Backed-Up Waste Pipes

Dealing with this issue can be very dirty and smelly and should be considered very carefully by the DIY amateur before embarking on the mission to clear it. Should you not be confident to attempt this, always call a professional service like Greenwich Plumbers who are trained to deal with blocks. The waste system in a home has to cope with everything from food to hair so it is no shock when they block.

There are cleaning solutions available that you can put in your system to try and clear a blocked section of a waste pipe.

The Plunger:
Sometime the old ways are the best, so the easiest way to deal with a blockage is by using a tool called a “Plunger”. The plunger comes in different sizes, but the operation is the same. Plungers are a wooden rod with an attached piece of curved rubber at the end. To use, you cover plug hole with the plunger’s rubber cup, with a small amount of water covering the cup, use an up and down pumping action several times, this should create a vacuum. Do this a few times if it does not work straight away.

Traps:
Sink traps block really easy, so firstly make sure you have a bowl at the ready underneath the trap. You can now open up the trap, usually by hand and try and clear the block. A Greenwich Plumber can carry out work on traps. Once the trap is clear, re-assemble and r-fit. Visually check the trap allows flowing water to pass ok.

Rods:
Some blockages can be a long way deep inside the pipework. This type of block can be dealt with by using something called a drain rod. The device is a long thin rod up to 6metres long. It is made in threaded sections that screw together to make a very long rod (if needed). On the end of the rod is a corkscrew metal shape that is made to become entangled with the blockage, this should let the mass be pulled clear.”