Sewer pipe cleaning rope

Tags:Bathroom and toilet, Sewerage, Kitchen

A clogged sewer system can cause many problems for any homeowner. Most of them cope with small difficulties on their own, using a special tool. If there is a large blockage, a cable may be required to clean the sewer pipes. Such equipment has its own specifics, which we propose to deal with in more detail.

A clogged sewer system is a serious problem for any housewife

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1 Varieties of sewer blockages
2 Methods for cleaning sewer pollution
3 Advantages and disadvantages of cleaning the sewer with a cable
4 Types of plumbing cables for sewer cleaning
5 Choosing a cable for cleaning sewer pipes: the dependence of the thickness on the diameter of the pipeline
6 Sewer pipe cleaning nozzles
7 How to use a plumbing cable to clean pipes
8 What is the difference between a professional plumbing cable
9 Basic rules for the operation and maintenance of a plumbing cable
10 Is it possible to make a plumbing cable from scrap materials with your own hands
11 How much it costs and where to buy a cable for cleaning sewer pipes
- 11.1 Professional cable for sewer cleaning
12 Video: how to clean the sewer with your own hands

Varieties of sewer blockages

There are many reasons for the malfunction of the drain. With this in mind, blockages are usually divided into:

mechanical;
technological;
operational.

The appearance of a mechanical blockage is facilitated by a deviation from the rules for operating the sewer system. As a result, large objects appear in the toilet bowl, which, having clogged the pipe, disrupt the normal operation of the water drain. Restore performance sewers possible only by dismantling the pipe to remove the stuck foreign object. The drainage hose will not allow you to deal with mechanical blockages.

Mechanical blockage involves the dismantling of pipes

The appearance of an operational blockage is inevitable. Fat deposits form on the inner surface of the pipeline, food particles settle, hair, animal hair and other debris accumulate. A plumbing cable will cope with such a blockage.

Operational blockage can be removed with a plumbing cable

Technological blockage is the most problematic. Its appearance is caused by the wear of pipes or a violation of the installation of the sewer system. Cleaning the pipes will not allow the pipeline to work again. It will be necessary to correct the mistakes made or replace the damaged area.

Technological blockage involves replacing pipes

Methods for cleaning sewer pollution

Any blockage can be removed with a sewer cable. By rotating the shaft clockwise and making reciprocating movements, the cable is moved along the sewer pipe. The blockage can be removed in one of the following ways:

by moving it into a larger diameter main pipe;
breaking into small parts;
screwing on the head, and then pulling it out of the pipe.

You can implement any of the listed methods by selecting a cable of optimal thickness and rigidity in order to move freely along the sewer system.

Various ways to remove blockage are available

Advantages and disadvantages of cleaning the sewer with a cable

There are a number of advantages:

work can be performed at a fairly large depth (up to 90 meters);
it is possible to destroy a blockage of any hardness when cleaning pipes with a cable;
high-quality pipe cleaning of any configuration;
no mechanical impact on the pipe walls.

Among the disadvantages, it should be noted that the work is very laborious and the need for subsequent cleaning of the cable.

The cable can penetrate to a depth of 90 meters

Types of plumbing cables for sewer cleaning

It is possible to restore the operability of the sewer system using various types of devices. Each has its own characteristics. We invite you to get to know them by choosing a plumbing cable for cleaning the sewer.

The device must be chosen correctly

Rigging device

Using a lifting device, you can clean a small section of the sewer pipe. It is made of galvanized steel, which provides strength characteristics and gives sufficient flexibility. Thanks to this, it moves freely along the sewer pipes past the bends and joints present at the points of connection of plumbing equipment.

To prevent the wire from unraveling during operation, the end is crimped. The remaining tip is smashed into a shape to help pull out hair clumps. Such a cable for cleaning the sewage system may not cope with a complex blockage.

An expert's point of view

Kirill Mikhailov

Head of the group "Water supply and sewerage" LLC "GRAST"

"To service the sewer system in an apartment, it is worth purchasing a rope cable 2.5–5 meters long with a diameter of 6 mm."

Small diameter wire rope

Spring-loaded plumbing cable

Refers to professional models. With the help of a spring-loaded plumbing cable, you can break through a rather complex blockage. Its diameter is 13.5–16 mm, up to 60 m long. For the manufacture of the device, a non-galvanized steel wire with a diameter of 2 mm is used.

The included handle is used as a tensioner. With sufficient tension, it is possible to provide the necessary rigidity of the device for effective punching of a blockage of any complexity. With their help, you can clean the riser located between the floors. Shorter products are used to restore the functionality of urinals and toilets in public areas.

Spring cable will help you cope with complex education

Metal tape

An alternative to conventional cable. Instead of a pipe cleaning cable, you can purchase a tape 25 mm wide and up to 30 m long. Can be used to service a long system. It is completed with a handle or a special round metal attachment. Very rarely purchased for personal use.The disadvantages include the inability to remove deposits of fat and silt from the surface of the sewer pipes.

For the home, tape is rarely purchased

Choosing a cable for cleaning sewer pipes: the dependence of the thickness on the diameter of the pipeline

A competent choice of section will ensure high-quality performance of work. An attachment that is too thick will not allow cleaning the urinal or sink... It will be difficult to lower it into the drain hole. Although with larger diameter pipes and a riser, it will cope quite well.

Manufacturers offer to buy a plumbing cable with a diameter of 3–32 mm and a length of 1.5–90 m. For domestic purposes, it is enough to purchase a cord with a diameter of less than 10 mm and a maximum length of 3 m.

The choice should be related to the diameter of the sewer pipes. If he:

less than 50 mm. The section should not exceed 10 mm;
50-110 mm. It is worth choosing a product with a transverse dimension of 11-15 mm. It is enough to purchase 25 meters of cable for cleaning sewer pipes;
more than 100 mm. A cable with a diameter of more than 16 mm will cope with the blockage.

Attention! Products with a diameter of 3–4 mm are relevant for pulling the plug out of the pipe. They will not cope with the blockage.

When choosing a device, consider the pipe diameter

Sewer pipe cleaning nozzles

There is a hook at the end of the plumbing cable. It allows you to pry on the trash plug. Such a tip is not always able to effectively deal with the blockage. By replacing the hook with a special nozzle, you can quickly clean the pipe. Installation is carried out by means of a threaded connection.

The attachments can be purchased with or separately from the flexible shaft. The following can act as a nozzle:

a brush that cleans the inner wall;
pear-shaped nozzle;
wide pipe expander;
auger that removes solid deposits from the inner surface of the pipes;
a scraper capable of dealing with sediment on thick pipes;
a harpoon to help pick up and remove the plug;
a sliding knife that cleans the pipe walls;
lance used to break up fat build-ups.

There are other devices that can perform this function.

Each fixture is geared towards a specific blockage

Related article:

How to quickly solve the problem if the toilet is clogged?How to clean the drain yourself, detailed in this article. In addition to various instructions and methods, data on effective preventive measures are provided here.

How to use a plumbing cable to clean pipes

In the event of a malfunction of the sewer system, it is not always possible to quickly contact the plumbers and wait for their arrival, so it is worth figuring out how to use the cable to clean the pipes. Having dealt with the sequence of work, you can restore working capacity yourself. This should be done in the following sequence:

We fold the cable, forming a ring.
We introduce the device into the drain hole.
Making neat circular movements, we try to reach the place of blockage formation. The direction of rotation should be consistent with the direction of the sewer pipe bend. Do not change the direction of rotation during work.
When a turn is reached, the fixture should also be turned using the handle.
The tool should be removed periodically to remove dirt.
Having reached the blockage point, the rotation speed should be increased.
After cleaning the pipe, the cable is thoroughly washed under running hot water using a detergent.

If you have a cable, you can clean the pipes yourself

What is the difference between a professional plumbing cable

Professional devices are flexible shafts around which a spring is wrapped. They resort to their help when it is necessary to remove a complex blockage, which household products are unable to cope with. They have a length of 60 m. Being tensioned, they have increased rigidity.

Depending on the way of work, a professional plumbing cable can be:

mechanical. The most common and easy to use. Has an affordable cost;
electric. A more powerful option to deal with any complex education. To facilitate the process, individual models of professional sewer cleaning cables are equipped with additional functions.

Professional devices are powerful

Basic rules for the operation and maintenance of a plumbing cable

For the device to last long enough, it must be properly looked after. Storage conditions deserve special attention. After removing the blockage, you should:

Remove sewage dirt. For a thorough cleaning, use hot water, a metal brush and a grease breaker. In the absence of a special product, you can use a composition designed for washing dishes.

A metal brush will help remove any dirt

The cleaned cable and all its elements should be thoroughly dried. The presence of a small amount of moisture can provoke corrosion processes on metal elements.
Treat the surface with machine oil. For this purpose, you can use the composition intended for household use.
Roll up the cable and put it in a box or thick paper.

Attention! The above steps should be performed after each use.

Store the fixture in a box

Is it possible to make a plumbing cable from scrap materials with your own hands

If you can't buy a cable for cleaning sewer pipes, you can try to make such a useful device with your own hands. For this purpose, various materials at hand are suitable. We offer a master class on making a device from plastic bottles:

Picture	Description of work
	Cut a tape 10 mm wide from a plastic bottle
	We insert the tape inside the spring. The inner circumference of the spring should be close to 10mm
	We place the spring over the hair dryer, heated to 60 ° C, and begin to pull the tape. The result is a tube at the outlet of the spring. We make several tubes
	We connect several tubes together and wrap them with scotch tape or electrical tape
	Leave a small tip uncoiled to increase the effectiveness of the device
	We heat the unwrinkled tip to give it the desired shape. You can use a lighter or a gas stove flame
	We give the ends of the trace the optimal shape. You can start removing the blockage

If you don't feel like messing around with plastic bottles, you can use a piece of metal cable. Its length should be at least a meter. One end should be fluffed up to make a brush. The second, twisted into a ring, is used to attach the handle.

How much it costs and where to buy a cable for cleaning sewer pipes

If the option of self-manufacturing a tool for cleaning the pipeline is not considered, you should choose a suitable model of the finished device. Manufacturers offer to buy a cable for cleaning sewer pipes of various diameters. The cost of the device depends on the geometric parameters and design features. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the average prices for the most popular models.

Professional cable for sewer cleaning

If you decide to buy a professional cable for cleaning sewer pipes, the following information will be relevant for you:

Photo	Model, characteristics	Average price, rub.
	KWB 9560-30	1320
	Spring with tensioner d = 16 mm; 30 m	11000
	For cleaning sinks "Plumber" TD0092	200
	Spring "Masterprof" d = 9 mm; 10 m	510
	Gerat 50115 0325SS, d = 13 mm; 7.5 m	7600
	"Domochist" UTS9-15	5500

Knowing what the sewer cable is called and how it should be used, it is much easier to make a choice in favor of a particular model. Share in the comments how you deal with sewer blockages. If you do the work with your own hands, we are interested in what kind of device you are using.