What is the most common cause of blocked drains?

Tree roots are widely recognized as the number one cause of blockage and clogs in water and sewer mains. While it’s more common to find tree roots invading the pipes of older homes, the roots can find their way into systems of any age.

Why does my sink keep getting blocked?





Most bathroom drain clogs result when dirt, skin flakes, and especially hair binds to soap scum on the walls of drain pipes. Over time, this gunk accumulates and reduces water flow. Troubleshooting: Remove and clean the drain stopper.

What to do if drains keep blocking?

You can start by using the same methods you’d try for clearing an inside drain blockage.

  1. Pour boiling water down the drain.
  2. Add a cup of bicarbonate of soda.
  3. Now add a cup of vinegar and watch it start to fizz and froth.
  4. Replace the drain cover loosely and let it work its magic for a few hours.


How do you unblock shared waste pipes?

Start by pouring a cup of baking soda down your drain, followed by ½ a cup of vinegar. Following this, place a cover over the drain for 30 minutes – we find a plate does the trick. After half an hour, take the cover off your blocked sink drain and pour hot water down it for 2-3 minutes.

How do plumbers unblock pipes?





A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber’s snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it’s physically pushed through a stubborn clog. The terminal end of the device is a corkscrew-shaped hook that is fed into a clogged drain or toilet.

What causes build up in sink drain?

The black gunk that accumulates in your sink drain is created by a buildup of bacteria living on hair, hand soaps, shaving cream, skin cells, lotion, toothpaste, and phlegm (yuck!). The problem with this black gunk is it will not go away by itself.

How do you unblock a sink past the U bend?

Look under your sink and find the U-bend, it’s the first bend in the pipe immediately below the plughole. Put your bucket/dish under the U-bend and carefully unscrew the section of pipe. The U-bend has two sets of threads, one at either end. As you loosen them any backed up water will drain out, so take your time.

Why is my bathroom sink backing up?

Most bathroom sink clogs result from a combination of hair, dirt, and skin flakes that bind with the gooey soap scum that accumulates on the walls of the drain pipes or gets caught on the pivot rod or stopper of the drain.

Can plunging make a clog worse?



Plungers are an effective way to clear a drain or unclog a toilet when used correctly. The key is to make sure a tight seal is formed around the drain and plunge slowly and methodically. Plunging too quickly or with too much force can prevent a tight seal from forming, making your efforts relatively ineffective.

Who is responsible for blocked shared drains?

However, if a blockage occurs in a private drain before the drain has connected to the public one, the responsibility falls on the homeowner. Things get much more complicated if it’s a shared, private drain. In theory, all of the homeowners who make use of the shared drain are equally responsible.

How do you unblock kitchen sink waste?

There’s a good chance you can fix the problem yourself with one of these six methods to unclog a kitchen sink:

  1. Attack with boiling water. …
  2. Check the garbage disposal. …
  3. Plunge away the blockage. …
  4. Break it down with baking soda and vinegar. …
  5. Try the plumber’s snake. …
  6. Clean the P-trap.



What acid do plumbers use to unclog drains?

Hydrochloric acid

Hydrochloric acid, otherwise known as muriatic acid, is commonly used by plumbers around the world to clear a clogged rain. It is a strong acid that can cause serious injury if it is not used with care.

How do plumbers fix clogged sinks?

So how does it work? Similar to the manual drain snake or auger, it is guided along the pipes to reach the blockage or clog. Then, the plumber activates the motor, setting the end of the coil to drill into the clog.

Why is my sink backing up on both sides?



If both sides of your double kitchen sinks appear clogged and begin to back up, the likely reason is a blockage in your sink’s main drain or you have a clogged garbage disposal. Baking soda and hot water can help unclog your drain and works great as a cleaning agent and odor absorbent.

How do you fix a sink backed up?

Pour one cup of fresh baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of white vinegar. Place a rubber stopper or other sink hole cover over the drain opening. Wait 15 minutes to allow the vinegar and baking soda to unclog your drain, Then take out the drain cover and run hot tap water down the drain to clear the clog.

How do you fix a choked sink?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So let's get started in order to do this fix the right way you just need to understand a few things about the plumbing underneath your sink. So this is the drain coming from your sink.

Why does a sink choke?

The main cause of toilet sink choke is due to the accumulation of hair particles after many years of usage. Other times, common household items that are used for grooming may also be trapped, for example, cotton swabs, tissue paper, or even cotton balls.