How to Deal with Blocked Drain

When you get toilet water that reaches the rim with a single flush and the bath won’t empty, you know that your drains are blocked! Use the following tips to try and clear the blockage yourself:

You firstly need to locate the manhole cover that is nearest to your house. In smaller properties this tends to be in the front garden area. Use a large screwdriver to unscrew the cover, then with the flat side of the driver lever the cover up. It will be heavy and dirty so you may need some help, as it’s very easy to trap your fingers. The drain will also smell! When you look into the chamber, you will immediately see the blockage if it’s there. If the chamber is empty but filled with water, the blockage will probably be located further down the pipe.

Start with the blockage that you can see. If it’s relatively close to the surface you can use a narrow plank of wood to remove the waste from the sides of the pipe and ease it into the flow pipe. You need to clear the system by flushing the toilets several times until you see the water flowing freely again.

If the blockage is not visible you really need to check all the covers from the full manhole until you find an empty one. Then you’ll have located the section of pipe that is blocked. For this type of blockage you’ll need a set of drain rods. Screw the first two together and insert the plunger into the empty chamber, then keep adding rods until you can feel the blockage. Always turn the rods clockwise to avoid unscrewing them.

Disturb the blockage as much as you can until you feel it give way. If this fails, you can try attaching the corkscrew attachment instead of the plunger. When the blockage moves, you then need to flush through again, using a detergent solution to remove any build-up of fat and other debris. If the blockage won’t clear at all you may want to find popular handyman services in London who’ll have all the necessary tools and equipment as well as the skills and experience to help you.

Remember that you’re only liable for the drains within the boundary of your property and for those that aren’t shared. The utility company may need to be notified if this isn’t the case with your problem.

Once the drain is clear you can take precautions to avoid it happening again. You should never put fats and oils down the drain as they solidify to cause blockages. Likewise never flush disposable nappies, sanitary products, cotton wool or bandages and dressings. Waste food should be placed in disposable bags and put into the relevant bins for kerb collections. Paints and solvents should be responsibly disposed of at your local refuse centre.

It’s also worthwhile purchasing a drain tidy to cover the base of your pipes outside to prevent leaves and debris falling down the drain.

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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