If you have been carrying out home renovations such as installing a new shower unit or sink, wet concrete may have entered the drains in your bathroom. Once this concrete sets, it can impede the flow of water down the drain and can cause the plumbing system to back up so that it floods your bathroom. If you suspect that concrete has entered the drainage system of your home, it is important that you take steps to tackle this problem. Below is a guide to everything you need to know about dealing with concrete which is blocking the drains in your home.
Acid
Concrete is a very hardy substance which can make it difficult to deal with. One way of breaking down the concrete which is blocking your drain is to use sulphuric acid. Sulphuric acid can be purchased from your local home maintenance store. You should carefully read the instructions before using this product, and you should make sure that you are wearing protective eyewear and very thick gloves. Pour the acid down the drain and then leave it to break down the concrete. You may hear and see some bubble rising from the plug hole. The next day, you should flush the drain using warm water to remove the acid and to wash away any debris. The acid will also break down any sludge, human hair and other things which are in the drain.
Drain Jet
If you are not confident handling acid, you may instead wish to use a drain jet to clear the concrete from your drain. A drain jet is a piece of equipment which uses a pump to project high-pressure water into your drain. A drain jet can be hired from an equipment supply company. You simply need to set up the drain jet and then direct the hose down into the blocked drain. The high-pressure water will dislodge any concrete which is stuck to the sides of the drain. However, if your drain contains several bends, it may be difficult to clear it completely using a drain jet as the water will lose its energy before it hits the concrete.
Pipe Replacement
If acid and a drain jet do not help to clear the pipes, you may have no option but to have the blocked section of sewer pipe replaced. A professional plumber will use CCTV to identify the location of the blockage before removing and replacing the affected piece of pipe.
If you would like to find out more about fixing blocked drains, you should contact a plumbing service today.