Clogged drains no more with this maintenance guide and no-frills plan

Blockage of drains is a common occurrence but it is not pleasant, and drain clearing is a tedious job. The toilet, sink, bath or shower might fill up with water if the drainpipe is totally clogged. The drains blockage must be cleared through this build-up of water, and it is likely that the owner of the house will be unable to do so with conventional household chemicals or remedies. At times like this, calling a professional plumber can cost you a fortune. The cost in fact varies based on the drainage blockage and how fixed it is, so expect a heavy expense if it is more stubborn. It is only after encountering a situation like multiple drain blockages at home that you realise the importance of regular drain inspections and a maintenance program.

What are the reasons for occurrence of clogged drains ?.

Carelessness is the prime cause of clogged drains. To prevent your kitchen drain from getting clogged, requiring messy drain clearing, the drain strainer should be used regularly to pull off the food particles from the drain. The drain can become clogged by the collection of this material inside it. The worst thing that leads to increased clogging of the drain is the accumulation of cooking oil or grease. The primary cause of toilet blockages is flushing amounts of toilet paper beyond what is needed down it.

Flushing items not intended for the toilet is also a main cause of clogged toilet drains. Paper towels, baby wipes, and sanitary napkins have adverse effects both independently and together that increases clogging. Clogging of bathtubs, bathroom sinks and showers occur if your hair is trapped and accumulates in the pipes. Items such as shampoos, soaps, toothpaste, hair gel, exacerbate the problem as they produce a build up that further adds to the blockage.

Further, choked drainage can be caused by other factors, besides what you pour down the drain. Plumbing and drains problems are also caused by scale build up, tree roots, damaged pipes due to rusting and faulty drain lines.

There are a number of rectification methods for a drain clog.

Drains can be cleared of blockages by using specially formulated acids and other chemical products. You must take care when Drain clearing that the chemicals you are about to use do not damage the pipes, household fixtures, your health and the surroundings. Fortunately, more natural methods for clearing clogged drains also exist. Running boiling water through the drains regularly is one natural method available. Using baking soda and vinegar is another method. You just need to run diluted vinegar initially into the blocked pipe and spray baking soda moderately on it. Allow the mixture to settle in the drains for minimum of 15 minutes, pouring boiling water and rinsing it afterward is likely to remove the blockages.

Inspect and Prevent Instead.

The plumbing system works in the same manner as your car or any other machine. Similar to all your possessions, it also needs constant examination and ongoing maintenance. As you are most familiar with the behavior of your drains, be vigilant regarding what is going on with your drains and pipes and perform some of the examination yourself. Take the help of a professional plumber to make sure that your drains remain clean and clear throughout. For preventative drain clearing measures get your drain lines snaked by a plumbing technician as a part of a preventive maintenance program at least once a year. If your pipes are particularly prone to becoming blocked or you experience frequent drain clogging, it might be advisable to have your drainpipes snaked on a more regular basis. The major drain connections should periodically be subjected to video inspections.

Regular expert inspection of your drainage system can ensure that your pipes (and not your pockets) are completely drained and cleaned out!.

The clogging up of sewage is unhygienic and can be damaging.

A plumber should be telephoned straightaway if sewage is backing up into your bath tubs, showers or toilets and you need a drain clearing quickly. Decomposing matter in drainage is extremely harmful to health and has to be rapidly sanitised by clearing the drain blockage and disinfecting the area.

As you wait for the plumbers to reach your location, start the Drain clearing by sanitising the affected area with a mixture of bleach and water with a ratio of one cup to five gallons respectively. Wear eye protection, long trousers, gloves and boots and seal the area to prevent entry by children, the older and pets. Remember to thoroughly wash your hands with soap after you are done with the cleaning up. You can help keep sewage from backing up into your home by limiting the amount of water going down the drain.

As an underlying cause, the waste line could be obstructed or there may be a block between the shower and the toilet. Either way, your clear priority should be to prevent your family from exposure to disease causing bacteria and to get on with the drain clearing.

A family member affected by the sewage-borne germs may suffer from fever, vomiting, stomach aches or diarrhea. If you do experience any of these symptoms you should consult a doctor immediately.

Drain clearing tips: Clean all items and surfaces that in come in contact with the sewerage, including kid’s toys, using a standard cup mixture of unscented domestic bleach in every five Imperial gallons of water. You will have to throw away any items that can’t be cleaned properly such as mattresses and of course any food that may have been contaminated.

You can use a plumbers snake if the sewerage back up is in shower area. It would be best for you to get 25 feet long one quarter inch snake to tackle the problem if you are not calling in a waste pipes contractor. It can pass through the line with ease to get at a blockage. Sometimes the toilet in a bathroom can be fine but the shower backs up. The reason is that the typical shower drain is installed level with the floor whereas the toilet trap is typically 6 inches above the floor level.

An expert tradesman, a plumber, must be contacted if you can’t fix the back flow yourself. They are experienced in Drain clearing and will be able to clean up the leaked sewage thoroughly, as well as find out exactly where the clog is located. Unless you know what you are doing when you try to do your own plumbing fixes, it is generally wise to let the professionals handle it to begin with.

Drain clearing skills are needed by most homeowners at some time.

You are standing under the shower for a relaxing time, and all of sudden you realize that water is rising around your feet. An obstructed shower drain that needs clearing, quite disgusting and a sign of problems to come!. Imagine you are brushing your teeth and you notice that the sink is already half filled with water, Yuck!. Dealing with clogged drainage is all together an unpleasant experience because it is complicated and unsanitary. However it is something that every household has to deal with, sooner or later. So you should know about drain clearing, how to unclog them, well in advance.

First, let’s look at why drainage become plugged and what are the main causes of a stoppage.

They get obstructed when dust, hair and other particles get entrapped between the pipes inside the bathroom drainpipe. The condition gets worse when products like conditioners, shampoos and detergents accumulate in the already plugged drainage. Eventually this will become more and more dense and this is what prevents your water flowing uninhibited through your drainpipe. When waste water drains very slowly or just stands stubbornly in the washbasin, you know you have a clogged up drain pipe problem.

Drain clearing: How to remove the drain blockage.

You can do a number of things to unclog your bathtub drain or bathroom sink drain. The first thing that you need to do is to remove the plug of your sink or bathtub drain. Look beneath the sink, you may have to remove a nut that secures the plug or in some cases you can just directly pull out the plug by the u-bend. With respect to the bath, the screws have to be loosened to remove the stopper or the overflow plate has to be dismantled.

After you start the Drain clearing, the removal of the plug may allow you to spot the cause for the blockage. Whilst messy, it is nothing, but a mound of hair and fragments around the components of the bathroom drainpipe. Reach down into the pipe and pull out as much as possible. If it is difficult to reach the area where the clog is located, or difficult to grasp the mass, simply use a bent wire clothes hanger to help you do the job. Your drain is likely to get unclogged if you remove the soap scum, hair and other particles from it that you can see.

If you need to disassemble the drain pipe and notice that the blockage is not even within reach of a wire hanger, you will have to try another method of Drain clearing. Clogs which are very deep can be removed with the help of a drainpipe plunger. First, cover the overflow drainpipe with a wet cloth in order to make the air suction from the plunger stronger. Then put the plunger over the drain mouth and press it up and down repeatedly. When you let go of the plunger, any excess water should flow out right away if you have dislodged the blockage.

Even the plunger may not clear the most dense and hardened matter inside your plumbing – that’s when you will have to deploy a chemical drain clearing product. Chemical Substances should be applied only after all else fails because they are risky and can damage your bathroom hardware.

Bring in the Pros for a professional drains solution and rapid Drain clearing.

If all the do-it-yourself methods fail, then call a plumber experienced in drains work to do the needful. A professional plumber should quickly solve your problem with his special tools and equipment. Taking professional help will cost you a bit but it is definitely worth it.

Your septic tank is the first step of the wastewater treatment process and must be properly maintained to work correctly. The best designed and operated septic tank system/disposal field eventually fails unless sludge is periodically removed from the septic tank. Inadequate maintenance can cause sewage to back up into the house and solids to overflow to the drainfield.

Tank Maintenance

Most tanks need to be pumped every 3 to 5 years, depending on the size of the tank, daily flow of wastetwater into the tank, and use of a garbage disposal. A table at the end of this fact sheet gives guidelines for estimating the number of years between pumpings. You can either pump your tank on a regular schedule (every 3 to 5 years) or based on the accumulated sludge and scum layers. Septic tanks need to be pumped out when the sludge layer exceeds 24 inches in depth or when the bottom of the scum layer is less than 3 inches above the lower end of the submerged outlet. If you cannot locate the submerged outlet, clean the tank if the scum layer is more than 12 inches thick.

Septic Tank Additives

There are many septic tank additives on the market today that claim to improve the performance of your septic system: starters, feeders, and cleaners. To date, there is no conclusive evidence that these products will prevent septic system failure or will improve performance. Adding compounds to a septic tank will not eliminate the need for regular cleaning. Enzymes and yeast products will not harm your system, but there are plenty of bacteria already in the tank that will break down waste products. Other additives however, particularly degreasers, may contain cancer-causing agents that can end up in groundwater or surface water supplies.

Measuring Scum Accumulation

The scum layer can be measured by using a stick to which a weighted flap has been attached with a hinge. When the flap-end of the stick is forced through the scum layer, the weighted flap will fall into the horizontal position. Raise the stick until resistance is felt from contact with the bottom of the scum layer. Place a mark on the stick where it meets the top of the inspection port. Then position the flap so that it is under the bottom of the submerged outlet. Again, mark the stick where it meets the top of the tank. Remove the stick and note the distance between the two marks. Have the tank cleaned if the distance is 3 inches or less. If you choose to do these, remember that the liquid and solid contents of the septic system are capable of causing infectious diseases. After working on any part of the septic system, always wash hands thoroughly before eating, drinking, or smoking. Change clothes before coming into contact with food or other people.

Measuring Sludge Accumulation

Sludge depth can be measured by securing a towel around the bottom 3 feet of an 8-foot piece of lumber. Lower the pole into the tank until it touches bottom and hold it for several minutes. BE CAREFUL! Never lean into or enter a septic tank. You could be poisoned or asphyxiated. Never use matches or flames when inspecting a septic tank. The gases generated in a septic tank are explosive and deadly. Slowly raise the pole and observe the towel. The discolored portion indicates the depth of the sludge layer. Have the tank cleaned if it is more than 24 inches deep. A septic plumbing contractor should be hired to pump out and inspect the tank. If your tank has been recently installed, check the sludge and scum levels every year to determine how rapidly solids are accumulating in the tank.

Other Additions to the Tank

Special additives are one thing, but what about the use of every day cleaning products? Most experts agree that the normal use of household cleaning products will not harm the system by stopping the action of bacteria in the tank. Large amounts of certain chemicals, however, may interfere with the breakdown of wastes in the tank or could clog the drainfield. You also need to keep in mind that the products you use may eventually find their way into local ground-water systems. Consider using biodegradable alternatives for routine cleaning chores. Oxidized bleaches, borax, vinegar, and baking soda are less hazardous alternatives to common household cleaning products. The use of a garbage disposal can also affect your septic system by adding to the amount of suspended solids entering the tank. Suspended solids can enter the drainfield and clog soil pores, reducing the soil’s ability to treat wastes. It is also important to not overload your system. The septic tank is designed to hold incoming wastewater for a certain time period so that solids have time to settle and lighter portions can rise to the top. Try to space out wash loads over the course of a week instead of running many loads in one day. Water-conserving devices such as low-flow toiletsand faucets can also reduce the amount of wastewater that flows into your system. With some care and consideration for your septic tank, it should serve your household well for many years. For more information on household septic systems,

Adapted in part from: Septic Tank Maintenance. Oklahoma State University Extension.