Home Improvement Tips: How to Fix Blocked Pipes

Let's face it, we've all been faced with the problem of blocked up plumbing in our homes; whether you own or rent your home, from Buckingham Palace to the Roach Motel, this is something that happens to us all. With an unlimited amount of cash, as well as time to wait for someone to arrive, not to mention being without the use of your plumbing, fixing the problem is as easy as picking up the telephone to contact a plumber to make the repair. The average person, however, lacks the time and money to do this every time there is a problem, which is why this article was written. Here, we will go over some simple ways that even the most "mechanically challenged" individuals can unblock their plumbing system in a few minutes.

Let's get started- first things first. Before doing anything with plumbing, it is a good idea to turn off the water supply to whatever it is you are fixing, be it a commode, sink, or whatever. If you are not sure how/where to turn off this particular water supply, most homes and apartments have one large main water valve that will allow you to turn off the water at the main source of it, going to all water-using devices in your home. This will save you a lot of headaches later.

Next, just take a quick look at the standing water from the blockage- is it completely standing still, or is it draining slowly? This can give you a good idea of the severity of the blockage, and unless you put something down the drain of your sink or commode that you know should not have been in there in the first place, the likely culprits are the usual things that go down a drain such as hair, soap particles, and, well, you know- no explanation necessary.

Having checked out the blockage, please resist the urge to reach for the toxic drain opener with the skull and crossbones on the label---this stuff is dangerous, expensive, and usually bad for your pipes. Instead, first try some lower impact, but usually just as effective, methods:

SINKS AND BASINS--- For a few dollars at the local home improvement or hardware store, pick up what is called a "drain snake", which is basically a long piece of flexible metal or plastic with a hook of some sort on the end, which can be "snaked" into the drain to attach itself to the blockage and allow you to retrieve it. A few words of caution in using the snake are in order- first, if you have poured the toxic drain opener into the drain and this is your second attempt to open the drain, DO NOT USE THE SNAKE! The drain opener can splash back and really hurt you---this might be a call for the plumber. Second, however, if you haven't used anything in the drain, the snake can be used but also be careful not to scratch the surface of the sink with the snake. Now, you can gently insert the snake and when you feel it stop in the pipe, that is probably where the blockage is, and you can usually retrieve the "gunk" from the pipe itself.

COMMODES-- First, unlike sinks, drain opener should NEVER be used in a commode unless you are an experienced professional. That being said, if the good old plunger doesn't work, and you have metal pipes of some sort, remove all of the water from the bowl of the commode with a wet-vacuum or pail, and replace it with boiling water, of course being careful not to burn yourself. Usually, boiling water will break down whatever is blocking the pipe within a few minutes.

Hopefully, these simple steps could save you some time, money and headaches. Naturally, as with anything else of this type, if you are not sure what to do, nothing seems to work, or the situation seems dangerous, please call a professional. This advice is meant for some easy fixes of routine problems and should not be confused as a replacement for the services and advice of trained professionals. No amount of money or time savings is worth your personal safety. Good luck!