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. These tools come in three sizes. Small bladders are used for 1-inch and 2-inch pipes, medium bladders are made for 1.5-inch to 3-inch pipes, and large bladders are designed for 3-inch to 6-inch pipes. They are most commonly used outdoors, on piping outside the home, such as yard drains.
Safety Considerations
Before deciding to use a drain cleaning bladder, it’s important to understand that there are some risks that come with using this tool. The design of a drain cleaning bladder causes it to store water and then release it in a powerful spray within the enclosed pipe. While this should not do damage to your pipes, there have been cases where old, brittle cast-iron and PVC pipes have cracked or ruptured due to the high pressure. It’s not advised to use a drain cleaning bladder if your existing plumbing is in poor condition. Additionally, you should never put a drain cleaning bladder inside the toilet. The porcelain is very likely to crack or rupture when the water jet is released. If you have a clog in the toilet drain that cannot be cleared, you may need to remove the toilet to gain access to the drain directly. For the best results, get the drain cleaning bladder as close to the clog as possible so that the spray isn’t directed into a U-bend, P-trap, 90-degree turn, or into a vent, which would result in shooting water up onto the roof. If the bladder has a direct route to the clog it will have the most effect.
How to Use a Drain Cleaning Bladder
Drain-Cleaning Bladder Maintenance
When you are done using the drain cleaning bladder, rinse it off to clear away any remaining waste or debris, then allow the bladder to dry. You can use a light coating of silicone lubricant on the heavy-duty rubber balloon to help protect it, but you should also inspect the drain cleaning bladder before and after every use to determine if it is showing signs of drying out or cracking. Old, worn bladders are vulnerable to bursting while in use, so it’s important to replace a worn-out bladder with a new one to avoid potential injury or causing a large mess.
Small drain cleaning bladders are intended for 1-inch and 2-inch pipes.Medium drain cleaning bladders are made for 1.5-inch to 3-inch pipes.Large drain cleaning bladders are suited for 3-inch to 6-inch pipes.
For this reason, drain cleaning bladders are more commonly used outdoors than indoors by professional plumbers, but with the right amount of preparation using towels, rags, cloths, and buckets, you can significantly reduce the mess. Given that most drainage pipes are located under sinks, inside walls, and in other dimly lit areas, you should consider using a headlamp, flashlight, or even a smartphone to help illuminate your workspace. 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. Some professionals state that you can insert a drain cleaning bladder directly into the sink drain. In fact, there are drain cleaning bladder kits that come with a sink crossbar adapter for use on kitchen sinks. However, this method can also cause damage to the sink, the P-trap, and the trap arm, so proceed with caution if you choose to insert the bladder directly into the sink drain. To prevent this from happening, slide the bladder in past the tee. Ideally, you will be able to push the bladder in until it comes in contact with the clog, but if this isn’t possible, then simply get the bladder as close as you can to the clog. It’s advised to stand to the side of the drain opening while the drain cleaning bladder is in use because in some cases the water can backflow out of the drain and splash the user, or the drain bladder can burst under pressure. If your first attempt fails, repeat the process at least once more to try and clear the clog. You can also switch to a different drain cleaning tool or consider contacting a professional plumber if you think the job is too advanced for your current level of experience.
