How To Use The Drain Cleaning Bladder The Right Way
You must know how to use the drain cleaning bladder without having it stuck in the pipe. So here is a brief step by step guide on how to use this appliance:
- Choosing The Right Size Of Drain Bladder
As you already know now, the wrong size of drain bladder can put you in a lot of trouble. So here is a guide to the size measurements:
- For 1-to-2-inch pipes, use small drain bladders.
- For pipes that are 1.5 inches to 3 inches, you can use medium drain cleaning bladders.
- For 3-to-6-inch pipes, you can use the large drain cleaning bladders.
So, once you determine which size your pipes are off and which size of the drain bladder you are going to be using, there are some preparations you need to make.
- Laying the Groundwork
Your aim is to make as little mess as possible while getting the job done. So, you can put some rags or old clothes underneath your working area.
Also, keep a bucket on standby to catch any water coming out while cleaning.
You will also need a headlamp in case the pipe you are going to clean is in a low-lit area like under the sink or any indoor location.
- Connecting The Hose
As mentioned before, one end of the drain bladder is attached to the hose. So, we recommend you ensure the hose is tightly attached to the drain bladder to avoid any leakage.
Usually, people use channel locks to avoid any leakage. And if the hose is connected to an outdoor faucet, you must have someone helping you out to operate the faucet.
- Disconnecting the Plumbing
- Testing The Drain
Connect The Garden Hose
One end of the drain cleaning bladder has a male hose attachment that can be used to connect a garden hose directly to the bladder. Typically you can hand tighten the garden hose, though if you want a snug fit to avoid any leaks, then it’s advised to use a set of channel locks.
Run the hose to an outdoor faucet or to a nearby sink faucet. If you need to run the hose outdoors, make sure that you have a second person to operate the faucet, or that you have a hose valve nearby, so you can control the water.
If you are connecting the garden hose to a sink faucet, you will likely need to remove the aerator with a set of channel locks in order to access the threads on the faucet.
Connect the hose and tighten it with channel locks to prevent leaks. Just don’t overtighten the hose and damage the fixture.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Tips For Using A Drain Bladder
Drain bladders are incredibly easy to use. Once youve acquired the properly sized drain bladder for your clogged pipe, take the following steps to blast away the clog:
Connect your drain bladder to a water hose, and connect that hose to a water faucet.
Insert the drain bladder at least six inches into the clogged pipe.
Slowly turn on the water and allow the bladder to expand as the water pressure builds.
Keep the water running for a minute or two, or until you see the drain is cleared.
Inspect the drain to ensure the clog has cleared. If not, repeat the first four steps until you are successful.
Shut the water off and wait for the bladder to deflate. Remove the bladder from the drain and disconnect the drain bladder from the water hose.
If the drain fails to clear after several attempts, try another drain clearing tool or consider contacting a professional plumber.
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Tips On How To Use The Bladder
You might be looking for some prevention to this problem. If you dont want the drain bladder to get stuck again, follow these instructions.
But make sure youre wearing gloves while doing the work. You can wear the same gloves that you use while soldering copper to your brass threaded fitting.
The instructions:
- Connect a hose to a cold water hose bib and attach your drain bladder to that hose.
- Push the bladder all the way down the drain.
- Wait until it reaches maximum pressure and drives water pressure into the pipe. The drain should clear after the bladder exerts water pressure.
- Wait for the water to run before you shut it off. The bladder will deflate once the water is turned off.
- Examine the drain to determine if there is any standing water. If you still see water in your bladder, use it one more time.
The above instructions will help you to use the bladder. But remember one thing, using the right-sized bladder this time is a must.
Luckily, you wont face much trouble while choosing the right size. Because this process isnt as complicated as toe kick heater sizing.
You can find drain bladders in three different sizes for any type of drain. They come in small, medium, and large sizes.
Small drain bladders are suitable for drain pipes with a diameter of 1 to 2 inches. Medium drain bladders are suitable for drain pipes with a diameter of 1-½ to three inches. The large drain bladders are suitable for drain pipes with a diameter of 3 to 6 inches.
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How Often Should You Use Drain Cleaner
It is recommended that household drains be professionally cleaned every few years, with more frequent cleaning for areas such as sewer or basement drains. Cleaning should also be performed more often if the plumbing system is especially old, or if there is a large root system near the main sewer line.
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Turn Off The Water And Drain The Bladder
Shut the water off and allow the drain cleaning bladder to deflate. Do not attempt to pull the bladder out until it has deflated, as this can cause damage to the pipes and to the bladder. Once the bladder has deflated, pull it out of the drain and disconnect the garden hose. Put the drain cleaning bladder in a sink or in a bucket so that it can be properly cleaned when the job is done.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
A Bladder Can Burst If Subjected To Too Much Water Pressure
All drain-cleaning bladders have a maximum safe water pressure. If you fill a bladder past this point, it can burst. Before you begin, you must know the pressure specifications of the product you intend to use, as well as the water pressure inside your building. If the pressure in your home or workplace is too high, you can reduce it to acceptable levels if the buildings plumbing system is outfitted with a water pressure regulator.
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Solution : Use Dish Soap
Even after the first solution, your bladder is still stuck. This could be possible.
But no worries! Theres another solution. This will make solution 1 easier.
To remove that bladder easily, use automatic dishwasher detergent or dish soap. Automatic dishwasher detergent has many uses and its available in gel and liquid form too.
Thats why it works as a really good lubricant. You just need to pour the gel or liquid detergent on the hose. This will loosen it up.
Once it seems to loosen up, twist and pull again. Make sure youre pulling in a clockwise direction. This should be enough to get the bladder out.
But your bladder might still be stuck in the pipe. If this happens, you have used a different sized bladder.
As a solution, you might think of cutting the pipe. But dont!
Instead, call a plumber and take his help to get it out.
Choose A Suitable Drain Cleaning Bladder
If you start trying to clear a clog with the wrong drain cleaning bladder, you could end up causing a bigger mess, so take a look at the size of the pipes and choose an appropriate bladder.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
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Does Baking Soda Unclog Drains
For minor clogs, a mixture of baking soda and vinegar can be used to clean the drain. To clean the drain, hot water is first poured down it, followed by a solution of vinegar and water and baking soda. As the vinegar and baking soda bubbles, it loosens the clog. Insert the drain plug for about 5 to 10 minutes before flushing with boiling water. The process may need to be repeated until the clog is cleared.
How Does A Husky Drain Bladder Work
HuskyDrain Bladderdrainsdrainbladder
. In this way, how does a drain cleaning bladder work?
Push the bladder down into the drain. It should be inserted a minimum of 6 inches down the drain. While standing a safe distance away, turn the water on slowly until it is at full pressure. After it fills, the drain bladder will force water pressure into the line and the drain should clear.
Also, are drain bladders safe? All drain-cleaning bladders have a maximum safe water pressure. If you fill a bladder past this point, it can burst.
Regarding this, can you use a drain bladder on a toilet?
Excessive pressure may cause the drain cleaning bladder to burst. DO NOT use in toilet fixtures. The drain cleaning bladder could damage the porcelain. DO NOT use after chemicals have been used to try to clear the clog.
How effective is hydro jetting?
One of hydroâjettingâs biggest advantages, however, is that itâs entirely chemical-free, and causes zero damage to inner pipe walls. Itâs not only effective for cleaning pipes, but also 100% safe for all types of pipe line, including: Cement sewer lines.
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What Is A Drain Bladder
Drain bladders are heavy-duty rubber expansion balloons that inject pressurized water into clogged plumbing drains. One end is connected to a standard garden or water hose, and the other end is inserted into the clogged drain.
Once the water is turned on, the bladder builds up water pressure as it expands like a water balloon inside the drain. After the bladder has fully expanded to encompass the entire diameter of the drain, it shoots the pressurized water down the drain until the clog has cleared.
Drain bladders are so effective and easy to operate that they can be used on everything from clogged kitchen sinks to heavy clogs from grease or compacted toilet paper that chemicals, drain snakes and plungers cant bust through. Drain bladders are also less messy than other drain cleaning methods . Although some residual drain waste material may cling to the drain bladder after use, its often minimal because you dont have to insert the bladder as deeply into the drain.
While a drain bladder can be safely and effectively used in any type of drain pipe , its possible the pressurized water emitted from the drain bladder can break fragile pipes. Cast-iron and PVC pipes that are old, brittle or have existing cracks are prone to rupturing under high water pressure, especially when attempting to clear a heavy clog. Its not recommended to use drain bladders on old drains of questionable quality.
Do Drain Cleaning Bladders Work
A drain-cleaning bladder only works in situations where it completely blocks the affected drain when filled with water. Otherwise, it will fail to generate the pressure required to clear a severe clog. In addition, there are two situations in which a bladder wonât work even if it does fill the drain interior.
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How Do You Remove The Stuck Drain Bladder
Now that you know the reasons why the drain bladder can get stuck in the pipe, let us talk about how to retrieve the drain bladder.
So, we recommend you follow these steps to remove the drain bladder from the pipe. We do suggest you follow the steps cautiously to avoid any more mishaps.
In case the high-water pressure has caused the bladder to get stuck, this is what you can do:
In most cases, these two quick solutions do the work. However, if you find that none of these has worked, please do not be hasty with it.
It could be that the bladder is still stuck due to the wrong size of it.
Do not try pulling or tugging the bladder it will just worsen the situation. Instead, call a professional plumber to solve the problem so that pipes dont get damaged.
Prevent Future Drain Clogs
Here are a few proven methods to keep your drains clear and buildup-free for the foreseeable future:
1. Use Drain Screens
These devices allow water and other small particles to pass through your drain. But they block out hair, large particles of food, and other scum. Drain screens are ideal for the kitchen sink, the bathtub, and shower.
2. Never Pour Grease Down Your Drain
Liquid grease will harden over time and clog your drain. Worse still, grease can cause sewer clogs too. Make sure you wipe down greasy dishes with a paper towel before rinsing them. Use plenty of hot water and detergent when washing greasy dishes.
3. Perform Regular Maintenance on Drains and Stoppers
Make an effort to keep your drains clean and clear on a regular basis. Pour a few gallons of boiling water down your sink once a week. Clean your sink stoppers regularly too as they tend to gather grime, hair, and other particles.
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Reason : High Water Pressure
Sometimes it might blow off and get stuck in the pipe or drain that you wish to clear. This might happen because you might not have followed the instructions properly. And create high water pressure.
So what happens is the bladder might have got segmented inside the clogged pipe. This happens due to the high water pressure from the hose. The valve might get detached from the hose and stuck in the pipe.
Even after the first solution, your bladder is still stuck. This could be possible.
But no worries! Theres another solution. This will make solution 1 easier.
To remove that bladder easily, use automatic dishwasher detergent or dish soap. Automatic dishwasher detergent has many uses and its available in gel and liquid form too.
Thats why it works as a really good lubricant. You just need to pour the gel or liquid detergent on the hose. This will loosen it up.
Once it seems to loosen up, twist and pull again. Make sure youre pulling in a clockwise direction. This should be enough to get the bladder out.
But your bladder might still be stuck in the pipe. If this happens, you have used a different sized bladder.
As a solution, you might think of cutting the pipe. But dont!
Instead, call a plumber and take his help to get it out.
Insert The Drain Bladder Into The Wall
- Insert the tip of the bladder into the wall, and carefully press and wiggle it as far down into the drain as possible.
- The bladder should be inserted a minimum of six inches into the drain. Itâs recommended to insert the bladder far enough into the drain to bypass the point where the branches off to the roof vent. If you donât push the bladder past this tee, the water may travel up toward the roof if it encounters enough resistance at the clog. Ideally, the bladder should be inserted until it meets resistance from the clog.
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Homemade Drain Cleaner And Declogger
For those of you who hate poison-type drain cleaners, use white vinegar and baking soda. This will clean and unclog a drain. Also drops of white vinegar in your pet’s water will keep away fleas and ticks!
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- Pour baking soda into drain.
- Follow with vinegar.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 21.4, Sodium 15331.6, Carbohydrate 0.1, Sugar 0.1
Clear Stubborn Clogs In A Hurry With This Inexpensive Method
Timothy Dale is a home repair expert and writer with over a decade of hands-on construction and home improvement experience. He is skilled in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional plumbing, electrical, carpentry, installation, renovations, and project management.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Dealing with clogs is time-consuming, troublesome, and definitely not an exact science, which is why there are so many methods that both professionals and DIYers use in an attempt to rectify these situations. Clogs that are left for one or more days can cause a home to begin to smell due to the trapped waste and water, so it’s essential to unclog your pipes as soon as possible. Plungers, hair snakes, drain augers, chemical clog removers, and even pipe cameras are commonly used to unclog drains, but a less-commonly used tool is the drain cleaning bladder.
These devices consist of a heavy-duty rubber compartment that expands and resembles a small balloon. However, this balloon only expands when it’s connected to a water source and filled with cold water from one end. The other end of the drain cleaning bladder must be inserted more than six inches into the pipes, preferably after any tees or U-bends. When the bladder becomes completely full, it shoots pressurized water into the clogged plumbing drains, breaking up clogs and clearing away any remaining pieces of partial clogs.
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