From time to time in any economy there is a problem of blockage of sewer pipes. It is completely impossible to avoid this, since used water constantly enters the sewer, and other waste products can also enter with it.
Blockages: causes, methods of elimination, prevention
The most common places for clogged sewer pipes are the following objects in descending order:
- A kitchen sink where food residues and grease are constantly deposited. Although plastic nets help in collecting waste, sometimes they seep through it.
- In the bathroom, hair is mainly collected after shampooing.
- The toilet becomes clogged if baby diapers, sanitary pads, plastic bags, and so on are thrown there.
The main causes of clogged pipes are:
- improper installation of pipes;
- ingress of foreign objects;
- build-up formation during long-term operation;
- improper care or lack of it as such.
In order for the sewer to work, the blockage must be removed. It is advisable to do this even at the initial stage of pollution, since after a while it will only increase, thereby exacerbating the problem. Sometimes specialists from the management company are called in to eliminate pollution. But, if the problem is not running, then it is quite possible to deal with it on your own.
Blockage can be removed mechanically or chemically. The best way to deal with blockages is to prevent them regularly. Blockages can cause an accident not only in one residential area, but also touch neighboring apartments. But, if you carry out regular prevention, then it will cost a penny and will not allow the problem to develop. One of the most effective ways is to clean the sewer system with soda and vinegar, which will help both eliminate the blockage that has appeared and prevent it from appearing.
Soda sewer cleaning Consider different ways to get rid of clogged pipes.
Mechanical methods for eliminating pollution in the sewer
To eliminate severe blockage, a special cable is used. To do this, put on gloves, take the cable and push it into the hole in the pipe. Then, in a circular motion, it is pushed further and further, achieving penetration of drains. As soon as the cable hits the clogged waste, it is necessary to take it away and destroy the accumulation with a sharp movement. The process can take some time, and therefore requires patience, but you can be sure that the problem will definitely be solved in the end.
In the event of a slight blockage, you can try pouring a bucket of hot water first, sometimes this alone is enough. If the problems do not go away, then the plunger comes to the rescue. Using the device is extremely simple:
- they block the drain so that air does not enter there;
- then water is poured in so much that it covers the rubber part;
- holding at an angle, it is necessary to make a series of sharp translational movements with a plunger and then remove it;
- if the water is gone, then everything is in order and the blockage problem is solved, otherwise, the manipulations are repeated.
Mechanical wastewater treatment Elimination of blockage with ready-made chemicals
The most common way for housewives is to use ready-made chemicals sold in stores. Their assortment is teeming with variety and in their action they can remove different degrees of pollution. The duration of their action also varies.
When using it is advisable to wear rubber gloves. The contents of the package or container are simply poured out or poured into a pipe and wait for the place indicated on the package. Ease of use is probably the only advantage of ready-made chemicals.
They have more disadvantages:
- they will not cope with all congestion;
- these potent agents are capable, when removing a blockage, to harm the pipe itself;
- the chemicals contained in the products are harmful to health;
- lead to significant costs.
Cleaning sewers with chemicals Removing clogs with baking soda and vinegar
There is a much less expensive and, at the same time, effective way to eliminate pollution. This is the use of folk methods, primarily soda and vinegar.
The method also belongs to a number of chemical ones and, if we recall the school laboratory work in chemistry, then here it will prove itself in practice. This is an acid-base neutralization reaction.
But, instead of using concentrated products that can harm the pipe, ordinary soda is taken, which is available in the kitchen of any housewife. This is lye. By adding acid (vinegar) to it, an acid-base reaction begins.
This reaction will take place in the tube. There are several ways to clean pipes with folk methods. For the first of them you will need: soda, vinegar (white distilled is best) and a rag to close the sewer hole.
To clean the sewer with soda and vinegar, the following series of manipulations is carried out:
- a dry pack of baking soda is taken, half is poured into the pipe;
- half a glass of vinegar is heated and poured there, which will cause a strong reaction - therefore, so that everything does not flow out of the sewer, the hole should be covered tightly with a rag;
- the pipe is left like this for thirty minutes, during which it is necessary to boil up to two liters of water;
- half an hour later, the rag is removed and boiling water is slowly poured into it.
During the reaction, the vinegar bubbles on contact with the baking soda and releases carbon dioxide. Sodium acetate and carbon dioxide are produced, clearing the blockage naturally. After the procedure, water should pass freely in the pipe. If the expected result does not follow, then it is necessary to repeat everything again. This method is great for work in the sink and in the bathroom. But in the case of the toilet, the situation is more complicated. The fact is that it will not work to plug the pipe with a rag, and therefore the entire contents of the pipe can splash out. Therefore, a mixture of soda and vinegar will not work here. But you can use another, even simpler way.
Cleaning Clogs with Vinegar and Baking Soda Other ways to eliminate blockages with folk methods
It is best to use the following method at night. To do this, salt and soda are taken in half a glass, poured into the sewer pipe and immediately filled with a whole kettle of boiling water, after which do not pour water there for eight hours.
It is considered useful for sewer pipes, as well as wine vinegar. To clean the sewer, you will need a glass of soda and wine vinegar. The procedure is carried out as follows:
- soda is poured into the drain hole;
- after five minutes, wine vinegar is poured into it and the outlet is closed with a rag;
- half an hour later, it is carefully removed and the kettle is poured with hot water in a thin stream.
It is believed that it is better to prevent a problem than to fix it later. This statement is also true for the functioning of the sewer. Therefore, it is very useful, from time to time, to carry out the prevention of pipe pollution. From the article it became known how to clean the sewer with soda and vinegar, soda and salt, or soda and wine vinegar. For prevention, you can use any of these alternative methods, and the amount of funds required is less than to eliminate the blockage. Their great advantage is that, with their effectiveness, they practically do not cause harm and, at the same time, cost a penny.
Regular sewer maintenance required
Therefore, the use of such methods will not only contribute to solving the problem of sewerage, but will also serve to neutralize the environment, as well as save the family budget.
