The sight of spilling wastewater from a clogged plumbing system can be quite frustrating. Even worse, the situation can become hazardous for your family. Also, if not checked and rectified fast, it can cause serious damages to the system, resulting in high costs.
While some homeowners have the plumbing know-how to help deal with the situation successfully, some don’t. If you don’t have the necessary skills, seeking services from professional plumbers is always the best solution. This way, you can avoid making the situation even worse.
Generally, most homeowners and plumbers use a plumbing snake to identify the clog or blockage on the sewer lines. But what happens when you don’t have that tool? How do you unclog a main sewer line without a snake?
Here are some incredible tips on how you can go about it.
Establish the Cause of the Clog
The first step when trying to clear a clogged main sewer line is finding out what is causing it. The fact is, there is more than one reason why clogging happens. Establishing the main cause will help you determine the best course of action.
While you might guess the reasons, such as the accumulation of grease on kitchen sinks, employing the services of an expert is the best choice. A professional plumber will have what it takes, including skills and tools, to determine the cause and provide a solution.
Now, after establishing the cause, how do you unclog a main sewer line without a snake? Well, you might use any of these options to unclog the system, depending on the cause.
Power Washer
A power washer is one of the most effective methods to unclog the main sewer. First, locate the screw-on cap found on the cleanout pipe and remove it. This is mainly located near your home’s drainage lines and in the basement.
But before opening the cleanout pipe, ensure you’ve placed a container below it. This will help collect any spilling wastewater or sewage flowing back from your main sewer line.
After this, connect a sewer jetter to your power washer’s trigger gun. Then, through the open cleanup pipe, lower the sewer jetter into your home’s main sewer line, until you hit the clog. Do this carefully to avoid any unnecessary spillages.
Subsequently, you can gradually turn on the water of your pressure washer to avoid the same water from running back through the sewer line. Increase the water pressure gradually, moving the jetter back and forth to clear the clog. Continue with the process until the power washer clears up the clog from your main sewer line.
Hot Water to Loosen Sticking Debris
Sometimes, all you need is a simple solution: hot water!
When you can’t access a plumbing snake, hot water can come to your rescue in unclogging your main sewer line. But how?
Allow hot water to run through your plumbing system for at least five to 10 minutes. The hot water helps to loosen debris such as deposited grease, oils, or any coatings on the walls of the drains. Doing this several times might best and easiest way to unclog that main sewer line.
However, the hot water strategy is particularly effective if your main sewer line is not completely clogged. Also, it’s ideal when the clogging happens in your kitchen sink. As you know, the main cause of clogging here include grease, oils, and fats accumulation. All these can be melted by hot water and pushed down the drain.
If the clogging in your plumbing system is a major one or includes more stubborn clogs that do not clear away even after running hot water, more effective methods should be relied upon. However, occasionally running hot water through your kitchen’s plumbing system should help unclog it and keep it clean.
The Plunger Method
A force-ball plunger is one of the best tools that could help you unclog that sewer line without using a plumbing snake. This type of plunger will give better results compared to the regular cup-type plungers because it helps you insert more pressure into the pipe to clear any clog available.
A plunger works to unclog the main sewer line because it creates an airtight seal with the drain. In the process, it helps force the stubborn clog out of the plumbing system drains. The perfect airtight seal will create additional pressure and help dislodge the main sewer line blockage.
When using the ball spring plunger, ensure you have plenty of running water in the toilet sink or bowl. Using the plunger plus running water will help shift the debris by loosening it from the walls of the pipe and ultimately freeing it entirely. Make sure you use the plunger a number of times and repeat the entire process to ensure the clog is cleared away.
How to Unclog Main Sewer Line without a Snake: Baking Soda
A plumbing snake provides a mechanical option of unclogging the main sewer line. However, if the mechanical option is unavailable, using baking soda to deal with the problem might be the best idea.
Baking soda is a natural remedy packed with more potency to help you unclog your clogged main sewer line drains. This is a more effective unclogging method than hot water because the combination gives you better results – especially when dealing with more stubborn clogs that do not loosen easily.
All you need to do is take a cupful of baking soda and pour it down the drain. Consequently, pour a cupful of white vinegar down the same drain. Thereafter, wait for around 10-15 minutes for the baking soda and vinegar solution to break up and clear the clog.
After those 15 minutes, run some hot water down the drains to check if the clog has cleared. A mixture of baking soda and white vinegar works to unclog your main sewer line by reacting inside the drains to break the clog down and consequently clear it away.
Hire a Professional Plumber
Sometimes, you just don’t have the skills or experience to know how to unclog a main sewer line without a snake. In this case, don’t try to fix the problem as you might cause even more serious issues.
Hiring a professional plumber is the best option here to ensure that everything is done according to the best standards. It can also save you from incurring even more costly repairs if something goes awry.
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