Blocked Drains

Drain Blocked? No Worries!
By Scott S. Rodgers

There is no plumbing problem much more common than a blocked drain. The good news is that if you spot the problem early, most blocked drains are relatively easy for you to solve by yourself. The important thing is to know what not to put down a drain. Put together a list and distribute it to all the members of the household so that you don't suffer from the same problem sometime in the future as most blocked drains are easily avoidable with a bit of planning and regular cleaning and maintenance.

Wherever you have a blockage, if it applies to only one fixture, then your first line of attack is a plunger or hand auger, especially if you have spotted the problem early. Your difficulty will be solved by this the majority of the time. The exception is the shower, where hopefully you will have some sort of device which is capturing the hair and soap scum before it enters the drain. Yes, in this case, it is going to be a little unpleasant, but you're going to have to clean it out before the shower blocks totally and water is up around your ankles and not draining away. So lift up the cover and remove whatever is sitting there, using gloves if that makes it easier for you. There is a benefit to doing this routinely to reduce the chance of a major block.

If the plunger or hand auger doesn't work for the other drains, then use one cup of baking soda and three cups of boiling water, or a combination of baking soda and vinegar to break down the blockage. This is a simple alternative to the highly toxic chemical cleaners that are available at your supermarket. Although they do the job, these chemicals are very dangerous to have around the house, particularly if you have children. They are also dangerous to the environment as there is the chance that due to flooding or a split drain, they could be dispersed into the storm water system and end up in the sea or rivers where they are a hazard to people and the environment.

If you have more than one drain blocked, there is a possibility that you have either multiple blocked drains, or there is a blockage in a main line. This may be brought about by myriad factors, including pipe wear and tear or inappropriate materials put in the pipes. In this case it is best to call a plumber who will be able to locate the problem and fix it.

If the odor of waste product is present in the home, make sure to get in touch with a plumbing contractor immediately. Make sure to inquiry what made the block occur, so that you can avoid the cause in the future.

Scott Rodgers is a plumber who has recently begun writing articles for both a plumbing and non-plumbing audience. To view more of plumbing articles, visit http://eLocalPlumbers.com

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