Unblock Those Obstructed Drains

By Author: David Doilap
Total Articles: 53
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Clogged Drains will make you see red

You are standing under the shower for a relaxing time, and all of sudden you realize that water is rising around your feet. Is there anything as inconvenient and messy as a clogged drain!. And it's not confined to the bath and shower, you could be brushing your teeth getting ready for bed only to be confronted with the sink filling up rapidly. Nobody likes to deal with clogged drainage because they are a real hassle and they give an impression of being unsanitary (because they are). However it is something that every household has to deal with, sooner or later. Every householder must know how to fight that monster of a clogged drainpipe.

Why do drainage get plugged, what is the underlying cause?.

Clogging occurs when substances like hair, dust and other bits and pieces get trapped in the region where the bathroom drainpipe is connected to the main drainpipe pipe. The condition gets worse when products like conditioners, shampoos and detergents accumulate in the already plugged drains. As the mass grows, it restricts the free flow of water, and the drain pipe eventually ...
... becomes clogged up. When waste water drainage very slowly or just stands stubbornly in the washbasin, you know you have a blocked drain problem.

Some effective ways to unblock your bathroom drainpipe are listed below.

You can do a number of things to unblock your bathtub or bathroom sink drainpipe. Whether you are working with a sink or a bathtub drainpipe, the first step to take is to remove the stopper. For a bathroom sink, if you have a traditional style plug this is an easy enough job, but if you have an integrated plug you will have to look under the sink to remove the nut that keeps it attached. In case of bath drainpipe, you can either remove the overflow plate or unscrew the stopper.

The accumulated matter choking up your drain may be clearly visible when you have taken off the stopper. Chances are you'll see a clump of hair mixed with other materials just below the drain pipe. Try to get hold of the mass and pull it out. If it is out of reach, you can use a wire clothes hanger to remove it if you can hook into the debris and pull it. There is a good chance that by removing this mass of material the problem will be rectified and your water will flow smoothly.

If, after exposing the drain pipe, you observe that the blockage is not close enough for removal with the wire you have, then you will need to find another way. A very useful tool is a drain pipe plunger which can eradicate those blockages that are too deep to reach. In the first step, use a wet cloth to cover the overflowing drain, and then use the plunger; this will make the suction stronger. Then, put the plunger over the drainpipe and push up and down half a dozen times. 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 obstruction.

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 drain pipe.

You can always take expert help if this concerns you.

If the above methods fail to solve your stopped drain pipe problem then you may have to contact a plumber. Professional plumbers will have specialist equipment and know-how to unblock your drainpipe in next to no time. It may cost you, but you will find it is worth the money once you can use your sink and shower worry free.
David is the administrator of Blocked Drains, a web site which has articles and information on managing drainage problems. http://www.blocked-drains.net Please visit for more information on how to fix your drains issues.