How to Clean Blocked Drains by Different Methods?

If you are tired of your bathroom getting overflowed with water, or, your basins getting clogged regularly, you have a blocked drain problem. Blocked pipes and blocked drains can create bacteria and diseases like Malaria will spread rapidly. You need to keep your drainage system clean on regular basis to avoid this kind of situation. Drains form the drainage system of your house and ensure an effective flow of water, wastes, etc.

Blocked Drains

A clean drain is important for the hygiene of your house and a blockage can not only make your house dirty, but also cause different health issues. Thus, you must know how to clean blocked drains. There are some excellent companies that are specialized and equipped to deal with cleaning blockages. You need to know the details of the different processes involved in solving blockage issues to understand the significance of these professionals.

Processes of Cleaning Blockages:

Sink unblocking is a means to let a clogged sink flow properly again. There are both chemical and mechanical unblocking options:

Mechanical method:

• Suction pump: A mechanical sink unblocker is usually called a suction pump. It is a suction cup on a handle, as a result of which an under pressure can be made in the discharge pipe. This will release the blockage for a moment, so that it can be washed away better.
• Unblocking springs: For the correct elimination of heavier blockages there are also the so-called unblocking springs, consisting of a spiral spring with claw or drill bit and a rotating handle. The unblocking springs are available in various thicknesses and lengths, tailored to the type of drain. The spring is brought into the drain until the blockage is reached. By turning the handle, the claw will turn into the blockage. All types of blocked drains can then be loosened.

Chemical method:

A chemical unblocker is usually based on sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or sulfuric acid (H2SO4), dissolved in water (liquid unblocker) or in the form of white granules. This is usually applied by pouring a spoonful of granules into the blocked drains followed by cold water that is carefully added with small amounts. Because NaOH is very corrosive, it is recommended to wear safety goggles and to keep a distance to the sink because it is possible that the liquid will bubble. The action is based on the hydrolysis of many components of the caked-in dirt, whereby, for example, hair dissolves rapidly, and saponification of the fats in the caked-up dirt.

As a result and through the developed heat, these become soft to liquid soluble and can be flushed through. It is not advisable to mix sink drain stop based on lye and sink based on sulfuric acid. Not only do the substances neutralize each other's effect (so no net effect is sorted), but acids and bases react very violently with each other, whereby boiling (corrosive) liquid can splash out of the drain. This chemical sink unblocker is not only dangerous for people, but some blocked drains can also be affected.

Blocked Drains

Improper use:

Chemical sink stoppers are sometimes used for purposes for which they are not made. In 2006 there were a number of accidents in the Netherlands with amateur bombs, made with a common brand sink unblocker. Young people make these bombs from sink unblocker, record the images and put the films on the internet. There have been a lot of cases of injury. Many drugstore chains have announced that they will pay extra attention to the sale of sink unblocker to minors.

It can be concluded that there are different methods of cleaning blocked drains. It is best to hire a reputed cleaning company to do this job, as, handling chemicals can be dangerous and using the mechanical methods need precision and hard work.