Bathroom Pipes and Blockages: Do It Yourself Advice

When it comes to fixing drainage and plumbing problems in the bathroom, it can be a case of easier said than done. Taking off bath panels and unblocking showers can be a difficult task and, in most cases, calling upon the help of the Dyno drainage services team, or an expert plumber, would be much more convenient and less time-consuming than trying to tackle the issue yourself. Attempting difficult procedures yourself can also lead to making the problem worse, which can mean more problems for you and your home.

However, there are some things that you can do yourself if you have the know-how. Here are a few simple tips to help you on your way:

Keep a Plunger to Hand

 

You never know when you’ll be faced with a blocked toilet or a stubborn drain problem that doesn’t want to rinse away. Having a plunger in your home can help you to shift a blockage yourself and can often be all that’s needed to help water to flow freely through your pipes and drains.

When you’re faced with a blockage, apply some plunging power to the drain or pipe to try and dislodge the obstruction. Keep a pair of rubber gloves handy – it can be messy work, sometimes!

Keep Plugholes Clear

 

If you live in a house with people who have long hair, you will know all too well how much of a problem this can cause when it comes to plugholes. Hair builds up in plugholes all the time; prevent bigger problems from occurring by ridding the area of this build-up regularly. Shower plugholes often have a waste trap that you can clean yourself, too.

It’s good habit to clean the waste trap once a week to keep it clear. It’s also good practice to keep drains clear elsewhere in the home. For example, in the kitchen, scrape food waste into the bin before placing the dishes into the kitchen sink, so that food debris doesn’t build up around the plughole.

Unblocking Sinks

 

If you can access the U-bend, unblocking the sink isn’t as difficult as it sounds. Try to rid the blockage with baking soda and vinegar (pour half baking soda, followed by half vinegar down the drain), or bleach (leave it overnight and be aware that it’s a harmful chemical so keep children away from the sink) first, and if, once the drain has been flushed through, that doesn’t work, unscrew the U-bend to locate the debris and remove it.

If you feel confident about doing this yourself, simply turn the water off at the mains, grab a bucket or washing up bowl and place underneath the first bend in the pipe. Carefully unscrew the U-bend and remove the blockage with your fingers, a wire coat hanger or similar.

Dyno can also fix blocked drains if the blockage is out of reach and you don’t want to risk making the problem worse.

If you don’t feel confident enough in your own abilities, a professional plumber is always at the other end of the phone line to help you.

By Roxanne Wells