How To Clean A Blocked Drain

At some point or another, most homes experience some kind of blockage in the drains or pipes. Whilst these can appear harmless and quick fixes, often, they are tell-tale signs that something more sinister might be around the corner. Certainly, if the problem persists then you should call a professional plumber at Killara Plumbing and ask for our blocked drain service.

Our plumbers in the Sydney Northern suburbs have serviced local homes for 40 years. We’ve seen our fair share of blocked pipes over that time! For peace of mind, one of our team can visit to see why the problem persists and ensure it does not escalate to a more serious issue that could require emergency plumbing.

For now, we want to share some background information that might be useful next time you hear a drain starting to gurgle or smell something odd coming from the sink.

CLEANING A BLOCKED DRAIN

Before we consider the whys and hows, let’s cut to the chase and see how to fix the problem first! As we’ve already said, you should call a plumber for a professional assessment. However, for a potential quick-fix band-aid solution, you can try the following:

• Boil the kettle and pour the entire contents down the affected drain. Straight after you’ve done that, pour in a cup of baking soda and a cup of white vinegar. Fill the kettle a second time, wait ten minutes, then pour that new batch of building water down as a chaser. If you don’t have baking soda and vinegar then you can try this with just the hot water.
• Grab a plunger (readily available at a local hardware store), affix it to the drain’s opening, ensure you have created some suction and now begin pumping the handle up and down. Be prepared for contaminated water to rise to the surface.

We don’t recommend a DIY plumbing snake as this could damage the pipes and create even bigger problems.

HOW TO UNBLOCK A DRAIN WITH PROFESSIONALS

In no time at all, Killara Plumbing can get to the bottom of this problem and help prevent it from recurring. We bring all the necessary equipment to handle this job straight away. Typically, we will come with CCTV drain cameras that we use to see the problem. There’s no double-guessing and we can then troubleshoot it accordingly.

Our customer testimonials often praise us for the quality of our work and the cleanliness of our work area. We know this can be a fairly dramatic-looking situation and we work hard to minimise the damage and clean the area. We never leave our work sight looking worse for wear.

Now we’ve understood how to solve the problem, let’s explore a little further to understand why it occurs and the nasty effects it can have on the household and the people living in it.

HOW TO TELL IF DRAINS ARE BLOCKED

Let’s be positive and start with some good news! There are some very obvious signs that you have a pipe blockage in your home. They include:

• Flushing the toilet is not as effective
• Nasty odours
• Unusual sounds coming from the pipes
• Waste coming up the drain
• Water not draining efficiently and pooling

BLOCKED DRAINS HEALTH RISKS

You might think this is just a plumbing issue. However, blocked drains can be a health problem for you or your family as well. A blocked sewage pipe can create overflow, bringing all manner of viruses and bacteria into the home.

Rats love dirty water – it’s a potential feeding ground for them. If your blocked drain has a build-up of food and water, you’re sending an open invitation to these potentially disease-ridden critters. Leptospirosis, or Weil’s disease, is a bacterial infection spread via infected rat urine and can cause high temperatures, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and aching muscles and joints.

Speaking of critters, don’t forget the flying type. Pooling water can attract more mozzies than usual, Encephalitis. In Sydney alone, there have been 45 cases of confirmed Japanese Encephalitis since 2021.

These are all serious human health problems, and they’re all avoidable.

WHY DO DRAINS GET BLOCKED

Unfortunately, there are many culprits contributing to this problem. They include:

• Hair
  A blocked shower drain is usually the result of excess hair building up over time.
• Fat & grease 
  Have you ever heard of a fatberg? It’s not a pretty sight. As the name suggests, it’s a mass of fat that builds up from oil and liquid fat going down the sink. It seems harmless, one go at a time. However, as the fat cools, it solidifies and catches other debris, gathering in size.
• Twigs and outdoor debris 
  A blocked stormwater pipe is typically the result of twigs and other outside debris building up in gutters and wreaking havoc. It’s a good idea to keep these areas clean (especially after Autumn with all the leaves falling). This not only prevents outdoor drain blockage but also helps you prepare your home for bushfire season.
• Foreign objects 
  A blocked sewerage pipe is usually the result of flushing foreign objects down the toilet. Nappies, wet wipes, used condoms, sanitary napkins and tampons – all these items belong in a rubbish bin, not your loo.

contact a drain blockage plumber now

Don’t procrastinate with this plumbing problem. We’ve seen that it can lead to health problems for you and your family. That alone is a reason to get the job sorted once and for all. However, the longer you leave these problems to persist, the more likely they will escalate into full-blown issues that cost much more to repair.

So let’s knock it on the nose and sort it out once and for all! Call our friendly customer service team, and they’ll send a professional out ASAP.

Unblock your drains – call us now!