Urinals get blocked from time to time and this is a problem that needs to be dealt with because nobody wants to use a blocked toilet and it can also cause problems in the water system. There are many ways of unblocking a blocked urinal, but one of the simplest ways is using a plunger which you should have at home anyway if you want to do some DIY plumbing!
Here are some tips on what you should do when your Urinal gets blocked, as well as some tips for preventing future blockages so that you don’t need to deal with this issue again!
What Are the Signs of a Blocked Urinal?
There are a few different signs that are worth bearing in mind if you want to know whether or not your Urinal has been blocked. Firstly, you can tell if the Urinal is blocked by looking down at the water surface and seeing if the water is backing up into the bowl.
If the water is rising into the bowl, it’s likely that there’s something caught in the pipe leading from the Urinals. You’ll also be able to tell if there is debris in the pipes as the water may be draining away extremely slowly or you will hear gurgling or strange noises coming from inside the pipes.
How to Use a Plunger to Unblock a Urinal
A plunger is used to clear away any blockages in the pipes by pushing down on the water around the blockages. There are two different types of plungers – a cup style or a bellow style. The cup type has cups that are shaped like a cup, while the bellow plunger has cups that are shaped like cones.
They can both be effective in unblocking clogs, but they might not work in the same way in every situation. To unblock your Urinal, you’ll need to choose whichever plunger you have at home and then perform these steps:
Step 1 – Prep
The first thing to do is unscrew the drain cap of the Urinal so that there is room for your plunger to get in.
Step 2 – Place the Plunger Over the Drain
Place your plunger over the hole where you want the blockage to be cleared. If you’re using a cup plunger, ensure that the rubber cups of the plunger are fully submerged in water so that it creates an air-tight seal around the hole.
Step 3 – Plunge
Holding onto your plunger, push down firmly and pull up quickly. Make sure you do this several times over. Hopefully, you should see positive results in just a few pumps!
Other Ways to Unblock a Urinal if Plunging Doesn’t Work
If plunging doesn’t work, you can try pouring a jug of boiling water down the Urinal. This will hopefully heat up the debris in the pipes and pop it out. To do this, drain all of the water from your Urinal by opening the cap at the bottom and pouring hot water down the shaft until it clears.
You can also try using a long stick to poke at any obstructions in the pipe. Use a stick that is long enough to reach right into your Urinal and make sure that it’s flexible and thin enough to be pushed through your pipes!
If these solutions do not work, there are a few chemical solutions you can try before resorting to calling out the plumber.
The first option is to try using caustic soda. Pour half a jug of boiling water down the urinal, followed by half a bottle of caustic soda and allow it to sit for about an hour before pouring another jug of boiling water down it. You could also try using muriatic acid which you can get from most DIY shops.
What is the Best Drain Cleaner for Urinals?
I have found that Green Gobbler Drain Cleaner (Amazon link – Opens in a new tab) is the best drain cleaner for Urinals. It has helped me unblock many urinals in my time and it usually clears out any blockages with ease!
You can also use this at home to help prevent future blockage by pouring it down your pipes once a week – Green Gobbler will dissolve all of the grease and debris which could potentially cause a blockage.
How to Prevent Future Blockages
If you want to prevent future blockages, there are several steps that you can take. For example, you could clear the pipes by running boiling water down them every day for a week. You could also try using chemical ointments which are sold for this purpose in most DIY stores. This will help to prevent clogs from building up over time.
Although the urinals will need to be maintained well due to the build-up of scale etc, one of the best ways to prevent future blockages is to have a good-quality drain cap that will prevent hair, chewing gum and other debris from entering the pipe system.
Conclusion
The signs of a blocked Urinal are very easy to identify. First, if the water is backing up into the bowl, it’s likely that there’s something caught in the pipe leading from the Urinals.
You’ll also be able to tell if there is debris in pipes as you will hear gurgling or strange noises coming from inside them. If your plunger doesn’t work, then try pouring boiling water down it and poking it with a long stick through an open drain cap at any obstructions. Chemical solutions can help too but they’re not always necessary!
Like with anything in your home or otherwise, prevention is better than cure and a good cleaning and maintenance schedule coupled with a good quality drain cap will prevent your urinal from being blocked in the future.
If you follow these steps and tips, you should now know how to unblock a Urinal. If these solutions don’t work for you or if your problem is extremely urgent, the best thing to do would be to call out a plumber as they can offer more solutions and also help prevent further damage caused by blocked pipes.
Plumbing Wizard Tips
“Certain chemicals can also be used just be sure that you are wearing gloves!”
“Use a good-quality drain cap to prevent hair and chewing gum from getting into the pipes!”
“Another way to keep things from blocking is to pour vinegar down the shaft every now and then!”
“To prevent future blockages, you should try to clean your urinal by running boiling water through it for a week straight!”
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best way to prevent blockages in your urinal?
Along with a regular cleaning schedule, a good quality drain cap will prevent almost any crap and debris from entering the system and blocking the pipes.
How do you clear a urinal drain?
Use green gobbler drain cleaner. Green gobbler will dissolve all of the build-up and debris that has found its way into the pipework. That includes things like hair, chewing gum and cigarette ends.
Why do urinals block up?
There are various things that can cause a blockage in a urinal, from scale build-up to external debris such as cigarette ends and chewing gum.
About Me
I’m Lee the Plumbing Wizard. I’ve been a plumber for over 40 years and have seen it all. People used to call me a magician because I could fix things so easily – hence the name Plumbing Wizard.
I’m always happy to help out a fellow tradesman or woman, so if you need any advice or just someone to talk plumbing with, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
More You Might Like
