It is not unusual for grease, soap, detergents and fats to accumulate in the interior of pipes and eventually clog the pipes. Clogged drains or pipes prevent wastewater from flowing out and causing flooding. This can be very stressful, and very messy, according to the most referred ClearWater Plumber.
Clogged kitchen and bath drains are one of most commonly encountered plumbing problems, says Mr. Rooter. If you are looking for a method of unclogging your drain, but don’t like the idea of using a chemical-based drain opener, here are some “green” approaches that may be effective for clearing simple clogs.
A little known fact among green cleaning enthusiasts is that hot water can be an invaluable drain clearing tool, says your local Clearwater plumber. To get rid of light clogs, either run a steady stream of very hot water directly from faucet into the drain or pour several cups of pre-boiled water down the clogged drain. This helps break apart and wash away bits of hair, soap scum, grease and other types of clog-forming filth.
Plumber Pro Tip of the Week
Tip #1 Simply pour a cup of baking soda down the stopped-up drain and follow it up with 1 to 3 cups of boiling water. If there is residue from any commercial drain clearing products in your drain, you should avoid this method.
Tip #2 When it comes to drain clearing, plunging is still one of the most effective methods. After filling your tub or sink with a small amount of hot water, position your plunger or sink plunger directly over the troubled drain and proceed to vigorously plunge it.
Tip #3 The first attempt to rid your small drain pipes of food bits and pieces or hair, and big pipes of tree roots is called cabling or snaking. A metal cable loaded with spring is spun at high speed while it is being inserted through the drain pipe to discharge the obstruction in the pipe.
Tip #4 An auger is a tool specially made for toilets and urinal clogging. The process is much like that of cabling where the auger, a much smaller tool, is introduce through the drain pipe to try to recover or force a thing out through a “trap.”
Tip #5 Grease, soap, sludge and other build-up is flushed out of the drain system of a home or an industrial building with the use of a high–pressure water jet powered by a compressor attached to a cable with a specially made nozzle.
PLUMBER TRADE SECRETS: If the cleanout is below the surface of the water backup, all of whatever is in the lines will flow out and onto the floor when you open the cleanout. This is why one should always have a cleanout outside of the building. To tell where the backup level is, fill the line and tap it in several places. A dull thud means the line is full. A hollow sound means it is empty.