How to Clear a Blocked Drain - 5 DIY Tips to Unclog Blocked Drains & Remove Common Blockages
How to Clear Blocked Drains: Easy Methods and Expert Tips
Blocked drains are a common issue that can cause major disruptions. Fortunately, there are several effective methods to clear blockages, many of which you can do yourself. Here’s how to deal with blocked drains, using simple tools and ingredients, along with when to call a professional plumber.
DIY Methods to Clear Blocked Drains
- Boiling Water: Pour a pot of boiling water down the drain to help break down grease and soap scum. This is a simple first step that may clear mild blockages.
- Baking Soda and Vinegar: For a more powerful DIY method, baking soda and vinegar are an effective combination. Pour one cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by one cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit and fizz for a few minutes, then flush with hot water.
- Plunger: A plunger can help dislodge blockages by creating suction and force. If your sink, shower, or toilet is blocked, use the plunger to try and clear it.
- U-Bend Cleaning: Sometimes, blockages occur in the U-bend of your sink. Removing the U-bend and clearing out any debris can often fix the issue.
- Drain Snake: A drain snake or auger is a handy tool to remove tough clogs. Insert the snake into the drain and turn it to break apart the blockage.
When to Call a Professional
While DIY methods are useful, some blockages require professional help. Consider calling a plumber if:
- DIY methods don’t work: If your drain remains clogged after using common methods, it may require more specialized tools or services.
- Severe blockages: Blockages in main drains or those that affect the entire plumbing system should be handled by a professional.
- Pipe issues: If you suspect that the blockage is caused by damaged or deteriorating pipes, professional plumbing services are essential.
Dealing with Blocked Drains at Home and Finding Solutions
Blocked drains can be a frustrating and recurring issue for homeowners, whether it’s a toilet that won’t flush or a kitchen sink that’s slow to drain. Understanding the common causes of blockages and the most effective solutions can save you time, money, and stress.
There are few things more frustrating than a toilet that won’t flush or a kitchen or bathroom sink that won't drain. A
blocked drain is usually the culprit, either in the house or further down the plumbing system.
If the blocked drain is in your home or on your property, the onus is on you to clear the drain blockage, either as a DIY or through a professional plumber.
If you're a DIY at heart, our licensed plumber has compiled their top 5 handy ways to clear a blocked drain.
Please note, however, that these 5 handy hints are for minor drain blockages, not for severe blockages. When you find yourself regularly performing these DIY practices, it's probably time to invest in a blocked drains specialist to identify and clear your blocked drains, once and for all.
But before you try to unblock that drain hole, it's good to have a clear understanding of what might have caused the blocked drain.
Common Causes Behind Your Blocked Drains & How to Prevent Them
Foreign Objects In The Drainage System
Toilets often get treated like a bathroom bin, with items like nappies, sanitary products, cotton buds, cat litter, toys, and even ‘flushable’ wipes ending up in the plumbing system. These items don’t dissolve quickly, if at all, causing solid blockages. Even gradual build-ups, such as hair in shower drains, can worsen over time, requiring professional intervention.
Grease, Fats & Food Scraps
Blocked kitchen sinks often result from cooking oil and food scraps washing down the drain. Grease builds up on pipe walls, gradually narrowing the drain until wastewater can’t pass through. When this happens, more drastic measures are needed.
An Aged Drainage System
If your plumbing system is aging, older pipes, like metal or ceramic, face particular weaknesses. Metal pipes attract mineral deposits such as magnesium and calcium, which obstruct flow, especially in corners. Ceramic pipes can misalign over time due to ground movement, allowing dirt and debris to enter and create a blockage.
Tree Roots
One of the most common causes of blocked outdoor drains is tree roots. Roots can infiltrate plumbing systems, causing severe blockages. No store-bought drain cleaner will effectively remove tree roots; this problem requires professional clearing solutions like high-pressure water jetting.
How Water Jetting Can Help
For severe blockages caused by tree roots, grease build-up, or foreign objects, a high-pressure water jetting service is often the most effective solution. Unlike traditional drain cleaning tools, water jetting can cut through and clear stubborn blockages without damaging your pipes. Its versatility allows it to tackle various blockages while thoroughly cleaning the inside of the pipes, providing a more permanent resolution.
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Our Comprehensive Blocked Drain Cleaning Services
Drain cleaning services have come a long way over the past few decades. The plumbing industry has evolved, and how we tackle a drain blockage has changed. With the latest technology and processes, the method is now more cost-effective and minimally disruptive. Sounds good, right? Our expert team thinks so too.
At Network Plumbing, we use advanced equipment like a high-pressure water jetter that is environmentally friendly, efficient, and provides a superior finish for a same-day drain cleaning service. If you’re looking for “hydrojet drain cleaning near Sydney,” our services ensure a thorough and effective cleaning process.
Using the of Water to Clear All Blocked Drains
Water is a powerful medium, and one we use to our advantage when it comes to drain cleaning. With the correct pressure, water can cut through tree roots, grease, fat build-ups, dirt, and sand. While breaking through blockages and clearing a path within the drain is impressive, it’s only part of the story. As part of the jetting process, water not only clears the blockage but also washes away dirt and debris from every inch of the pipe, leaving a sparkling inside surface behind—drain cleaning at its best.
Our water jetting plumbing service goes further by thoroughly cleaning your pipes, pushing any debris into the attached manhole for vacuum collection. With water jetting, you can:
- Penetrate and emulsify grease
- Break through sludge, debris, and foreign materials
This method not only removes the blockage but also cleans the pipe walls, reducing the likelihood of future clogs.
How Exactly Does A Water Jetter Work to Clear Blockages?
Jetting nozzles have small precision machined orifices or jets to restrict water flow from the jetting pump thus causing high pressure to build within the hose. As the pressurised water is expelled from the nozzle jets it reverts from pressure to velocity (speed) creating thrust that allows the nozzle to pull the jetting hose.
With the system pressurised, the high-pressure jetting hose coiled on a hydraulic powered hose reel (up to 150m) is released by the operator who controls the travel speed and distance of the nozzle up the drain. Pressurised water expelled from the nozzle jets cleans the debris and removes drain blockage from the inside of the pipe whilst traveling through it.
Optimum cleaning is achieved when the hose is being rewound onto the hydraulic reel. During this action, water from the nozzle jets effectively forms a curtain or wall of high-pressure water that forces (or rakes) the debris downstream. Sewer jetting technology can be applied to clean all size pipe diameters with the appropriate size of high pressure jetting unit. Pipe and drain maintenance can improve the quality of your pipes, not only is jetting a fast service we strongly believe it's delivering an excellent service that's second to none.
Do You Need Drain Cleaning Services For Your Sewer Drain?
Are you experiencing the telltale signs of a blocked drain? From your kitchen sink, shower drain, or toilet, a blocked drain can happen anywhere on your property. Each drain in your home will face different challenges. From your drains being used as bins to external structural damage caused to your underground pipes. Most pipes that are experiencing blockages will speak, quietly at first... then loudly. The key is to know the signs.
Blocked Drain Signs
- Slow to drain
- Gurgling sounds
- Wet patches in your yard
- Cracked driveways and pavers
- Usual smells or odours coming from your drains
- Changes in your toilet's flush
- Foreign objects in your toilet bowl
Do any of these signs sound familiar? Are your plumbing services under pressure? Is there a blocked drain lurking?
If you can tick a yes to any of the above, enlisting the help of professional drain cleaners will minimise any damage that might be caused to your plumbing system and in turn, reduce the chance of an emergency blocked drain situation. Blocked Drains should never be ignored. They will not clear themselves and only increase in damage.
Benefits Of Using A Water Jetter For Drain Cleaning
We've talked about the drawbacks of traditional drain cleaning tools like a drain snake. We've marked up the pros and technical know-how of a water jetter. Now, it's time to list our top 3 reasons for choosing a Jetter as our main drain cleaning tool.
Efficiency
A water Jetter has speed on its side. With a Jetter, drain cleaning can be completed in less than a quarter of the time it might take a drain snake to clear the same blocked drain section.
Precision
A Jetter can travel up to 60m inside your drains and still retain its precision.
Thorough
A Jetter will clear and cut the blockages, but that's not all! Wait there's more... the water will span the diameter of drains or pipes ensuring a full wash down occurs. Leaving no outliers.
The drain cleaning game has been lifted. You can clear, cut and clean all while still protecting your drains and pipes. Blocked drains, be gone.
Assessing & Repairing Your Drainage System After Water Jetting
Yay, we've cleared and cleaned your blocked sewers with our water jetting plumbing team. Your kitchen sink is draining, your toilet is flushing and your stormwater pipes are flowing again. Once the drain cleaning has finished, this is not the end of the line.
Now is the time to assess your pipes or drains. Check for any structural damage that might have occurred or find the initial reason behind the blocked drain. Our professional service won't just clear your drains and leave you to face the same scenario again further down the line. We innately believe great service is delivering all the information, empowering our clients to make an informed decision.
- Whether it's your sewer drain or your stormwater pipes, blocked drains will be caused by something.
- Are there tree roots that have caused the damage?
- Is your plumbing system aging?
- Has it seen better days and could not withstand the pressure caused by blocked drains?
Our plumbers will use a CCTV drain camera to check the structural integrity of the services. CCTV drain cameras will give a clear factual indication if there is any structural damage.
If there is damage and your pipes require repair, never fear. Network Plumbing is highly trained in pipe relining. We're Sydney's leading experts in pipe relining solutions. There are many benefits to pipe relining solutions, one major benefit is you won't have to dig trenches throughout your garden to repair the damaged pipe. Pipe relining will as the name suggests, reline your broken or damaged pipe with a woven liner that is impregnated with a 2-part epoxy resin. Once the epoxy resin is cured it's now structurally stronger than a PVC pipe.
If tree roots are the root cause, a relined pipe will be impervious to further root invasion, a perfect solution. To find out more about pipe relining as a solution for your damaged pipes.
No Worries if DIY Fails, Contact A Blocked Drain Plumber Today
When all else fails, that doesn't mean you have as well. These DIY drain clearing methods are acceptable for minor blockages, but more often than not... professional intervention is needed.
By the time you notice slow draining, gurgling sounds, or foul odors, a
blocked drain has likely become a significant issue that home remedies won’t fix. Persistent blockages require professional intervention, and that’s where
Network Plumbing comes in. Offering 24/7 services for all your plumbing needs, they use advanced equipment like water jetters and
CCTV drain cameras to quickly locate and clear blockages. If the blockage has caused damage, their expert plumbers can perform
pipe relining, a permanent solution to prevent future root intrusions. From blocked drains, hot water systems, burst pipes, and emergency plumbing to no-dig pipe repair, water leak solutions, general plumbing, and gas plumbing, their expert team ensures your plumbing system is restored efficiently and effectively.
All our plumbers are qualified, certified and fully insured. We have an emergency team that is always on standby to resolve those emergencies too. You're not alone.
Do you have a blocked drain that you can’t clear and require prompt service?
Contact us, and we will be happy to help. We are available 24/7 on 9023 3232.
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