Dealing with blocked drains is a common yet frustrating issue for many Sydney residents. Whether it’s a sink and drain problem, a blocked shower drain, or a stubborn drain blockage in your toilet, using an effective strategy can save you both time and potentially much more costly plumbing bills.
If you have a minor blocked drain, you can give one of your DIY methods a try. This is our guide to help give you what you need to know about drain blockage, how to recognise it when it happens, how to prevent and clear it, as well as when you need to give a professional a call.
Recognising the Signs
Before we dive into the solutions, it’s crucial to understand the warning signs of blocked drains.
Identifying these signals can help you address the issue early, potentially saving your home’s plumbing system from more significant problems.
Common indicators of blocked drains include:
- Slow Drainage: When your sinks, showers, or baths empty sluggishly and tend to overflow, it’s a clear sign that a blockage might be lurking in the pipes.
- Foul Odors: Detecting a sewage-like smell in your kitchen or bathroom can indicate a blockage. This unpleasant odor results from food waste, toiletries, or other debris stuck in the pipes.
- Gurgling Sounds: If you hear gurgling sounds emanating from your drains, it’s another red flag. These sounds often signify a problem that requires immediate attention.
Understanding what commonly leads to blocked drains will also help you prevent blockages from developing in future. In other cases, it will just help you remain aware of what is happening in your drain pipes.
The culprits of a blocked drain:
- Hair and Toiletries: Hair accumulation in pipes is a prime culprit. Human and pet hair can easily find their way into showers and sinks, where they tangle with other debris, forming blockages.
- Bathroom Debris: Wet wipes, sanitary products, and even so-called “flushable” wipes can contribute to blocked toilets because they don’t dissolve like toilet paper does. Small items can also make their way into the drain, causing further blockages.
- Food Waste: In the kitchen, food waste can be a significant problem. Even with sink strainers in place, some food waste may escape and cause blockages. Items like tea leaves and coffee grounds are particularly resistant.
- Congealed Fats and Oils: Pouring oils down the sink can lead to kitchen sink build-up. These substances can solidify further down the pipes, trapping other food debris. It’s crucial to avoid pouring oils down the sink.
Tree Roots: Tree roots can infiltrate pipes by finding their way into existing cracks or joins, causing significant blockages. This is especially common with older earthenware piping.
