No one likes to have to call a plumber, especially on a busy weekend, but we all need one from time to time. Whether we have a busted water heater, boiler, or blocked pipework, it is sometimes necessary to call in the experts. However, in the case of something such as sewer drain unclogging, you may be able to fix the problem yourself if you have the right tools and knowledge.
How to Know if You Have Blocked Pipes
In every home there is a network of pipework working to drain away all of the grey water and sewage from our homes. Every time you run the kitchen sink, the water flushes into the main drain. Every time you flush a toilet, the water is flushed to the sewer, and every time you do the laundry, the water flushes out through the network of pipes underneath your home.
Sometimes, one of these pipes becomes clogged. The signs of a clogged sewer drain blockage, whether it is in the main drain or secondary pipes, can be pretty obvious. The water may not drain from your toilet properly, and you may even hear a gurgling sound or witness bubbles coming up from the S-bend. In some of the worst cases, the block is so bad that it causes the waste to back right up to the toilet itself, causing it to spill out into the home. In a case like this, the harmful bacteria alone is grave cause for concern.
Doing it Yourself
Sewer drain unclogging may sound difficult, but if you follow these steps, you may be able to fix it:
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Assessment: Where is the water or sewage leaking out from? What pipe seems to be clogged? Make sure you first assess the problem before taking any action.
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Removal: If you have a strong liquid drain cleaner, try this first. If the cleaner has no effect after waiting a while, you may need a plunger, which you can find at a good price from a place such as Quality Plumbing BOI. Plunging a number of times may open up the pipe and dislodge the blockage.
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Sewer snake: In the case of a larger clog, you may need to dig up or locate the main pipe in the yard. Once you have access to it, you can insert a sewer snake until you find the clog and remove it.
You can find a number of tools for sewer drain unclogging in Texas City TX, but if you are really having trouble removing the clog, you will need to call in a plumber to locate and remove it for you.
