
Clogged drain – dangerous for the health and for the property
First of all, it is essential to note that all the toilets, sinks, baths and showers at you property empty into the very same waste pipe which in turn flows into the sewers. Subsequently this waste water is treated, cleaned and returned to the local rivers and streams.
What’s more all of us try to keep our homes clean by, say, making sure all the surfaces in the rooms are dust-free, all the floors are swept and clean, then kept dry and disinfected, that all the carpets are thoroughly vacuum-cleaned; the curtains, rugs, pillowcases and sheets are dust-free and changed weekly. Besides all the sinks, counters, kitchen and bathroom floors are cleaned and dried.
Still, we mostly tend to take special care of the places that are visible for the eye, however there could be hazard in our home hidden or not obvious and may become aware of the problem when it is too late – when our family’s health is at danger of, say, bacteria as well as our property. By this I mean that the clogged drain in our homes poses real threat to our health and tremendous damage to our property.
Drain blockage could be caused by small objects, grease or random debris that accumulate in the pipes over time and end up obstructing the normal water flow hence in case the clogged drains are not cleaned immediately this stagnant water could lead to health problems as well as property damage.
The first signs of some clogged drain are as follows
- there could be unpleasant odour, which fills up the whole property and creates unhealthy atmosphere;
- you could find it hard to flush the toilet after use;
- water can leak into the corners and foundations of the building weakening the whole construction;
- you could notice that the sink or bath empties very slowly;
- moisture can appear on floorboards or walls leading to water stains, discolouration, mildew or mold;
- flooding of the whole property;
- stagnant water attracts mosquitoes and other insects that could carry germs and diseases.
Even noticing the any of these signs as a homeowner you should act before it is too late. In case you suspect some of the drains is clogged or blocked, do phone up a specialist immediately since a plumber would be able to provide you with some efficient and log-term solution that will protect both your health and your property.
And yet if you have no other option in the first 24 hours before a specialist comes you can make use of some practical tips for dealing with a clogged drain since if the problem is caught early you could be able of cleaning it with simple household items.
Shower drains, toilets, sinks and tubs could become clogged with minerals from hard water, with soap and hair. Use vinegar, borax, baking soda and hot water to unclogged the drains and save your health and your property from any further complications.
Step 1
Wait until the water drains – besides this is a good test to see how bad the situation is; the slower the water drains the worse the issue is. It is important to remove the water so that the clearing mixture could work on the pipes.
Step 2
Gather all the necessary ingredients: vinegar (either apple or grape vinegar) – this is the acid that will create the foaming reaction; lemon juice – yet another acid, besides it smells much better than vinegar; baking soda – usually it is used as a multipurpose cleanser hence it is best to add it to your mixture (strange as it may seem baking soda is good for your body too thus you could mix a tea-spoon of baking soda with water and drink it as some precaution measure against bacteria); salt – this substance will help destroy the clog; borax – yet another ingredient used as a multipurpose cleanser.
Step 3
In case there is a drain stopper, remove it with the help of a screw driver and use a flashlight to look down the drain as there could be, say, some ball of hairs close to the surface that you can remove easily with your fingers. If the hair ball or other object stuck in the drain is out of reach you could use a wire hanger to pull it out, just unwind the hanger so that you have a long piece of stiff wire and use a pair of pliers to bend the very end; then just try to pull the object out. In case you don’t see anything, though, proceed with step 4.
Step 4
Mix the above-mentioned ingredients, use ½ cup of baking soda and ½ of vinegar, or 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of lemon juice, or ¼ of borax, ¼ cup of salt and ½ cup of vinegar, pour some of the mixtures into the drain and cover with the tub stopper or a steaming hot towel, let it sit for at least 30 minutes as during this time the foam formed will be eating away the clog.
Step 5
boil water and pour around 4 cups of hot water down the drain.
Step 6
If the water still drains slowly repeat the whole process until the drain pipe is unclogged. As well as that you can plunge the drain – use a small, sink sie plunger to agitate the clogged-up material. Create a seal and push up and down on the rubber base of the plunger. Of course, plunging works best if you fill the tub or sink with water so that to add pressure, which, in turn, will help force the clog open. Do not forget to wear rubber gloves all the time and put a bucket next to you so that to put the clogged material inside.
Last but not least, whatever the case of clogged drain is it is best to call a professional who can most effectively remove the clog and tackle the problem so that there is no health haard or damage to your property.