Plugged Drains - What A Pain!

By Author: David Doilap
Total Articles: 53
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Clogged drains pipes can be baffling for a householder.

This has happened to all of us - the water fast submerging our toes while are taking a shower. A blocked drain pipe is in action. Imagine you are brushing your teeth and you notice that the sink is already half filled with water, Yuck!. Dealing with clogged up drains is all together an unpleasant experience because it is complicated and unsanitary. But the fact is that sooner or later, a bathroom drain pipe is going to become blocked or suffer a stoppage. So you should know how to unclog them, well in advance.

What causes a clogged drain pipe?.

Hair, dust and other particles getting stuck in the space between the drain pipe and the pipes are the main cause. The problem gets worse when the particle build up is cemented together by the residues of detergents and cleansing cosmetic items. Eventually the clumps of accumulated matter prevent water from draining out quickly or may even completely seal the drainpipe hole. If the water has started building up quickly in your tub or sink, then without delay you should unclog the drain pipe.

How do you ...
... unblock your drains?.

Here are a few things that you can do to clean your clogged up bathroom drainpipe and get the water running. First of all the plug should be removed. You can easily remove the plug by pulling it off from the bathroom sink, however if it's fixed under the sink then you need to unscrew the nuts. In the case of a bathtub, an overflow plate may have to be detached so that the entire assembly can be opened up, or there may be provision to unscrew the stopper at the drainpipe itself.

It is important to remove the stopper because only then you can view the things that are clogging the drain pipe inside the drainage pipe. Chances are you'll see a clump of hair mixed with other materials just below the drainpipe. Clear out as much of the obstruction as possible. You may find it difficult to get at the clog, in which case you could use something like a wire clothes hanger to fish the material out. Removing the hair, detergent residues and the rest of the material will surely solve your problem.

If, after exposing the drain, you observe that the blockage is not close enough for removal with the wire you have, then you will need to find another way. Use a drain plunger to loosen the blockage that is deeper down the pipework. Begin by covering the overflow drain pipe with a wet towel so as to create a stronger suction from the plunger. Now put the plunger over the drainpipe and move it up and down continuously at an even pace. Hopefully, after doing this and once the plunger is taken away, any water should flow freely down the drainpipe as the vacuum created freed the blockage.

However, if this method also fails to have any affect you might have to use some sort of chemical cleaner. The chemicals have the potential to damage your bathroom fixtures, and they are dangerous too; for this reason, they should be used only when all the above methods fail to unclog your drainpipe.

Call a professional plumber if all else fails.

If all the steps outlined above fail to clear the blocked drain, then it is best to call in a crack team - a qualified and experienced plumber or drainage contractor from your area. A professional plumber should quickly solve your problem with his special tools and equipment. Calling in a plumber does cost money, but you can then rest assured that your drains are completely cleared and will not hassle you in the near future, a good plumber will also clean up any mess created as a bonus.
David is the creator of Drains Clearance, an informative site which has articles and information on treating drainage problems. http://www.drain-clearance.info Please visit the site and read the comprehensive tips on how to clear your drains system.