Ways to clear a Blocked Drain
1. Boiling Water
A straightforward non-toxic option is to carefully clean sink holes, drain holes and toilet bowls with boiling water. Avoid the sink seal. Boiling water breaks down grease, soap and food that binds objects into a clump and loosens blockages. Mix with detergent for tackling grease. Choose hot water rather than boiling water if you have PVC pipes
2. Natural drain cleaners
A great household non-toxic solution is the combo of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and white vinegar, reacting together to clean grease and break down solids. Flush drains with hot water afterwards to remove any residue. Also try commercial kind-to-earth cleaning fluids, such as bacteria-based enzyme cleaners. This solution won’t help with plastic objects or tree roots.
3. Caustic cleaners
They aren’t friends of the environment but commercial caustic cleaners, when used carefully, can dissolve tougher items like hair, as well as grease. Protect your hands and wear a mask, leave in chemicals for the recommended time and flush pipes with cold water afterwards to reduce chemical residue (hot water might react). Caustic cleaners aren’t suitable for PVC pipes, older pipes and some pipe glues.
4. Plunger
Cup plungers are a practical non-chemical de-clogger of sinks. First cover the overflow drain with tape or a damp cloth to create a seal. For sufficient pressure in a double sink, seal the second drain. Pressing a plunger up and down over a drainage hole will create an air-based force that can shift obstructions. Even squeezing an empty milk carton over the sinkhole can create a jet of air. Use a flange or toilet plunger for clearing loos. Grease and mineral remnants don’t respond as well to plunging so may require another option.
5. DIY drain snake
From a coat-hanger, fashion your own version of a plumber’s snake to scrape away at minor close-by blockages, including hair or soap. Or, buy a drain auger, a handheld version of the plumber’s snake.
6. Plumber’s drain snake
The ‘Eel’ or plumber’s snake can remove blockages near the drain opening. The tool has a sharp-tipped coil at the end of a cable and cuts away at blockages when it spins. It has a longer range than a handheld drain auger and benefits from being operated by a plumber.
7. CCTV drain inspection camera
CCTV drain inspection cameras are a great plumber’s tool to verify cracked and obstructed pipes. The camera is attached to a cable reel and guided through pipes providing a real-time inspection and identification of the problem.
8. High Pressure Water Jet
Hydro jets or high pressure water jets can move even the toughest blockages along. Plumbers should operate the equipment as the force is very strong. The water pressure from the water jet can blast tree roots and blockages out of the way.
9. Excavation
A severe blockage may require a plumber to dig out the area around the pipe, remove blockages, repair damage then replace the pipe and backfill. Old clay pipes can crack and collapse and the entire pipe may need to be dug up and replaced to clear the blockage.
10. Pipe Relining
A professional plumber can reline existing older pipes economically with an epoxy resin that hardens to make the pipeline watertight and resistant to tree roots that cause flooding or backed-up sinks and toilets. Before the relining, the plumber will employ CCTV and water jets to locate and clean out blockages. ‘No Dig’ pipe relining is an increasingly popular option for people who wish to repair their pipes without damaging their gardens.
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