Showing posts with label drain clearing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drain clearing. Show all posts
Thursday, February 10, 2011
How To Clobber Those Really Tough Drain Clogs
When Plungers Fail, Kick It Up a Notch!Nobody likes having a clogged sink, toilet or tub. For most people, drain clogs rank at or near the top of life's list of inconveniences. It’s probably a safe bet that you can work a plunger or have had to use an over-the-counter chemical drain cleaner to unclog a problem drain. And in most cases, these time honored drain cleaning tactics will do the job nicely. But when these traditional clog-busting methods don’t work or you’re dealing with a particularly nasty clog, what can you do? Time to pull out the big guns!
Get Physical to Clean the Drain
If you’re tried a plunger or chemical drain cleaner and the clog still hasn't been cleare, you may need to take a more physical approach. You can purchase a plumbing snake for around $20 at most home improvement or plumbing supply stores. These long, thin tubes go straight down the drain to catch and remove hair, debris and sludge that have caused the clog. If your sink is blocked, clean out the trap and feed the snake into the pipe that way. Try covering the overflow valve to build up pressure that can help blast the clog away.
A power auger is an even more powerful physical option to stubborn clogs. You should only use an auger if you have more than basic plumbing experience so you don’t risk damaging your plumbing. If you don’t feel up to the task yourself, it’s best to call in a professional plumber. The upside of hiring a pro is that he or she can do a whole system inspection to make sure you don’t have to deal with tough clogs again.
The Non-Chemical Approach to Drain Cleaning and Maintenance
Commercial chemical drain cleaners usually contain harsh chemical agents that cause nasty fumes, burn your skin and damage your clothing, floors and surfaces. They can also be quite expensive. For a cheaper, greener approach, a solution of plain old baking soda and vinegar or boiling water can do the trick on many clogs. The most common cause of drain clogs is accumulated hair, so adding a bit of hair removal cream to the drain can help break up the clog.
To maintain a clear drain, use an enzyme culture solution once a month to break down grease and debris; these all-natural, organic products can also eliminate odors from pipes and drains. You can find these products at most home and hardware stores.
If you do go the chemical route, don’t ever mix cleaners; the chemicals can react violently and cause serious damage to pipes or septic systems, not to mention produce harmful vapors.
When All Else Fails, Call The Pros!
If you’ve tried all the above methods to clear your clogged drain, then your problem is probably more serious than just a run-of-the mill clog. You could have significant accumulation of hair or grease...or a foreign object may have become lodged in the drain. Even worse, your could a broken or leaking pipe somewhere in your drain system. If left untreated too long, these issues can compound and lead to more serious problems that may require a total plumbing and drain system overhaul.
For super-stubborn clogs, call a professional drain cleaning contractor. If these is a good indication that the problem is more serious than a typical clog. Nationwide, the average cost of hiring a pro to unclog a drain is about $250. Though this sounds like a lot for a simple blocked drain, it's better to spend a little now to avoid more costly damage in the future. And if you call the drain cleaning pros at Horizon Services, you get one of the best drain cleaning deals available anywhere: Horizon will clean and clear any drain, any time, any size for the unbeatable price of $149. That's a small price to pay for instant gratification!
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- Garbage Disposal Do's and Don'ts
- How To Properly Use a Plunger to Unclog a Toilet, Sink or Tub
- Winter Plumbing Maintenance Tips
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Home Sewer Line and Drain Disaster Prevention
Don't Let Obstruction Lead to Destruction!Blocked sewer lines and drains can wreak havoc with any home, causing the bath, sink or toilet to back up and fill with waste water and sewage. That's if you're lucky. A really bad blockage can cause your tub, sink or toilet to overflow, ruining floors, rugs and carpets and creating a highly unsanitary situation for all members of your household.
Major drain and sewer line backups and problems are not for the faint of heart. When they occur, you almost always need to call a professional drain cleaning or sewer line company like Horizon Servcices...especially if the blockage is particularly tenacious and a long time in the making.
Build up of scale and rusting, years of accumulated gunk and waste, even invasive plant roots are the major causes of blocked drains and sewer lines. The good news is that with proper usage and maintenance, most drain and sewer line disasters are unnecessary and avoidable. A few sensible precautions can prevent most drain and sewer line blockages from ever occurring.
Just like your car, your home's plumbing and drainage system needs some level of basic regular maintenance to keep it functioning properly. As well as regular checks by yourself, a professional plumbing or drain cleaning specialist should be called in each year to snake your drain lines and keep them clear.
Do-it-yourselfers can often clear minor blockages to sinks, tubs and toilets with a plunger. But the kind of blockage that leads to a back-up situation usually requires much more aggressive means. Special chemicals like acids and other corrosive products can effectively clean drains and clear sewer lines...but they can be very dangerous and destructive to your body, your clothing, your floors and surfaces, even your pipes. Be extremely careful when pouring these corrosive chemicals down drains. Before you try the chemical route, call a drain cleaning or sewer line specialist. Most have tools and techniques ranging from snaking devices to high-powered hydro-jetting that can safely clear almost any obstruction. Companies like Horizon Services even employ state-of-the-art cameras that can identify the cause and pinpoint the exact location of the blockage. Chemicals are used only as a last resort.
Major toilet and tub back-ups will often give you warning signs. Like a volcano or a geyser, toilets and tubs will often make gurgling, bubbling and belching noises several days before they erupt. If your toilets and tubs start doing this, call a drain cleaning or sewer line specialist immediately...they'll clear the obstruction BEFORE you have a messier situation on your hands.
If sewage does start backing up into toilets, sinks and showers, call a drain cleaning or sewer line professional immediately. After making the call, use bleach and water to sanitize any areas that have been affected.
Of course, an ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure. Here are some simple things you should do to prevent any of these drain and sewer line disasters from occurring in the first place:
- Make sure that a strainer is in place in your kitchen sink to stop large, cloggable waste products from getting into pipes, drains and lines.
- Never pour cooking oil or grease down the drain.
- Don’t use too much toilet paper (the main cause of toilets blocking up).
- Don't flush ANYTHING down the toilet besides toilet paper and human waste. This includes tissues, paper towels, baby wipes, sanitary products, cotton balls and hair. Even seemingly harmless products like soap, shampoot and hair gel. All these things can coagulate and block drains and sewer lines.
- Pour boiling water, or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, down drains regularly to help to keep them clear.
Related Drain and Sewer Line Information from Horizon Services...
Friday, January 14, 2011
Minimize Plumbing Clogs in Six Easy Steps
Clobber Clogs BEFORE They Create Chaos!Clogged drains and plumbing fixtures can turn from minor annoyance to major problem overnight—literally. Most household clogs are cause by misuse or overuse, though some can be the result of improper installation or a feature in need of repair. The following are some easy, inexpensive tips to keep your drains running clog-free.
1. Stop Putting Clog-Forming Substances in the Drain:
Seems pretty basic, but many of us pour clog-forming substances down the drain without even thinking about the consequences. Grease, cooking fat, syrup, gelatin, whole milk, ice cream, and even soaps with heavy moisturizers can coat pipes and back up in drains. When these substances narrow the area of water flow there’s a greater accumulation of crumbs, dust, and hair in the pipes. This combination can lead to huge, troublesome clogs.
Liquid fabric softener is also a common culprit. If you use fabric softener on your laundry, be sure to run your washer’s second rise cycle to flush out as much of the liquid as possible. Fabric softener tends to settle in the pipe bend just past the washer connection and can flood the tub eventually.
Place a trap over drain holes in showers, tubs, sinks, and washing machine rinse tubs to catch the food particles, hair, and other debris that can cause clogs.
2. Use Narrower Pipes:
This seems counterproductive, but the truth is that narrow pipes force water through the system faster. This prevents water from pooling at pipe bends, which can contribute to clogs. Narrow pipes also make drain and pipe snakes more effective in case of a serious clog deep in your plumbing because there’s less area for the snake to cover. Most standard plumbing codes indicate 3-inch diameter pipes should be used for toilets; 2-inch pipes for showers, tubs, and laundry room plumbing; and 1.5-inch pipes for sinks. Using bigger pipes can cause major problems.
3. Replace Aging Pipes
Older homes frequently have cast-iron or galvanized steel pipes. Over time, the interiors of these pipes become rough with lime scale and other deposits from hard water. These crags and crevices collect grease, soap, hair, and anything else that goes down your drain. Replacing old pipes with copper or PVC pipes will cut down on the frequency of clogs and can improve water pressure.
4. Flush More than Your Toilet
Flushing out drains and pipes is a great way to reduce debris build up and dissolve clogs. About once a month or so, plug sinks and tubs, and fill the basin with hot water. Release the stopper and let the hot water drain. The weight of so much water flowing through your pipes quickly will power clogs through the pipes; the heat of the water helps melt away any lingering debris.
5. Go Easy on Toothpaste
Strange? Perhaps. However, most of us ignore the recommendations that come on the back of that toothpaste tube: A pea-sized amount is more than sufficient to get teeth clean and keep them healthy. Thick toothpaste can collect in drains and hold on to clogging debris and goop. Consider switching to a gel formula, which will dissipate more quickly in water.
6. Get a Haircut, Hippie!
It's inevitable that you're going to have some hair go down the drain when you wash and shampoo in the shower or bath. But if you have long hair, you're more likely to shed hairs...plus they are much longer. Shorter hairs can travel easier through drains; longer hairs are more likely to accumulate into a tangled wad that can cause a major clog. Pay a visit to your barber, Ringo.
Related Plumbing and Information from Horizon Services...
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Clog Prevention 101
Tips on Avoiding Common Household Drain ProblemsClogs in toilets, sinks, tubs and other fixtures and appliances may seem to come out of the blue, but they just don't happen without a reason. Nine times out of ten, they were caused by you and your family not paying attention to what or how much you are putting down your drains. But by staying alert and following these incredibly easy tips, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of experiencing a clogged drain in your home.
Avoiding Clogged Toilets:
To help prevent clogged toilets, keep in mind that the toilet is not a trash can. Food is never to be flushed down a toilet -- especially greasy or fibrous foods. Cigarette butts are another major no-no; they can easily get stuck in the nooks and crannies of your drain system.
Think paper products are OK? With the exception of toilet paper, the anwer is NO. Soap wrappers or women’s sanitary products should never be put into the toilet because they will expand and create blockage. Even paper towels and facial tissue should be avoided because they do not dissolve as easily as toilet paper. Keep a wastebasket in the bathroom for items like this.
If you have small children, keep toys out of the bathroom and the lid down. A child may decide that the toilet makes a good “swimming pool” for their toys, and the next thing you know you have a clogged toilet.
Eliminating Clogs in Showers and Sinks:
The most common clogging culprits in bathroom showers and sinks are soap scraps and human hair.
Hair is a real problem. It doesn’t deteriorate, and, in fact, it coils up like a spring and builds up to lodge in the drainpipe. Check the strainers at the sink or tub drain outlets to make sure they are in proper condition and not worn Good strainers will help keep hair from going into the drain and then lodging in clumps and blocking the drains. However, remember to remove the hair the strainer catches after each use, otherwise hair will work its way into the drain.
The problem with soap is when you get down to that last sliver, and it ends up down the drain and contributing to the clog. You can prevent this by remembering to throw the soap in the wastebasket before it becomes a tiny sliver.
Keeping Clogs Out of the Kitchen:
Of course, kitchen sinks are usually equipped with a strainer to keep food particles or other things from getting into the drain. If your sink doesn’t have a strainer, by all means buy one; it could be one of the best investments you ever made!
However, grease, which will pass through the strainer, is a common cause for kitchen sink clogs. When cooking fatty foods, try to capture the grease and poor it into a cup or bowl rather than letting it go into the drain when you clean up. When the grease hardens in the cup you can scrape it into the garbage. Also, after cleaning up greasy pots and plates, fill the sink with warm water and let it drain. This will help reduce grease build up.
And special care should be exercised in using a garbage disposal, if you have one. First, check the manual and make sure you know which food materials the disposal is designed to handle without becoming clogged. Second, when you put food scraps in the disposal, put them in loosely; tightly packed scraps can clog the machine. Third, make sure you’re running cold water (not hot) when you’re operating the disposal, and let the water keep running for a minute or two after you turn the disposal off to flush food residue out of the drainpipe. Also, when you’re not using the disposal, it’s a good idea to keep the cover on it so that stray kitchen items don’t fall in and either clog or damage the machine.
Minimizing Lint Clogs in the Laundry:
To prevent clogs in laundry machines, clean out the lint trap in the washing machine after each use. Additionally, you can install a nylon mesh lint trap over the washing machine’s discharge hose, to catch excess lint and keep it from entering the drain.
Also, after you’ve done your laundry, it’s a good idea to turn off the shutoff valves on the hot and cold water lines that bring water into your machine. This is an especially good idea if you’re going to be away from home for a while. Here’s why: when you leave the water on, these water hoses will be under constant pressure, and if the water hoses happen to burst when you’re away from home, you’ll come home to a flooded laundry area.
Related Information from Horizon Services...
Friday, July 16, 2010
Getting Rid of Clogs in Floor and Shower Drains
Floor and shower drains are designed to withstand far more abuse than sink and toilet drains. However, drains in floors and showers are also more likely to accumulate the kind of debris that commonly forms clogs. Hair, bits of soap, shampoo residue, and other waste materials get caught just below the surface of the drain and can be hard to remove.Shower drains -- whether in standing-only showers or tub and shower combinations -- may be the most frequent clogged drains in your house. With daily use, hair and other materials get caught in the drain and collect. Chances are if your shower is clogged it’s because of hair. The easiest way to try to get rid of the blockage is to pour a common, over-the-counter hair removal product like Nair or Vet down the drain. The depilatory will dissolve the hair and clear the clog. You can also try a simple solution of baking soda and plain white vinegar to dissolve the blockage. These solutions are much safer for you, your drains and your pipes then lye, Drano and other store-bought liquid drain cleaning products.
If your shower drain is clogged all the time, you may want to purchase a new drain cover or an inexpensive plastic catch (like the ones you use in kitchen sinks without garbage disposals) that’s specifically designed for showers. These will prevent more hair from going down the drain and should reduce the frequency of clogging.
If you’ve tried all of this and are still having problems, you should think about calling in a drain cleaning professional. Your drain might need to be taken apart in order to remove the clog; if you don’t know how to do this, it’s best left to a professional plumber. Be sure to ask about the general condition of the drain and your main sewer line, too. Corrosion, weakened couplings and connections, root infiltration, and other situations can affect the shower drain’s function.
Clogged floor drains are a special kind of plumbing matter. Typically found in laundry rooms, basements, and garages, these drains are often the final resting place for all kinds of nasty debris—lint, sand, oil, dirt, and other solid materials—as well as wastewater from washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, and more. These substances can collect and harden in the drain; even powerful commercial chemical drain cleaners are not enough to get rid of clogs that have crystallized. Furthermore, if left untreated, a clogged floor drain can cause water to back up into your home causing expensive damage.
If you suspect a clogged floor drain, rent a power pipe snake that will break through the clog with special cutting blades. You may have to take apart some of the drain assembly, as many floor drains are designed to make accessing clogs or blockages easier. However, knowing how to disassemble your drain and knowing where to apply the snake can be tricky business. If you’re unsure about this method, it’s best to call in a plumbing and drain cleaning contractor. A plumbing and drain professional will not only get rid of the clog, but will also check the general state of your pipes and give you some tips about avoiding problems in the future.
Related Drain Cleaning Information from Horizon Services...
Monday, January 18, 2010
Plumbing Emergencies: When a Clogged Drain Backs Up Into Your Home
"Help! My toilet is overflowing onto the floor and it just won’t stop! I tried shuting the water off underneath the toilet and it helped a little, but it still keeps flowing. I'm up to my ankles in sewage! What do I do?"You have no idea how many times we at Horizon Services have received that phone call from frantic homeowners! If your toilet starts to back up and overflow, don't panic. The important thing is to get the overflow under control and to identify the source of the problem. That means keeping a cool head and taking an analytical approach.
First off, whenever your toilet overflows, it is a good idea to turn off the water to the toilet because it eliminates any more water from being used until the problem is fixed. The shut off is beneath the bowl, usually on the left side.
Did the overflow begin when you flushed the toilet? When your toilet overflows right after you flush it’s usually a sign that the toilet itself has a blockage. If it turns out that the clog is in the toilet itself, you could try using a toilet plunger to move the blockage through the toilet. That may be all you need to rectify the situation. Give it a few plunges to see if clears the clog. If not, don't continue -- it will probably just make things worse. Call a plumbing and drain professional; they can unclog the toilet quickly, inexpensively and safely.
What if your toilet keeps overflowing even when you haven’t flushed it? Usually this means the clog is in a drain pipe, possibly your main drain pipe or sewer line. If this is the case, when you run water from any fixture such as a shower, the water will back up from the main drain pipe and come out of your toilet bowl because it is the lowest point in your drain system. Of course, this makes it seem like the toilet is the problem, when in fact it’s your main drain pipe or sewer line that isn’t letting water go down. If you stop using water at other fixtures, the toilet will stop overflowing.
If it appears that your main drain or sewer might be clogged, call a drain cleaning professional as soon as possible. Powerful drain clearing equipment is required to unblock a main drain.
If you have a private septic system, the problem may be that your septic tank is full and is causing your main drain to back up into your home. If your septic tank has not been pumped within the last eighteen months, you should have it done to see if this is the cause of your problem. Even if you discover the problem was not in the septic tank, taking care of past due maintenance on your septic system is money well spent.
It's also very possible that the problem is not on your end. If you are on a town sewer system it is possible that the city sewer is blocked and sewage from your home and or your neighbors’ homes is backing up into your home. Check with your neighbors to see if they are having any problem with their main drains. If they are, be sure to call your town sewer department. If your neighbors or town say they are having problems, your town will take care of unclogging the sewer pipe. If raw sewage has backed into your home, you can call a professional cleaning company to handle the clean up and properly sanitize your home.
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