Home and chemical cleaning methods for clogged sinks

We all periodically encounter such a nuisance as a blockage in the sink. Water ceases to go into the drain hole naturally, an unsightly puddle or even a “mini-pool" with waste forms. To restore the basic function of plumbing, wash dishes, vegetables and fruits in it, and also not accidentally flood the neighbors from below, you need to get rid of the problem as soon as possible. So, how do you break through a sink if it clogs? What needs to be done at home to remove the blockage?

Why is the sewer pipe clogged in the sink?

Most often, in the kitchen sinks of residential buildings is formed so-called operational blockage. The need for nutrition in humans is daily - 3-5 times a day. The larger the family, the more you have to cook and wash. At the same time, part of the waste falls into the sewer.

Most of all, from the dirty plates in the drain drains fat. It is lighter than water and is not completely washed off, partially settling on the walls of the drain pipe. The remains of animal and plant food, dirt and debris, passing through the drain, stick to the oily coating. Detergents, limescale and impurities contained in tap water are added to it. Gradually, the clearance for wastewater decreases to a critical value, which ultimately leads to obstruction.

Rarer types of blockages are technological and mechanical:

1. The first occurs as a result of improper installation of plumbing, for example, in the absence of a tilt at the drain or an error in the collection of the siphon.
2. The second is formed by getting a sufficiently large foreign object, such as a rag or sponge, into the pipe. Fortunately, in almost all modern kitchen sinks, the structure of the drain hole does not allow this.

Ways to eliminate blockage

If the sink is clogged and you want to deal with the problem on your own, come in handy:

• plumbing tools designed specifically for these purposes;
• liquid and bulk products (mainly chemical).

In any case, at the beginning, try to pull out all the debris from the sink that you can, so that getting it inside during your manipulations does not aggravate an already deplorable situation.

Mechanical

In almost any apartment there plunger - a device consisting of a wooden handle with a suction cup made of thick rubber at the end. To use it:

• firmly press the rubber valve to the drain hole;
• close with your hand or a rag a hole for overflow, if any, otherwise you will drive air currents between the drain and overflow, and the cork will stand still;
• pour water (5-10 cm) into the sink as hot as possible;
• make a few sharp and strong movements down and up according to the principle of the pump. Water in the drain under pressure will either rise or fall, tearing off the growths of dirt, freeing the sewer passage from clogging;
• open hot water, check how it goes. If the situation is slightly better than before, but the result does not suit you, repeat the manipulations again.

If the plunger did not help, you can try pushing or pulling the cork with a metal cable, which is often used by professional plumbers. There is a handle at one end, and a hook, a brush or coils, like a spring, on the other. They put it into the pipe with screwdriving movements to the required depth in order to “disperse” all the garbage. For lack of a cable, you can use a piece of hard wire, bending it at the end with pliers.

Attention! This method is more likely to apply to metal structures. Plastic under excessive mechanical stress can crack.

If all efforts were in vain, call plumbers. They will provide you with qualified assistance for the appropriate fee - they will "cure" the sewer "ailment".

Chemical

If you decide to eliminate the blockage on your own, but are not ready for physical exercises with a plunger or cable, use household cleaning products. For the kitchen sink alkaline cleaners containing soda and some other additives are suitable.

Dry powders or granules have the highest concentration of active substance and the fastest action - from 3 minutes. When in contact with water, they are able to create a real geyser, often accompanied by the release of a pungent odor. Therefore, their use requires special care: it is better to work with gloves and a respirator, after use, thoroughly ventilate the room. It is better to send the children for a walk, or in extreme cases, to another room. One bag is designed for one application, a container - for several, so it costs more. Popular drugs: domestic Mole, Israeli Unicum Tornado, Mr. Muscle, Bagi Shumanit and Bagi Pothan, British Mr. Muscle and Chirton, Czech RAVAK Turbo Cleaner.

Liquids and gels - softer and safer, although the effect does not occur as fast as bulk products. They will have to be poured into the sewer channel and wait at least half an hour. The second is more economical, but they are much more expensive. According to customer reviews, it is worth paying attention to the Russian funds Krot, Sanoks “Clean Stock”, Sanfor, Aqualon Deboucher Active and Synergetic, English Tiret Turbo.

After using chemicals of any consistency, it is necessary to drain a strong head of hot water for several minutes. This will rinse off any remaining cork and cleaning agent.

Attention! Before use, carefully read all labels and instructions on the packaging. To avoid damage to the plumbing, try not to exceed the indicated duration of the drug for a long time.

Homemade

The simplest means available to any layman, are boiling water, soda and vinegar. They are natural and harmless, do not act aggressively on the respiratory and nervous systems, are not so dangerous to the skin. But they are better to use with minor drain problemswhen the blockage is very small and the flow of water is not very difficult.

Boiling water, which can be simply poured into the sink from the kettle, can dissolve oil accumulations and wash them off the walls of the pipe. For plastic, unlike metal, it will be safer to use water whose temperature does not exceed 80˚.

By doing such a water-thermal "attack" daily, you can prevent the occurrence of blockage.
If the water does not leave fast enough, pour a few tablespoons of ordinary tea soda into the drain hole and pour it with table or apple cider vinegar (not an essence). After the reaction (bubbles and hissing) is over, wait 30 minutes and rinse everything off with hot, and possibly boiling water. The cork will dissolve and go into the sewer.

By the way! If soda is mixed with salt 1: 1, then the drain is also disinfected. With severe blockages, you can take soda ash instead of baking soda.

What is a dietary supplement powder?

To dissolve food waste, you can use ordinary washing powder with bioadditives based on active oxygen and bioenzymes, which are able to not only split greasy and dirty stains on clothes, but also accumulations in the sewer pipe.

It is better to fill it in the drain hole at night, and in the morning it should be thoroughly washed off under strong pressure of water. It will not cause harm to metal or plastic, but it will certainly affect fat.

Effectively affect blockage in the knee (sump under the sink) environmentally friendly powder mixtures designed for dry closets and other septic tanks. They contain strains of biologically active bacteria in the form of spores, which accelerate the decomposition processes and absorb residues of plant and animal origin, reducing their volume by 30-40%. In addition, they neutralize unpleasant odors. To activate the drug, it is necessary to fill it in the sink sink and pour plenty of water.

How to clean the siphon?

Siphon - an intermediate element connecting the sink with sewer communications. Usually a flexible hose is extended to it from the drain hole, and from it is a corrugation wedged into the sewer. It performs a dual function - blocks the entry into the kitchen of sewer stench and is a sumpwhere most fat and dirt accumulate. When it becomes clogged too much and the water stops leaving, it should be cleaned.

To implement the process:

• prepare the area under the sink: remove all excess objects and substitute a bucket or basin for draining sewage;
• disassemble the drainage system, remove all the muck from the drainage elbow (mainly a black slippery mass) and rinse the parts thoroughly. Through the hose going from the sink, you can let the water flow, after sending the opposite end to the bucket;
• after all the details will shine clean, wipe them and collect the plumbing communications in the reverse order of analysis;
• turn on the tap and check the installation. The joints should be dry.

Preventive actions

To prevent the sink from clogging often, follow the simple requirements for its use:

• after eating, before washing the dishes, remove all food remains from its walls and bottom;
• close the drain hole with a filter net, clean it daily of accumulated debris and rinse;
• once or twice a week do the above manipulations with boiling water (hot water) or soda with vinegar.

To make your life easier and reduce the likelihood of blockages in the kitchen, you can purchase a dishwasher - This will partially help solve the problem. However, in any case, you should not bring your plumbing to a deplorable state, so that you do not have to mess around in the mud and inhale the stench from the sewer and chemicals. Compliance with the recommendations for use and periodic preventive maintenance will help to keep the pipes clean, the smell in the apartment is pleasant, and the mood is excellent.