one application, 0.25 liters of product is enough. The exposure time averages up to a quarter of an hour; for complex blockages, it can be increased. If the drug does not help the first time, the treatment can be repeated.

A container with a volume of 0.75 liters costs up to 200 rubles. Read reviews here, here and here.

Synergetic

The anti-clog product, like all the company’s products, is biodegradable and hypoallergenic . During exposure, it disinfects and eliminates unpleasant odors.

It should be used in its pure form, poured into the drain. Exposure time is up to 20 minutes. The drug can be used as a prophylactic agent; in this case, 0.25 liters per use is sufficient.

Synergetic is suitable for all types of pipes and can be used in the presence of a septic tank. Price – up to 200 rubles per container. Read reviews here, here and here.

Methods for dealing with sewer pipe blockages

Judging by the recommendations of plumbers, in their practice, depending on the degree and cause of the blockage, the following methods have proven themselves to be positive:

Cleaning drains using a plunger and hot water.

Boiling water, plunger and home remedies. This “folk” method of cleaning a sewer is suitable if the blockage is not yet significant, that is, it does not require much effort to remove it.

Using a granular chemical to dissolve clogs.

Application of chemicals. Ready-made cleaning products contain caustic soda, so more complex stains can be removed as quickly as possible. The method is suitable for removing plugs caused by grease, soap, food waste, and hair getting into the drain. Special chemical compounds are capable of cleaning pipes and lime deposits to a certain extent, but not always.

Do-it-yourself mechanical sewer cleaning.

Mechanical cleaning of sewer pipes is a rather complex process, for which various improvised and special devices are used. It allows you to eliminate blockages of varying degrees of complexity. Suitable if the cork has not yet hardened to the state of stone.
Comprehensive cleaning. In this case, a mechanical method is used in combination with hot water and some chemical compounds. The method is applicable when the same blockages occur as in the previous case. Boiling water can enhance the effect of mechanical action on mud deposits.

Hydrodynamic cleaning of sewer pipes.

Hydrodynamic cleaning. In this case, special equipment is used. The hydrodynamic cleaning installation supplies high-pressure water into the pipe to the cleaning probe head, which creates powerful jets with a special direction. Thanks to this effect, the blockage is overcome, the debris that created it is washed away with water right up to the very walls of the pipe, and the sewer system “breaks through.” This option, which usually requires calling a specialist, is suitable for eliminating the most serious contamination of pipes, including lime deposits.

Now about all these methods - in more detail.

Cleaning with a plunger and boiling water

The simplest method, which is usually used by owners first, is manual cleaning using boiling water and a plunger, as well as compounds that can be found in any kitchen. Without much exaggeration, such an approach can be called “first aid” in situations where the drainage system in the kitchen suddenly becomes clogged due to the accumulation of waste mixed with fat deposits in it, and it urgently needs to be cleaned. The same method is suitable if the blockage has not yet arisen, but an unpleasant odor emanates from the drain.

Using this cleaning method, in order to achieve the most positive effect, you should proceed in stages:

The siphon should be dismantled, thoroughly cleaned of any dirt accumulated in it, and then washed.

The first thing to do is to disassemble, clean and rinse the siphon located under the washbasin, sink or bathtub, depending on the location of the blockage. The washing process can be carried out in a previously prepared container with soapy hot water. This will make further cleaning of the system more effective, since dirt deposits in the “elbow” will not interfere with the passage of hot solution through the pipes.
Next, a clean “elbow” with a siphon is assembled and installed in place.

Boiling water very often helps to cope with local pollution

After this, the prepared boiling water (preferably 8÷10 liters) is poured into the sink or bathtub drain. To achieve a stronger effect, you can add 200÷400 grams of soda to the water. The alkaline environment will specifically influence the resulting contaminants.
To speed up the process of moving boiling water through a pipe, you need to use a regular plunger. With the help of hot water, a certain pressure can already be created inside the system, and the impact of this simple plumbing device will make it shock.
The plunger is installed on the drain hole so as to prevent air from entering under its bowl. That is, it is necessary to create a kind of vacuum. The sink should be filled with hot water, about a third of its depth, so that the rubber bowl of the tool is in the liquid. If there is a water overflow hole on the sink or bathtub, then it should be plugged, otherwise the expected effect will not be achieved. Accordingly, if a kitchen sink has two bowls, the drains of which are combined in one siphon, then when working with one drain, the second one must also be tightly plugged.

Cleaning drains with a plunger.

The plunger must be pressed firmly against the drain hole to prevent water from getting under its rubber part. If the liquid gradually leaves, then you need to find the best option for installing the bowl so that it is securely attached to the surface of the sink or bathtub.
Next, jerking movements are performed, during which the suction cup of the plunger should not open from the surface of the container. The handle of the device may move slightly to the side and down. To obtain the required “punching” effect, it is necessary to make at least ten pushes.

Using a plunger can help get rid of minor blockages. But sometimes such cleaning even leads to an “exacerbation of the disease” - compaction of a blockage located somewhere deep in the pipe.

Then the plunger is sharply separated from the surface so that the water begins to quickly flow into the drain. If the process of flushing water is active, and even accompanied by noise, this means that all procedures were successful. If there is no such effect, the procedure is repeated until the sewage system begins to operate normally.

But it also happens that the plunger not only has no effect, but after using it the drain becomes even worse. This means that the plug settled somewhere further along the sewer route, and the tremors created only compacted it. This means that we will have to resort to more radical methods.

Flushing the drain with boiling water and home remedies

When using this approach, six to eight liters of boiling water are first poured into the sewer pipe. This temperature effect will be the first stage in the dissolution of fat deposits, on which other contaminants are most often retained. After pouring boiling water, after 10-15 minutes you need to rinse the drain with hot water from the tap. If the water drains quickly, then the problem can be considered solved.

This method (using boiling water) is not suitable for breaking through a toilet bowl, since a sharp temperature change can cause its earthenware bowl to burst.

If simple boiling water, even in combination with a plunger, does not give the desired result, then after using it you can proceed to the next cleaning stage, which includes the following steps:

In probably every kitchen you can find products such as vinegar, citric acid and soda - they can become the decisive component in cleaning pipes when using boiling water in the first stage.

Cleaning drains with baking soda and vinegar.

You need to pour about 100 grams of soda into the sink drain hole, and then pour in the same amount of vinegar.
The hole should be well closed for a couple of hours using a standard lid, or tightly plugged in another way. During this period, a reaction of two components will occur within the system.

Pouring boiling water into the drain after the “work” of soda and vinegar.

After this time, six to eight liters of boiling water must be poured into the drain again.
After this, the intensity of the drain is checked.

A good reaction inside the drain system will be given by pouring a pack of table soda into it, simply then pouring boiling water over it. Perhaps in some cases the effect of this combination will be even greater than that of soda and vinegar, since a large amount of hissing alkaline liquid will cover a significant part of the internal volume of the pipe.

Baking soda, vinegar, and hot water are often very successful in resolving clogged drains.

Citric acid and boiling water will also help in some cases to achieve the desired effect of cleaning pipes. In this case, you will need 200 grams of acid, which is diluted in a liter of boiling water and poured into the drain. The sink cannot be used for one and a half to two hours.

Even ordinary salt and hot water can help dissolve fatty deposits in the sewer. For this cleaning method, you need to take a pack of salt and a couple of liters of water. It is better to prepare a saline solution from these ingredients, which is poured into the sink drain.

Advantages and disadvantages of flushing

pros

No need to purchase expensive chemicals
Easily removes simple blockages

Minuses

Long wait for effect
Useless technique in case of severe blockage

In this case of serious blockage, it is worth trying other, more effective methods. For example, chemical, mechanical or hydrodynamic.

Check out the technology for cleaning storm drains yourself from our new article on our portal.

Mechanical cleaning

Tools for mechanical sewer cleaning can be different - the simplest is a manual plumbing cable, in a more effective version - a special electrified device with the same cable, but with special attachments in the form of a spiral, drill, loop, etc. However, the principle of operation of such device devices is the same, but the electrical device has greater capabilities.

A device for cleaning sewer pipes, equipped with different nozzles.

Electric cleaning machines . This device is used in cases where other methods have not helped, or there is no desire to carry out the cleaning procedure yourself. To do this, call a master plumber who has similar equipment. He will quickly get the job done by using one or alternately several attachments installed on the end of the cable. In this case, the homeowner will not have to make any efforts, but will have to pay a considerable amount for the cleaning.
A plumbing cable is a flexible metal device. There are several varieties.

— The simplest (rope) is just an ordinary steel cable with a handle at the end.

— A spring cable is a long, several meters long, twisted spring, hollow inside.

Manual method of cleaning sewer pipes

Both of these types, along with being cheap, have a lot of disadvantages.

— More advanced and efficient options are spring-rope cables, consisting of a twisted metal cable enclosed in a flexible “tube” also made of wire twisted into a spiral. Here, too, there can be two types - with a fixed core, or with a core that rotates inside the spring shell.

A high-quality spring rope plumbing cable is not only flexible, but also highly durable. Therefore, it is able to overcome the most serious obstacles in the form of traffic jams and sediments, and pass through turns in the sewer pipes of the system (where, by the way, blockages most often form).

Manual plumbing cable of spring-rope type with a movable core.

Expert opinion: Masalsky A.V.

Editor of the “construction” category on the Stroyday.ru portal. Specialist in engineering systems and drainage.

I recommend purchasing cables of a spring-rope design - they have greater elasticity, so they more effectively solve the problem of dense traffic jams. (By the way, a very useful purchase for those owners of private houses who think about the future).

Some experts practice attaching a plumbing cable of a spring-rope design with a movable core to an electric drill, which is set to low speed when performing work. This approach significantly speeds up the cleaning process, since the rotation of the working nozzle will more intensively cope with difficult-to-pass plugs.

Prices for plumbing cable

plumbing cable

But even by transmitting rotation using a regular standard cable handle, it is quite possible to achieve the expected results.

Cleaning sewer pipes using a plumbing cable through an open sewer pipe.

Work on manual sewer cleaning using a cable is carried out in the following order:

Cleaning can be done through a pipe that was specially provided during the installation of the sewer system specifically for preventive maintenance, or through a pipe to which the sink drain is connected in the bathroom or kitchen.
For ease of work, the cable must first be rolled into a skein.
The end of the cable with the nozzle (if provided) is lowered and pushed into the sewer pipe.
To achieve a greater cleaning effect, you should rotate the cable clockwise using the handle provided in the kit. While rotating, the nozzle will clean the inside of the pipe, separating debris from its walls.

Cleaning the cable from dirt.

Periodically, the cable must be removed from the line, clearing it of trapped debris and dirt. When pulling it out, rotation must be done counterclockwise.
This procedure must be repeated several times.

Thanks to such manipulations, you can quickly crush the debris that has collected in the plug, and then wash it off with a large amount of water running under pressure.

If you don’t have a plumbing cable at hand, and it’s also not possible to invite a specialist with a special tool, then you can use rigid and flexible steel wire with a cross-sectional diameter of 4÷5 mm. One end of the wire must be bent in a spiral, and the other in the form of a handle, that is, at a right angle. The length of the wire will depend on the length of the area being cleaned, plus one to one and a half meters.

If any foreign object gets into the sewer and you cannot push it all the way to the end of the pipe into the septic tank, you can try to get it out using the same rigid wire, but bending its edge into a hook. I must say that sometimes this can be done.

To avoid contamination of the premises and the spread of dirt from the sewer system throughout the house, it is important to observe the following precautions and preparations for work:

— For personal protection when cleaning the sewer system, you need to prepare rubber gloves, a respirator and clothing that you don’t mind ruining. You can use an apron made of waterproof material - it will protect well from dirt getting on your clothes.

Pulling a cable out of a sewer often turns into a very scary picture.

— Depending on the location of the blockage, it is recommended to first cover the bathroom or kitchen with plastic wrap so that the drains do not pollute the room when the cable is pulled out.

Important! For an autonomous sewer system, the wastewater from which is discharged into a septic tank, it is better to use a mechanical cleaning method rather than a chemical one. If caustic soda accumulates in the septic tank, then you can hopelessly destroy all the microflora necessary for wastewater treatment, and in the future you will face a big sanitary and hygienic problem.

Cleaning sewer pipes with chemicals

Chemicals for clearing blockages in the sewer system are effective and fast-acting cleaning methods, the use of which requires minimal physical effort. Such compositions are produced in the form of granules, liquid, gel or powder. The base most often used is caustic soda, which is a particularly dangerous chemical, so when using it is necessary to take the following precautions:

Be sure to protect your hands with rubber gloves.
It is important to follow the recommendations given by the manufacturer in the instructions.
Avoid contact of the cleanser with your skin or eyes. You can protect your eyes by wearing regular glasses.
After using the chemical, the sewer system is thoroughly flushed with a large volume of water released under high pressure.

Chemicals can be used not only to remove existing blockages, but also as preventive measures. Such measures will help keep the pipes clean and, quite possibly, will completely relieve the owners of the unpleasant processes of cleaning from difficult plugs and plaque accumulation.

Liquid solutions intended for cleaning pipes are usually simply poured into the drain hole.

Household chemical stores offer a very wide range of chemical compounds that are specifically designed for cleaning sewer pipes

Chemicals for cleaning sewer pipes.

The most popular chemical compositions include the well-known “Mole”, produced in dry and liquid form, “Domestes”, “Mr. Muscle”, “Sanfor”, “Turbo” and some other products.

Call a plumber

In cases where there is no time or desire to clean the pipes, or the blockage is very serious, which you cannot break through on your own, you can call a plumber .

It is possible to seek the help of a specialist both in case of blockages and, if necessary, to replace components, for example, a cracked siphon. If additional parts are used, they will have to be paid for separately.

You can find a plumber in your city via the Internet. On average, the cost of cleaning work will cost from 700 rubles. If the problem is serious, even affecting the riser, eliminating the blockage will cost more.

Advantages and disadvantages of home remedies

Do-it-yourself pipe cleaning solutions have many advantages over factory-made ones:

To prepare homemade compositions, inexpensive components are used that are always on hand. This is especially true if you have to deal with the blockage far from civilization (for example, in the country).
The cost of factory-made products can exceed the cost of components for a homemade composition by an order of magnitude.
Industrially produced products are highly toxic and chemically aggressive, which makes them dangerous during storage.

At the same time, the effectiveness of homemade formulations, at best, approaches the effectiveness of factory-made products. Therefore, DIY solutions should be used to combat minor blockages, as well as as a preventive measure.

If you follow the technology of use and apply it in your niche, homemade products show quite high efficiency, and the low cost of the components often makes them the best choice for solving the problem of blockages.

Prohibitions when cleaning

When cleaning the drain system, the following restrictions must be observed:

You should not try to break through the blockage using chemicals that are not intended for this purpose. As a result, the drainage system may be damaged.
Do not use household chemicals that are not intended for a specific type of pipe. Information about this can be read on the packaging.
Do not start cleaning without personal protective equipment.
Do not mix several clog clearing products at once. When combined together, they can release very caustic fumes and even damage communications.

Methods for removing paper stopper

After you have independently discovered the location and cause of the blockage, you need to decide how to clean the sewer pipes at home in each individual case. If there is a paper plug that clogs the toilet, you can use a method such as using water hammer. As a result, a sharp increase in pressure on one side of the clog will push the lump of paper through the narrowest area.

If sewer pipes are cleaned at home, water hammer is created using:

Plunger - with this device, cover a mirror of water and make several presses on its handle.
Plastic bottle - use a product with a volume of 1.5 - 2.5 liters, cutting off the bottom and screwing on the cap.
Rags and sticks - before clearing a blockage in the sewer, a piece of rags is folded several times and covered with a mirror of water, and then sharply pressed on it with a stick. In this case, the main thing is not to overdo it, since too strong a blow can split the bowl of the plumbing fixture.

Prevention measures

In order to encounter the problem of blockages as rarely as possible, you should remember about preventive measures. These include:

installing strainers on drain holes;
periodically cleaning the drainage system using home or purchased products;
high-quality installation of the sewerage system and plumbing fixtures;
preventing garbage, cat litter, food debris, small toys, etc. from entering drains.

How to prevent future clogging

To prevent blockages, you need to regularly keep your sewer pipes clean. To do this, it is enough to wash them with plenty of boiling water once or twice a week. You can simply leave the hot water tap open for 30-60 minutes. Boiling water will clean the inside of the pipes by itself, removing any remaining grease and surfactants from cleaning products.

To protect your kitchen pipe from blockages, you should carefully monitor what goes into the sink with dirty dishes. Never leave food residues on dirty dishes, otherwise they will quickly create a greasy plug in your drain or simply clog the siphon, which will then have to be disassembled, and this is not so easy to do.

Even better, after each wash of dishes you leave the hot water tap open for a short time. Or, you can pour boiling water from a kettle onto the drain if you have a boiler and are saving hot water.

A clogged pipe is always inconvenient. Especially if this happens in the midst of cooking or washing dishes. Don’t put off removing the blockage, especially since it’s quite easy to do. Better yet, try to take care of the cleanliness of the siphon and drain in advance, so as not to resort to various means of cleaning them.

Recommendations

When clearing blockages, plumbers advise listening to the following recommendations:

Any wastewater system requires compliance with preventive measures.
When working, it is necessary to organize good ventilation. This is necessary for several reasons. First, clogged drains have an unpleasant odor. Secondly, household drain cleaners are not only aggressive in their effects, but also release caustic substances into the air.
If you are planning a renovation with the installation of plumbing, you need to choose responsible specialists.
When replacing pipes, plastic ones are preferable to cast iron ones, as they have a smoother surface and are not prone to corrosion.

If you are interested in how to clear a clog in a pipe, sink or toilet, take a look at this section.

Cleaning away limestone deposits

To ensure that risers do not deteriorate from the inside, are used for a long time, do not reduce thermal conductivity, and also have an attractive appearance, it is necessary to regularly clean them of limestone deposits.

Mechanical and chemical cleaning are considered not very effective, since during their implementation the surface metal layer is destroyed. Plus, during such cleanings it is sometimes necessary to dismantle the system, which is not always pleasant, and from a financial point of view it is not very profitable. In addition, if you use chemical cleaning, you should strictly follow the instructions. Otherwise, you can not only harm yourself, but also harm the environment. Although, many people prefer these methods of protection against scale.

To carry out automated cleaning of pipes from rust and limestone deposits, use:

Compressor for purging

compressor;
automatic pump;
high pressure devices.

With the help of a water or air jet supplied by these mechanisms under high pressure, limestone deposits are torn off the internal surfaces of the pipes and come out.

Using even the best methods and methods for removing scale in pipes, some of the metal is removed along with pieces of plaque. Therefore, it is better to prevent clogging of structures, for which it is necessary to regularly carry out preventive measures in order to eliminate the possibility of scale formation.

Important! The cost of preventative work to prevent the formation of limestone deposits is much cheaper than the process of cleaning a contaminated pipeline system.

We remove scale from plastic and copper pipes

Nowadays, copper and plastic pipes are the most common structures that are used both in apartments and in private premises. Copper analogs are used in heating, gas supply, and air conditioning systems. Plastic risers are used in water supply, sewer, and other mains. During operation, all risers, regardless of the material of manufacture, become covered with limescale. So, how to clean copper and plastic pipes from scale?

Both types of pipelines have their own advantages and disadvantages. But what they have in common is the impact of working environments in the form of precipitation, which must be periodically disposed of.

Therefore, scale in copper and plastic pipes and its cleaning is a serious problem for this equipment.

It should be remembered that reagents and devices that can be used to clean sediment from copper pipelines cannot be used to remove contaminants from plastic pipes. For example, chemical cleaning with acids is suitable for copper products. But if you use the same reagents to clean risers from other materials, then plastic, for example, may simply melt. Therefore, before starting the procedure for ridding pipes of contamination, you should correctly decide on the choice of mixtures, tools, and devices.

Getting rid of plaque using ultrasound

An ignorant person may think that ultrasonic descaling of pipes is a joke or a prank. How can ultrasound affect scale? But don't rush to conclusions. First things first.

It turns out that ultrasound not only softens water better than any reagents, but also cleans pipes of scale. How is scale practically removed using ultrasound?

The main advantage of the ultrasonic method is that after removing scale from pipes, they are no longer deposited on the inner surface of the pipe.

With the help of ultrasound, exposure is carried out in several ways simultaneously:

1. Salts are destroyed throughout the entire thickness of the water and it is purified, which eliminates the possibility of deposits on the walls. After all, it is known that scale forms when hard water comes into contact with a hard surface. It is on this property that the action of ultrasound is based, under the influence of which many crystallization centers begin to form throughout the entire water column. Since suspended particles have a larger area compared to the areas of warm surfaces, scale formation begins to occur as a result.

Under the influence of ultrasound, hardness salts split and their structural changes begin to occur. After this procedure, the size of salt crystals decreases by about 10 times. As a result, the surface area of all hardness salts increases by the same amount. Thanks to the presence of these small particles (their size is about 1 micron!), crystallization centers begin to be created throughout the water column, but they do not stick to the pipes! You can’t say anything: smart, simple, reliable!

2. Hard water is also subjected to a second exposure to ultrasonic waves. The essence of this process: high-frequency ultrasonic vibrations are created in metal surfaces. Thanks to this property, the entire heating surface is subject to these vibrations, and at the same time, repels hardness salts from the inner surface of the pipe. Since the hardness of the sediment and metal layers is different, ultrasonic vibrations passing through the heat-heating surface contribute to the gradual removal of old scale in the pipes. Thus, under the influence of ultrasonic waves, scale peeling is observed, pieces of which begin to be washed out of the equipment.

Cleaning with hydrochloric and citric acid

High-quality chemical cleaning of water and other pipes requires the presence of strong chemical reagents or products with components that must be properly diluted with water and poured into the pipe. Such mixtures can destroy any scale.

Hydrochloric acid is a very strong reagent. It is necessary to clean steel or cast iron risers with its help very carefully, since such a chemical descaling agent can greatly harm old pipeline structures. There have been cases where, as a result of a chemical reaction, through holes were formed in the iron.

When using hydrochloric acid to descale pipes, one should not forget to comply with safety regulations. Before starting work, you need to make sure that the room is well ventilated. After all, not only acid fumes are dangerous, but also gases that will be released during operation. Also, it is necessary to protect your eyes, hands, and respiratory organs from the possible influence of the chemical substance.

Work should begin with a solution of 5-10% concentration. If you do not achieve the desired result, you should increase the amount of acid.

Important! It is not recommended to use a hydrochloric acid solution with a concentration greater than 33-35%, otherwise the pipes may be damaged. The end of the washing process, which can last 3-4 hours, is indicated by the absence of foam. The used solution should be poured into an unnecessary container, neutralized with lime and poured in small portions in a remote, remote corner where no one walks.

Important! After chemical cleaning of pipes, you need to rinse them with plenty of water until you are sure that the chemicals are completely washed away. In terms of its popularity and effectiveness, citric acid is almost in no way inferior to hydrochloric acid. It is used to clean pipes from scale both in industry and at home.

But such a reagent should be used with some restrictions:

it is necessary to take into account that the solution should be prepared in the following ratio: one percent per millimeter of limestone plaque;
When working with a descaling agent such as citric acid, you should not use enamel and aluminum cookware, as you can be poisoned by harmful substances that will be formed after a possible chemical reaction.

Important! The concentration of citric acid solution should be in the range from 3 to 10%. A composition with a higher reagent capacity can burn through not only the formed scale, but also the surface of the pipe. Plus, cleaning pipes from scale with citric acid does not involve the use of solutions less than 3% concentration, since such a mixture can only partially dissolve the scale.

Professional cleaning

If you cannot normalize the functioning of the sewer system on your own, then it is recommended to seek the help of professionals. In their work they often use a powerful hydrodynamic device. It is a large diameter rubber pipe with a special tip attached to the end. Water is passed through it under enormous pressure (minimum 190 MPa). It has a powerful effect on the traffic jam and quickly removes it. Such equipment allows you to wash the most inaccessible places, very long pipes, including yard sewerage.

Professional devices include a special machine for removing blockages. It can be sectional or drum type, providing the opportunity to efficiently clean any type of sewer pipes. A simple option is a powerful unit that runs on gasoline. It is easy to move around the building, as well as around the local area.

For professional cleaning of the sewer system, several methods are used, requiring the use of special equipment and the involvement of trained specialists Source 771001.ru