At some point in our household life, we find our sink draining slowly more than we ever thought. Or sometimes, it does not drain at all. This can only mean that our drain is blocked or something is caught somewhere in the pipes, causing a blockage.
Here are ways on how you can unblock your drain at home without taking much effort.
Boiling Water
Boil water in the kettle as much as it can hold. Slowly pour it down the drain, waiting a couple of seconds between each pour. The boiling water will dissolve anything blocking the way. This is the easiest and fastest way to unlock a drain. Plus, you already have the tools for it at home.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Both of these items are two of the most effective natural, home-remedy cleaners. Mix 1/3 cup of baking soda and 1/3 cup of vinegar together. This mixture will start to fizz right away. Immediately pour it down the sink. Let it sit over an hour or even overnight for maximum effect. Flush it out with hot water after.
Salt and Baking Soda
Mix ½ cup of table salt with ½ cup of baking soda and pour it down the drain. Leave it for 10-20 minutes, then pour boiling water to flush it out. This will produce a chemical reaction that will dissolve the blockages.
Plunger
A plunger is an excellent tool for sucking up any blockages in your drain. It requires a fair amount of effort and persistence. It may take some of your time too, but this is a tried and tested method for cleaning out the drain.
Chemicals
You can buy chemical cleaners at your local market. Pour it down the drain, let it sit for a couple of hours or overnight. Pour hot water to finish the process, and it should unblock the drain. Always follow your product’s instructions whenever using it.
Biological Cleaners
These cleaners use compounds that chew through the blockages, but they are not as strong as the chemical cleaners. This is commonly used if the drain is blocked with hair, soap, and other easy to eliminate blockages.
Drainage Repairs
Over time, our drainage’s may need repairs, especially if no preventive maintenance is done. Drainage repairs cost can potentially blow up if left unchecked. The following are some of the common reasons for drainage repairs.
- Blockages – gradually, grease, and other foreign materials could build up in our drainage’s and obstruct the natural flow of the water pipes. The pipes could be broken as well, which can happen due to a number of reasons.
- Corrosion – everything corrodes with time. Metal pipes can corrode with time, which can lead to cracking and breaking up in places.
- Leaking Joints – joints between the pipes may get broken. This can happen due to the age of the pipe or simply because of the quality of the material used.
Drainage Surveys
Drainage survey is the process of looking into the condition of a drainage system and finding out what caused a problem, and allowing for the proper solution to resolve it. CCTV drainage surveys have been the popular method in doing this. The technology used in inspecting and surveying drains has been essential because of how cost-effective, safe, and fast you can get the result.
Drainage surveys are primarily used to investigate drainage and sewer problems like poor flow, blockages, and pollution, which can turn into a huge problem if left unchecked. Also, it is an essential part of preventive maintenance to allow homeowners to manage their costs and avoid damaged pipes and drain failures. Lastly, it is used to support the work plan on pipe repairs and replacement.
