Encountering a blockage in your sewer pipes is a messy situation. It can lead to foul odor in your bathroom and in some worst case scenarios waste can back up in your pipes, causing water flooding at the same time.How to unblock a sewer pipe? There are things you could do to unblock a sewer pipe. All it takes is the right tools, time and some effort. Read on and you will find out.
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Step 1 – Assess the Damage
Before you go and call a plumber to fix the sewer pipe, you can do an inspection on your own to know how severe the clog is. This will give you an idea on how to solve the problem; if you can do it yourself or if you need professional help. Try to locate the location of the leak. You can do this if the pipe is exposed or if there are signs like moulds on walls or ceiling.
Step 2 – Remove a Simple Blockage
If you think it’s a simple clog, you can unblock it with a drain cleaner. However, you should evaluate if it is something that a drain cleaner can fix. It works best on slow drains and not in totally clogged drains. You also have to leave it on the drain for some time for it to work. When used carefully, you can use it to prevent future clogs.
You can also use a plunger to remove the blockage. To use a plunger, simply cover the opening and plunge consistently and with force. You may have to repeat the process many times until you see that the drain has cleared.
Step 3 – Remove a Major Blockage
If the blockage is located farther down, probably outside your home, you may have to use a snake. The pipe will usually have an access through a cleanout. Open the cover and use the snake and push it into the opening. Continue pushing until you hit a blockage. Twist the snake to hook the debris and then pull it out.
Of the drain snake was not able to do the job, you will need to dig the soil to be able to replace the pipe. This is a very tedious task to be done alone, hence I suggest that you avail of the services of an experienced plumber.
Step 4 – Prevent Futures Blockages
Like any other bad experience, you don’t want it to happen again. To prevent future blockages, you should know what caused it. One of the common mistakes of homeowners is flushing down everything in the toilet. Learning to stop flushing things like paper towels, wipes, sanitary pads, and even toilet paper will help prevent clogs from happening again.
Another important practice is to have a plumber check you water supply and drainage system after every few years. This way he will be able to catch a minor problem before it becomes bigger and more costly to fix.
