| few of us have been guilty of unblocking drains with | | | | When a plunger fails to clear a blockage, try using a |
| poison (sorry chemical solutions). There are not many | | | | plumber's snake otherwise known as spiral cleaner. |
| ocassions when using chemicals are actually the | | | | Hardware stores normally have them in stock. |
| safest course of action. | | | | Disconnect the blocked drain pipe from the trap, and |
| Here's why... when they fail to unblock the blockage | | | | feed the wire into the pipe. When the wire makes |
| you are left with a nasty odour to deal with, and | | | | contact with the obstruction, rotate the spiral by |
| probably a hazardous liquid floating around in your sink | | | | twisting the handle of the snake. |
| or sommink. | | | | Sometimes, it isn't always possible to clear an |
| Is there anything else we can do? | | | | obstruction from the sink end. You can try pushing a |
| Nice of you to ask :-) | | | | garden hose from outside up the drain pipe, in cases |
| A plunger is almost always a preferred option for | | | | where the waste discharges into a gully. Sometimes, |
| unblocking drains. The up and down motion of a | | | | you'll need to give the offending obstruction a little help |
| plunger breaks up the obstruction. Usually the blockage | | | | to get it moving by turning on the tap. |
| is cleared. You will have to ensure that the cup of the | | | | When you are unable to remove a blocked waste |
| plunger is totally covered with water, and the overflow | | | | pipe from either end, you can try taking the bottle trap |
| inlet is also covered - to prevent backflow of water. | | | | apart. Place a receptacle beneath the trap before |
| It is a good idea to work from the outside when | | | | dismantling it, and put a plug in the sink's plug-hole. |
| unblocking a waste pipe manually. When you reach the | | | | Wash out the trap, and reassemble it after you shift |
| blocked part of the pipe, don't forget to position a | | | | the obstruction. |
| bucket or bowl below the end of the pipe, before | | | | Apply a bit of heat to fat or coagulated oil, when it is |
| trying to clear the blockage. | | | | the cause of a blocked drain pipe. The heat will melt |
| After you've managed to clear a drain, check for signs | | | | the fat, and get things moving once more. A portable |
| of wearing on the rings and replace them before | | | | heater or hair dryer can be used warm the pipe. This |
| reassembling the fittings. Don't forget to check that all | | | | treatment will usually cause the blockage to clear, and |
| the seals are in the correct positions. Failure to take | | | | the waste should start moving again. Turn on the hot |
| this precaution could lead to a leaking pipe. You | | | | water tap for at least one minute. This will clear all |
| certainly don't want that to happen. | | | | remaining traces of fat or coagulated oil. |