Home Restoration: Managing clogged pipes

There is no doubt that in Home Restoration one of the most complex problems to face is the one that comes with clogged pipes, specially because there are many reasons that can cause this problem and all of them are related to where the appliance to which the pipe is connected is located. It is not the same when we talk about kitchen pipes and bathroom piping.

Yet, the way to manage this is mostly the same and it is important to talk about all alternatives so you can choose the one that better fits you. It is important to know that there are different types of cloggings, full or partial, a partial clog happens when the material blocks only part of the pipe and lets some water run. A full clog is when the blocking is complete and nothing passes through it.

The first way to unclog a pipe is to try using chemicals, there is a wide variety of chemicals that can be used for this matter, but you need to be very careful when you use this approach as, not all types of pipes can resist this substances. We strongly advise not to use chemical unclogger on PVC pipes as they can get damaged by the dissolve creating leaks of in the worst cases, literally dissolving the pipe and breaking it apart.

Another approach is the use of a pump device that, mostly like a vacum attempts to pull out the material blocking the pipe. This method is widely used by plumbers and it is successful most of the times without risking the pipes because even though it is somewhat invasive, it does not risk the pipe.

The third method involves using a kind of hook that attempts to pull out whatever it is that is blocking the pipe, either to pull it out or to make it go down the drain. This method is only used by people who know how to as it can damage the pipes if not done correctly.

So these are the three most common methods of unclogging a pipe when doing home restoration, you can use either but we also recommend you always get the help of a professional.