How to Unclog Pipes In a Mobile Home?

We all know that having issues with the plumbing system and pipes is a mess, and foul odors are just a part of this hazard.

If pipes burst out, you can end up flooding your neighbors!

This is why quite many people tend to believe that living in a mobile home saves you from these problems.

But no! In fact, mobile homes are even more predisposed to different pipe problems.

This is why today we would like to share some useful information on this subject with you.

If you already live in a mobile home or you are just going to move into it, this article will be very handy for you! You will learn how to clear a clogged drain in a mobile home easily and safely.

Also, you will learn what causes mobile home plumbing problems and how you can figure out that your pipes need to be cleaned.

Finally, we will explain what makes a mobile home plumbing system different from the one that regular houses have.

So if you need to know exactly how to keep your mobile home sink and drains always clean, read on and keep in mind all the life hacks and recommendations that will be given to you here.

How to Clear a Clogged Drain In a Mobile Home?

Living in a mobile home can be both convenient and exciting, but when it comes to pipes and plumbing systems, these homes tend to be an even bigger headache than the regular houses!

This is why you have to give extra attention to your pipes and plumbing if you live in this type of home – all because of their higher tendency to clog.

If you need to unclog your mobile home drain pipe, first of all you need to make sure that you have all the necessary tools with you:

1. Pliers
2. A Wire Hanger
3. Plumbing Wrench
4. A Plunger
5. A Drain Snake
6. Dish Detergent
7. A 50/50 Mix of Vinegar and Baking Soda
8. A Bucket
9. Cleaning (Sanitizing) Products
10. Protective eyewear, gloves, and clothing

We would also recommend you be constantly prepared for any possible clogs by keeping your plumbing tools and supplies together in a toolbox or in a separate bucket.

Like that, they will always be within your reach allowing you to deal with the issue quickly.

And as you know, the faster you can fix a clog in your mobile home plumbing, the less likely you will have to clean up contaminated water.

Below, you will find the detailed explanation of how to unclog different types of drains in your mobile home.

With the help of these guides, you will be able to know exactly what actions you should take and in what sequence in order to keep your pipes clean.

How to Unclog a Bathtub Drain In a Mobile Home?

If you need to unclog your mobile home bathroom sink or a shower drain, you can opt for one of the following methods.

All of them are fairly easy to perform and they won’t take you much time or effort, or any specific tools or products!

The first method is to plunge the drain. For this method, you will need one to two inches of water in the tub or sink to use it as a seal between the plunger and the drain.

Then do the following:

1. Soak your plunger in hot water to increase the bell’s elasticity and prevent cracking
2. Add half a cup of dish detergent to the water and let it settle in the drain to loosen the clog
3. Submerge the plunger bell in the water
4. Vigorously pump the plunger in an up and down motion until you see or feel the water level descending

Another approach is to pour boiling water into the drain. You can also add a half cup of salt to the first portion of boiling water to help it to dissolve the clog faster.

Use this method in case you have no tools at hand at all, and remember that this “salty wash” is not recommended for PVC pipes! The procedure itself is very easy:

1. Remove standing water in the sink or tub.
2. Boil two large pots of water to the boil until water starts rolling
3. Very cautiously, pour one of these pots down the clogged drain
4. Test the drain by running hot water down the drain for 30 seconds to 1 minute
5. Pour the second pot down the drain

Finally, here is another alternative method we would like to introduce to you.

To unclog your mobile home pipes, you can opt for some baking soda and vinegar.

This method will be especially handy for those of you who prefer to avoid chemical cleaners!

1. Remove standing water in the sink or tub.
2. Pour one cup of baking soda right down the drain.
3. Next, pour one cup of white distilled vinegar right after the baking soda
4. Let the mixture rest there for one hour
5. Pour one pot of boiling or hot water down the drain to rinse it out.

Related: How Long Does It Take For Pipes to Freeze And Burst?

How to Unclog Your Mobile Home Toilet Pipes?

If you have your mobile home toilet plumbing clogged, you need to act quickly.

Toilet engineering and mechanisms are the same whether in a mobile home or in a regular brick-and-mortar house.

For this work on your plumbing system, we recommend you make use of protective goggles, gloves, and outfit. Here is how to unclog the toilet in a mobile home in a step by step description:

First of all, you need to start with shutting off the water source.

See, you want to avoid toilet water overflowing for sure, especially when it contains urine or feces!

Any contact with this water or surfaces it contaminates can result in infection or illness.

Once the previous step is done, plunge the toilet.

To do that, simply follow the steps we describe below in order to get the best performance from your plunger:

1. Soak your plunger in hot water first. It will increase the bell’s elasticity and prevent cracking
2. Add hot water to the toilet bowl. But if water fills more than half of the bowl already, do not add any more to it!
3. Add about half a cup of dish detergent to the water and let it settle near the exit hole. This will help to loosen the clog
4. Now you need to submerge the plunger bell in the toilet water and place it so a seal is formed around the exit hole
5. Vigorously pump the plunger, moving it up and down until you see or feel the water level getting lower in the bowl. Repeat this step as many times as needed in order to clear the clog and get the water flowing freely

Also, we would like to give you a small but handy tip: when you see that the water goes down in the toilet bowl, add some hot water and carefully repeat steps four and five.

Like this, you will make sure that the clog has completely been removed from your plumbing system.

You might have another issue with a clogged toilet. Sometimes, clogs may remain trapped near the toilet’s exit hole. If this happens to you, don’t worry! You can remove them with the help of a wire hanger. Here is how this can be done:

1. Using pliers, unravel the hanger’s hook
2. Straighten out the entire hanger
3. On one end, make a sharp bend of about half an inch. It must look like a fish hook
4. Now, insert the hook into the toilet’s exit hole until you feel resistance from the clog
5. Once you sense that, push the hanger into it, through, and around the clog to loosen or break it up
6. Flush repeatedly to ensure that the clog has cleared the plumbing system

As an option, you can make use of another unclogging tool that is called plumber’s snake.

It will become handy if you need to cope with extremely stubborn and deep clogs that won’t come out easily. To make use of it, simply follow a few easy steps:

1. Drop the coiled end of the snake into the exit hole of the toilet
2. Extend the snake until you reach the clog
3. Rotate the snake clockwise until you feel the resistance of the clog gives way
4. Take a bucket of hot water and pour it into the toilet’s bowl. The water will flow down the toilet if the clog has been cleared
5. In case your first attempt did not work and the clog was not cleared, try again

And of course, if you did not manage to clear the clog yourself even after several attempts with the use of a snake, call a plumber.

Like this, you will prevent causing any damage to the toilet or to your plumbing system.

Related: How to Unfreeze Pipes In a Mobile Home

What Makes Pipes In a Mobile Home Clogged?

Of course, any homeowner (no matter whether you live in a mobile home or in a brick and mortar house) wants to know why their pipes are getting clogged so often!

So if you have any issues with your mobile home toilet or a mobile home shower drain clogging, the possible causes for it might be the following:

• Hair
• Soap Lather
• Grease and Fat
• Dental Floss
• Cotton Swabs
• Feminine Hygiene Products
• Diapers
• Wipes

It can sometimes happen that even the softest toilet paper will clog the pipes in a mobile home!

This is why it is strongly prohibited to throw any paper towels, toilet paper, or wipes into your toilet in such homes!

How Is Your Mobile Home Plumbing Different?

Of course, some of you might be curious about why the plumbing system of your mobile home is so prone to clogging.

And also, what makes it different from the plumbing system of a regular house. Let’s figure this out.

In a few words, the plumbing distinction between a regular brick and mortar house and a mobile home begins with the location of the pipes.

In a house, the plumbing runs through the walls to and from the various fixtures. In a mobile home, it runs under the floors, not inside the walls, and only then to the fixtures.

Mobile home plumbing has the benefit since it is easier to access, which means that it is much easier to reach for any repairs, adjustments, and replacements.

However, there is the downside as well: the mobile home plumbing is often smaller in diameter which makes it clog more easily and frequently.

How to Figure Out That Your Plumbing Vent Is Clogged?

To be able to react quickly and unclog your mobile home plumbing, you need to be able to spot the clog as soon as possible.

To do that, you need to keep an eye on your mobile home plumbing vent.

See, plumbing vent pipes work together with drain pipes in order to maintain neutral air pressure.

Later, gravity carries water and sewage through the drain pipes. But when they are clogged, this is what can happen:

1. Bubbling sounds when water drains
2. Drainage slows down
3. A sewage-like smell from the toilet or drains

Of course, in an ideal world, this issue should be fixed by a professional plumber who would clear a clogged vent pipe.

But if you have no possibility to have it done by a plumber, here is how it can be done by yourself:

• Climb to the roof and secure yourself near the vent pipe
• Clear any debris, bird nests, or blockages from around it
• See down the vent pipe using a flashlight to check it for any blockages
• If a blockage can’t be reached, clear it with a plumber’s snake

So, now you know quite a lot about unclogging pipes in a mobile home!

We told you why it can happen and why mobile homes tend to be more predisposed to this sort of pipe issue in comparison to brick houses.

We also shared a few recipes of how your mobile home pipes can be freed from clogs relatively easily and quickly.

With all that in mind, you will now be able to deal with any clog, even the most stubborn one, with minimal effort.

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