7 Ways to Clear a Blocked Drain
- Without sugar-coating the situation, blocked drains are downright disgusting and it brings along with it serious issues that every homeowner might experience if they don’t do something about it right away. If you’re a homeowner, you’re no exception!
- From tree roots to broken lines and toiletries, they’re all terrible at making the drains inoperable. That’s why understanding exactly how each issue comes about will give homeowners an opportunity to better guard against it. And when the plunger just won’t do the job, here’s what you need to know to fix the problem for good.
Common Reasons for Blocked Drains and How to Clear Them?
- #1 Tree roots
- Tree roots are known to be the number one cause of severe blockage and clogs in water and sewer mains. It’s also often the reason why the sewer line completely fails. While it’s more common to find tree roots ravaging the pipes of homes built many decades ago, they can also find their way into systems of any age. Many experts agree that the first sign of tree root penetration into the sewer or water line is a gurgling sound. You will often notice this in toilets as they work to push sewage down the lines. Instead of freely flowing down the line, it pushes back, hence those weird sounds. When this is going on in your home, then it’s an obvious sign that you should advise a professional blocked drain cleaning Sydney.
- To a tree, your home’s sewer line is storage of nutrients and water essential for its growth. If your pipe has a crack or even a small leak, roots from nearby may sense this weak spot and skillfully grow towards it and into the holes and gaps in the pipes. To make matters worse, these thin roots will run along the surface of your pipe, and in no time will double or triple their lengths and width to the point of completely blocking the pipe.
- If you live in a woody area, or where there are many sprawling trees nearby, it’s important to keep an eye for any tree root growing towards your property or where the sewer lies. Some appreciate a yearly video inspection because they understand that the price is significantly lower than fixing the issue.
- How to fix blocked drain from tree roots?
- If you suspect you have a problem with tree roots penetrating your pipeline, our blocked drain Sydney experts can come and get a first-hand look at the problem and provide recommendations on how to best address tree roots so they won’t go back anymore.
- #2 Hair
- You probably don’t know the importance of brushing your hair before showering or picking up loose hair on your shower floor, but doing so can save you thousands of dollars on blocked drain repair. Humans shed about 50-100 hair strands daily because of many reasons and guess what? Most hair shedding happens in the shower and when combing your hair. Hair has a knack for sliding through the tiny holes in the drain filters, so leaving them on the floor when you’re taking a shower will give them an opportunity to make their way to the drainpipe, ball up and combine with other debris to make a massive buildup.
- How to fix blocked drain from loose hair?
- If it concerns you that you might have a buildup of hair, snake them right away. You can also ask a plumber to do this for you if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself or you’re afraid you might cause more mess and damage than resolve the problem.
- #3 Natural debris
- Never underestimate natural debris from plants, trees, dust and dirt because they can also be an issue for your outdoor drains, especially during spring and winter where heavy rainfall and snow instances occur. This occurrence is not always predictable and can happen in a flash. While they are vital in water systems, when heavy rain and snow melt at a severe rate, they discharge water in an uncontrolled manner and take with them this natural debris that is notorious for blocking drains. Therefore your garden and drain maintenance play a big role in keeping the capacity of your water drains and pipes. It’s the least you can do to avoid a blocked drain situation caused by these natural occurrences that you cannot control.
- How to fix this blocked drain from natural debris?
- Clearing a blocked stormwater drain or blocked outdoor drain from natural debris can be a difficult task for you especially if you don’t have the right tools and skills to do it. If this is a situation in your home, call the experts instead to clear the blocks and keep the drains opening free from natural debris. You might just be able to clear the clogs yourself if it’s within a manual plumber’s snake’s reach, but if not, you need the expert’s hands.
- #4 Grease build-up
- It’s important to know that greasy particles don’t leave the pipes as easily as you would expect, they can linger inside the pipes and eventually accumulate to the extent that no water can pass through. Fats, grease and oil are just terrible to your drains so anything you can do to keep them away will do you a huge favour in the long run.
- How to Fix Blocked Drains from Grease Build-up?
- You can have great success in clearing clogs caused by grease with concentrated liquid dish soap and baking soda followed by boiling water. To avoid dealing with the pesky consequences of your favourite fried foods, pour used oil into a recyclable jar and dispose of them properly. It also helps to keep this grease away by wiping off your kitchenware first with a paper towel before you wash them in the sink. But if your attempt to clear it with a home remedy won’t work magic, hire a professional that offers Sydney drain services. They can clear the grease off permanently, leaving no chance for other debris to wind up on it anymore.
- #5 Toiletries
- We can’t blame people if they get into the habit of disposing of toiletries such as nappies and baby wipes down the drain. But keep in mind, if you’re also doing it, you might be faced with a bigger problem in your drain pipe or sewers. Nappies and baby wipes are two common causes of the fatberg in drainage and sewer systems after being flushed down the toilets. Their product label might say they’re flushable, but they don’t dissolve. They only immerse with water, absorb the moisture, swell and block the flow of the water.
- How to fix blocked drains from toiletries?
- This way of disposing of toiletries is dreadful not only for your sewer lines but as well as for the environment. That’s why in your home these items should be disposed of in the garbage properly. If it’s already too late to place a designated garbage bin for these toiletries and you reckon that soon enough you might run into sewer issues because of these, ask a blocked sewer drain or blocked sewer pipe professional for inspection and clear any obstructions right away.
- #6 Fractured Pipes
- A broken sewer line can mean bad news for your home. This happens when tree roots break into cracks in your pipes and normal wear and tear. Foreign objects that have made it through the drains can also be to blame. As soon as the pipe begins to fracture, its capacity to allow the water to pass through is no longer reliable. It becomes more vulnerable to blockages than pipes that are intact.
- How to fix blocked drains from fractured pipes?
- Unless the broken pipe is exposed, it can be hard to diagnose this issue. It becomes an even greater problem if it is in a tight space. So, if you suspect there may be a fracture in your pipes, it’s best to ask a plumber to come out for professional leak detection and clear the blockages.
- #7 Foreign Objects
- From children’s toys to soap and food that doesn’t break down, dental floss, and other items that are not meant to be flushed down the toilet, or the sinks, are likely to cause immediate blockage. Whether purposely or accidentally, such items and the like shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet or washed down the drain for this reason.
- How to fix blocked drains from foreign objects?
- Educate your children about what they should and should not put down the toilet. Ensure you dispose of food scraps and waste properly, rather than tossing them down the drain, and be cautious of anything you put on top of your toilet tank that may cause a blocked toilet drain.
What should you do?
If you’re concerned about the condition of your drains or you’re experiencing slow drainage, call us asap to get a close look at the blockage with our drain camera and clear them for good.
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