Why do sewer lines get clogged and how can you clear the blockage with your own hands?

A clogged drain reduces the comfort level of living in a house or apartment. You can clear a sewer clog either by hiring specialists or by yourself.The complexity of the work depends on the type of cleaning chosen.

Causes of blockages

Blocked fluid flow can occur for several reasons. To avoid sewer blockages in the future, it is necessary to identify the cause and eliminate it. Sewerage clogs in the following cases:

1. Installation violations. Incorrectly selected angle of inclination, a large number of turns, etc. cause sewer blockage.
2. End of life of pipes. Natural wear and tear on the inner surface leads to the accumulation of fatty deposits. Metal structures are negatively affected by corrosion.
3. A large amount of fat and soap accumulation. Residues of food and decomposition products of hygiene products settle on the walls of the sewer. The internal space narrows and a sewer blockage occurs.
4. Entry of a foreign object. This type of clog often occurs when foreign objects are flushed down the toilet. This includes toilet paper, personal hygiene items, etc.
5. External damage to the main line. Chips and cracks occur as a result of mechanical stress on the product. Chips prevent the free movement of large waste along the highway.
6. High level in cesspool. When the well is filled, the free flow of liquid from the line is blocked.At the same time, fat deposits intensively settle on the walls of the pipe, and a sewer blockage forms.
7. Irregular use of the system. When dry, soap deposits make the inner surface of the line rough. This contributes to the rapid accumulation of contaminants.

Proper installation and use of sewerage will reduce the risk of contamination of the drainage system.

How to clean a sewer in a private house with your own hands

You can remove blockages in sewer pipes without specialists. To do this, identify the area where the plug has formed and clean it using one of the following methods:

1. Flushing. Suitable for light stains. The method involves supplying a large amount of hot water to the main line. As the liquid passes through the system, it washes away contaminants that are on the walls.
2. Use of chemicals. When dirty water flows slowly, specialized chemicals are poured into the system to destroy soap and grease deposits.
3. Mechanical cleaning. The method involves removing the plug using various devices. The method is well suited for removing sewer blockages, even of a high degree of complexity.

The user independently determines the degree of contamination. The choice of method is carried out separately for each case.

What causes blockages

In most cases, sewer contamination occurs due to improper operation. Users do not equip sink drains with additional filters (mesh). Large particles of food waste get stuck in the drain.

Pipe blockage

Lack of preventive measures leads to blockage of the pipe over time. In some cases, users flush toilet paper, cotton pads and other hygiene items down the toilet.Before removing the sewer blockage, determine at what interval it formed.

How to find the area where the blockage occurred

The owner can independently determine where the traffic jam has formed. This does not require the use of specialized equipment and tools. You can identify an area by comparing the speed at which dirty water flows at different drainage points.

If in the sink and sink the liquid drains slowly at the same time, which means there is a blockage in the main sewer line. If at one of the points the liquid flows more slowly, the contamination is located in the interval from the point of intake to the main line.

The siphon of a sink or sink where drainage is difficult is disconnected from the sewer pipe. After this, its end is lowered into the container and the water is turned on. If drainage is difficult, the siphon is dirty. Normal fluid flow indicates that a plug has formed in the sewer pipe between the siphon and the main line.

Mechanical sewer cleaning

The most effective method of cleaning is mechanical. It involves the advancement of a specialized cable along the channel.

Cleaning cable

There is a handle attached to one side of the product. It is necessary to rotate the cable when feeding. To facilitate the procedure, 2 people are involved in the work. The work is performed in the following order:

1. Free access to the channel is provided. To do this, disconnect the siphon, dismantle the toilet corrugation or open an inspection hole in the pipeline.
2. One person feeds the cable into the hole. At the same time, the second one slowly turns the handle.
3. After pushing through the blockage, remove the cable from the pipeline.
4. Install a specialized attachment in the form of a brush on the cable.
5. Repeat the cleaning procedure.

By rotating inside the pipeline, the nozzle cleans its surface of contaminants. It should be taken into account that the cable must be turned in one direction.

Pipe clogged with paper

When flushing toilet paper in toilet a traffic jam may form. You can use a cable to clear the blockage. As you work, toilet paper will be wrapped around the edge of the cable. The cable is removed from the pipeline gradually, avoiding sudden jerks.

After removing the paper sewer blockage, no additional measures are required. The system will operate normally.

Food waste clog

When a plug forms due to the accumulation of fats and food waste, using only a cable is not enough. This is due to the fact that when scrolling, the edge of the cable removes the plug, but does not clean the internal surfaces of fatty deposits. This contributes to the rapid formation of a new blockage.

To effectively clear a sewer clog, alternate between using a cable and flushing the pipeline with hot water. When heated, the fat layer becomes softer, which allows you to clean it as much as possible from the walls. Mechanical cleaning and washing are repeated until the water removal rate is normalized.

Chemical sewer cleaning

The method is used for pollution of a small degree of complexity. The procedure involves submitting to pipeline specialized chemicals.

Under their influence, fats of plant and animal origin dissolve. Different compositions allow you to choose a chemical product for removing fat, soap deposits, hair, food residues, etc.

Popular means for removing blockages

Chemicals are not able to remove stubborn blockages and blockages caused by foreign objects. When the internal space of the pipe is completely blocked, the chemical acts on a small part of the contamination. The impact area should be maximum. If necessary, combine mechanical and chemical methods.

Cleaning drains with wire

Short sections of the pipeline are cleaned using wire. For this purpose, steel wire is used. The technology for carrying out the work is identical to cleaning with a cable. To remove the blockage, a hook-shaped bend is made at the end of the wire.

When feeding, the wire is twisted in one direction. The use of wire over a long line is impossible. Violation of this rule can lead to bending and jamming of the product inside the pipe.

Sewer flushing

When the first signs of a sewer blockage appear, you can clean the inner surface of the pipeline using flushing. To do this, a large amount of hot water is supplied to the drainage point.

To improve the result, in some cases, citric acid, soda, vinegar and other folk remedies are added. Washing is carried out several times until the water removal rate is completely normalized.

Remedy for sewer blockages

There is a selection of sewer blockage chemicals on the market. The scope of its application depends on the composition of the substance. All funds can be divided into 2 groups:

1. To remove fats. Alkaline based substances work well. They break down fats of plant and animal origin.
2. To remove soap scum.Products containing acid destroy soap deposits on the surface, hair, etc.

When choosing a product, take into account the material from which the sewage system is made. Some substances can contribute to the rapid destruction of the pipeline.

When introducing chemicals into the pipeline, personal protective equipment must be used. This will prevent the substance from getting into open areas of the body or into the eyes.

Preventing blockages

To avoid blockages in the sewer, you must follow several rules. Carrying out preventive measures will allow the system to operate normally for a long time. Rules for sewer care:

1. Prevent foreign objects from getting into the line. Do not flush toilet paper, cotton pads, or other hygiene items down the toilet.
2. Install additional mesh at the liquid intake point. They will prevent large particles from entering the pipe.
3. Monitor the liquid level in the sump. This will prevent stagnation of dirty water in the system.
4. Avoid mechanical impacts on the line, leading to fractures, chips and cracks.
5. Periodically check the drainage rate.

The owner of a house or apartment is able to identify the formation of a blockage in the sewer and eliminate it with his own hands. Considering the reason why the free drainage, you can choose the cleaning method. If necessary, you can combine different elimination methods. This allows you to achieve maximum effect from the procedure.

Have you ever cleaned a clogged line yourself? Which method was used in your case?

In the video you can see how to clean a sewer with a plumbing cable: