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How to Fix A Blocked Drain.

By Scott Rodgers

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 21May2009
Word count: 523
Viewed: 367 time(s)

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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. In most cases this should solve your problem and all will be well. 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. It is good to do this regularly so that there isn't the chance of it descending down into your drain and causing a major blockage.

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 could be caused by any number of things, including tree roots and old disintegrating pipes, or just that something that shouldn't have been put down a drain, such as fat or sanitary pads, which has caused a blockage. In this case it is best to call a plumber who will be able to locate the problem and fix it.

If there is the smell of sewage in the house, it is best to ring a plumber straight away so as to avoid any further back up of waste. And always ask the plumber what had caused the blockage so as you can make sure you and the rest of your household avoid putting such things down a drain 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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