Whether in the kitchen or the bathroom, blocked pipes are a real nightmare. Know that there are simple and effective ways to unclog them without calling a plumber. Just follow our guide!
What’s more unpleasant than having a clogged sink, sink, shower or bathtub? The water no longer wants to drain and bad odors appear… Don’t panic! here are 4 quick methods to unclog your pipes.
How to unblock a pipe?
Unblocking a sink with a suction cup
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Unblocking a sink with a suction cup – Source: spm
Over time, the pipes in the house tend to become clogged. Indeed, even if we try to be vigilant, food waste, food residue, grease, detergent products, shower gels or hair pass through the pipes, settle on the walls and end up creating a blockage . Discover our tips for unblocking them.
White vinegar and aspirin
White vinegar and aspirin to unclog pipes, you’ve already heard of it. We show you the steps to follow.
How to do ?
Mix a glass of white vinegar with an effervescent aspirin tablet “Alca Seltzer or Aspégic type”.
Pour this mixture into your pipes through the drain hole.
Plug this hole with its plug or if there is none, by squeezing a damp cloth with your hand (so that the chemical reaction takes place in the pipe and not in the air).
Leave to act for 5 minutes.
Run hot water through the pipes. That’s it, your blockage has dissolved!
If you don’t have an aspirin tablet, replace it with a tablespoon of baking soda, it’s just as effective.
Baking soda and salt
Effective in case of greasy blockage. We show you the steps to follow to successfully unblock your pipes.
How to do ?
To dissolve it, mix 2 spoons of salt and 1 spoon of baking soda in a glass of water.
Pour this mixture into the pipes, leave to act for 10 minutes.
Plug the drain hole with the plug or a cloth.
Then rinse with warm water.
Suction cup
This is undoubtedly the best known method but you still need to master the real technique to use it.
How to do ?
In fact, it is not enough to place the suction cup on the drain and pump… You have to create a vacuum for it to work, that is to say, plug all the holes.
Cover the “overflow” hole with a damp cloth so that no air enters,
place the suction cup on the drain and run water until all the rubber on the suction cup is covered.
Now you can press on the suction cup to make air flows.
Repeat the operation until the obstruction disappears and all the water drains away.
Soda Crystals
If your cork is really tough, step it up a notch by using soda crystals, which are more corrosive.
How to do
Use gloves and goggles to protect yourself and avoid burns.
Put 100 g of crystals in a container and add 2 liters of boiling water,
Mix well then pour this preparation into the drain,
Leave to act for several hours without running water,
It is preferable to do this in the evening before go to bed to let it rest overnight.
Rinse the next day.
If, despite all these tips, your traffic jam persists, you will have to roll up your sleeves and get down to business.
How to dismantle a siphon to unclog your sink?
Dismantle the siphon
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Dismantle the siphon – Source: spm
Very often if we have difficulty unblocking using a product it is because solid elements such as food waste or hair remain stuck in the siphon. In this case, it must be dismantled. The siphon, you know this plastic device placed under the sink, which connects your sink to the pipes. Yes, yes, you are perfectly capable of doing it! All you need to do is awaken your DIY soul and arm yourself with a pair of gloves and a bucket.
How to do ?
Place a bucket or basin under the siphon to collect wastewater.
Unscrew the drain plug, let the dirty water flow out.
Then unscrew the 2 rings which are used to attach the siphon to the sink and the pipes. Warning: be careful not to lose the plastic seals inside the rings. Check that they have not fallen into the bucket when unscrewing.
Using plastic gloves, remove any debris causing the clog. Clean well.
Replace the siphon by screwing in the 2 rings. Don’t forget to replace the seals.
Run some water and you’re done!
If with all these tips and techniques your pipes are still not unblocked… All you have to do is call a plumber!
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