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Blocked drain – what now?

VariForm washbasin (© Geberit)

Hair can quickly clog the shower and washbasin drains. A great way to resolve this is with a good old rubber suction cup or plunger, as it’s also known. This loosens the obstruction and flushes the remains into the sewage system.

Incidentally, ‘trap’ is the term the general public would generally use, whereas sanitary professionals call it a water seal. And that’s exactly what it’s designed to do: trap or seal away unpleasant odours and prevent them from getting into the bathroom. We present two of the best-known variants of the water seal in the form of the bottle trap and the space-saving tubular trap, as used in the bathroom washbasin or in the kitchen, for example.

Keeping things running 

  • A little care is needed to ensure that water seals function reliably. Avoid getting hair or coarser dirt particles in the drain. This is where comb inserts or drain sifters make for ideal solutions.
  • Run water regularly, because the traps can also dry out if they are left standing for a long time, for example. That’s when things start to stink!
  • If the water seal is blocked, please do not experiment or try any DIY methods! A plunger and tweezers can help to loosen or remove obstructions. Harsh chemicals should be avoided, since they can attack the seals or material. Important: Leave the removal of the trap to a professional. In most cases, they will also leave the water seal in place and work with a plunger or other professional tool.
  • P.S.: Pressure pipe cleaners, which are often advertised as ‘miracle tools’ on shopping channels, can damage traps and pipes due to the high level of pressure applied. With this in mind, it is better for laypeople to steer clear of this type of tool.
Clogged bottle trap in the washbasin
1. The bottle trap is clogged. We simulated this in the laboratory with a solid blue paper towel. The blockage can be seen in the trap and drain.
Water in the washbasin no longer drains
2. It is essential to rectify the situation if the obstruction – also known professionally as a blockage – is so severe that the water starts backing up in the washbasin. The best thing to use is the good old plunger or rubber suction cup.
Trap cover in the washbasin is removed
3. First, remove the drain cover from the drain.
Cover the overflow hole with your hand and a cloth
4. Cover the overflow hole with your hand and a cloth to allow pressure to build up. This is created by the rubber suction cup placed on the drain.
Rubber suction cup is moved up and down
5. The suction cup is moved vigorously up and down to loosen the blockage.
The obstruction comes loose and is flushed away
6. The blockage comes loose and is flushed away.
The water drains out of the washbasin
7. The water drains out of the washbasin and the pipe is free again.
A pressure pipe cleaner in use
8. If the rubber suction cup doesn’t help, contact a sanitary professional. A professional uses a pressure pipe cleaner with a larger capacity. This is capable of removing almost all blockages. However, if it does not help, the easiest thing to do is replace the trap.
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