How To Unblock A Waste Pipe
In some cases you might find that your waste pipe is blocked, if this is the case then use a hand operated hydraulic pump. Like the technique for unblocking a sink with a sink plunger, cover the overflow with a damp rag. Fill the pump with water and place the nozzle over the outlet, now to remove the blockage use a downward action on the pump so that water will powerfully force itself through it. If this hasn’t changed anything then using an upward motion, produce enough suction to unblock the blockage still keeping the device in place. Unfortunately, if this doesn’t work then it’s required that the trap found under the waste outlet needs clearing. A trap is U-shaped tube made to hold water so that the stench from the drain doesn’t creep into the room. Make sure you have a bucket underneath when clearing the trap.
If you have a lead or brass trap then it’s important that you take care when dealing with them to prevent damage. Undo the clearing eye situated at the bottom of the trap and use a pipe cleaner to get rid of any waste remaining. Now clean the clearing eye thread and use PTFE tape to wrap around it to avoid any leaks.
If you own a plastic trap then you will need to detach it as it doesn’t hold clearing eyes. To do so, undo the lock nuts located either side of the trap, if they don’t budge then apply boiling water over them. Once removed wrap some PTFE tape around the thread of the lock nut to avoid any leaks and replace.
If it’s a bottle trap you have then your able to undo the whole base of the trap by hand. Bottle traps are the most simplest therefore are the quickest in unblocking waste pipes, when the waste has been cleared from the trap use a pipe cleaner to catch any excess waste. Clean the trap with disinfectant and rinse thoroughly, also use PTFE tape to wrap around the cover thread previous from replacing.
When the trap has been replaced, check that the connections are watertight by running water through the system. If so, you have now unblocked your waste pipe.