A clogged drain is an issue. If it’s completely blocked you’re going to see wastewater and sewage coming back up the pipes. If left and you keep pushing stuff down the drains the wastewater and sewage will have nowhere left to go. They will burst up through your drains and into your home.
There is little more unpleasant than sewage bubbling out of your toilet and across the bathroom floor. Once this has happened you’re going to need to clean up the mess. This is something that has to be done cautiously as raw sewage is hazardous to your health. In fact, it can carry a sinister cocktail of bacteria that will potentially leave you seriously ill.
You’ll need good house insurance to cover the cost of the cleanup and replacing everything that was touched by the sewage.
It’s worth noting that a partial clog can cause issues and may still backflow into your house, a complete clog definitely will. Potentially, the most important step you can take is to be aware of the signs that a clog is building. The most obvious sign of an issue is when your sinks and toilets start to drain slowly.
If it’s just one appliance then the clog is in the pipes near the appliance. When it’s all your appliances the clog is much more serious and in the sewage pipes taking the waste away from your home.
You should note that you are responsible for the pipes until they reach the main sewer pipe.
If you want the issue sorted properly then you should contact your local plumber Sydney and get them to deal with the issue for you. However, if you fancy trying to unclog the drains yourself, here’s what you need to do:
The Right Gear
The first step is to put old clothes on, a hat, gloves, and a mask. This will protect you if you get splattered by the waste. That’s important considering the bacteria that can be carried by sewage. If you get splattered then, as soon as you’ve finished unclogging the drain, throw all the clothes away and take a hot shower. Providing you haven’t accidentally got it in your mouth or a cut you should be fine!
Find Your Main Drain
When dealing with a small clog in your house you can slide an auger down the drain and it will snake its way through the pipes to find the clog. This doesn’t generally work when you’re dealing with the main sewer pipe leading away from your home.
If you follow the path of the drains you’ll find a mains drain cover. It’s usually a square or rectangular metal plate. Lift the lid off.
You’ll now get a clue as to where the clog is. If it’s before the drain then there will be no liquid or waste products in the drain you’ve just uncovered. Of course, if the clog is after this drain there is a good chance it will be full of sewage water and waste.
Open with caution.
Drain Rods
You’re now ready to push your drain rods into the drain. These are long plastic pipes with metal inners, they come in short sections and screw together. This gives you a very long pipe. This gives them the strength and flexibility they need to slide through your pipes. You can choose the most appropriate end piece but the corkscrew style one tends to be the best option.
Slowly feed the drain rods into the hole, pushing them in the direction of the clog. You’ve already determined this by the presence or lack of waste in the drain.
If you slide them slowly and carefully you’ll feel the clog as you won’t be able to push the drain rods any further. This is when you start turning the rods and pushing forward. The corkscrew end will slowly find a way through the clog. It breaks the material up, allowing the water and other waste to flow down the drain.
It’s essential not to stand over the drain when doing this. As the clog is released there will be a rush of air up the pipes hitting the waste going down them. This can cause the sewage to come up the drain and into the air. If you’re standing over it you’ll get covered.
To finish you should move the drain rods up and down a few times, this ensures the blockage has been completely removed. It’s also a good idea to run a drain camera down the pipes, this will confirm the clog has gone and may even give you a clue as to why it happened.
In most cases, this is a case of the wrong things being flushed down the toilet. But, it can also occur if the pipes are damaged. The camera will allow you to find the damage and sort out repairs.
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