4 Expert Tips to Unblock Home Drains

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One of the most annoying things to deal with around your home is a blocked drain. If not dealt with urgently, these blockages can cause a huge, unsanitary mess which could be quite costly to clear. 

Many homeowners avoid the stress of dealing with a blocked drain by calling the blocked drain plumber Melbourne residents rely on to keep everything flowing properly. Smaller blockages can often be cleared with a few simple DIY tricks. 

Know the Signs 

Blocked drains are not just unpleasant to deal with but can also pose a health risk or cause damage to the property. It’s essential to know what the signs are that will indicate you’re dealing with a blocked drain that may rise up and overflow. 

Here’s a list of the top signs to look out for: 

• Gurgling sounds: When you notice gurgling sounds every time water is let out of the sink, this is an indication that water is pushing against something in the pipe.
• Foul smell: This is a common sign that there’s a blockage in your drain. The odour stems from organic matter decomposing in the drain and can vary from a faint odour to a severe smell, depending on what has been flushed down the drain.
• Slow draining: This happens when water that should flow freely down the drain pools and takes longer to clear out of the sink, bathtub or shower. If this problem seems to get worse as the days pass, it means that the blockage is getting bigger.
• Overflowing: Water should never flow back up the drain. This happens when the drain is so blocked that nothing can pass through, around or under it. This will need to be cleared for water to flow freely again.

Understand the Causes

Many people assume that drains must get blocked by a single event where something large was flushed or got stuck. However, blocked drains usually happen as a result of regular actions that happen every day and build up. 

Here are the top causes Australian plumbers need to deal with. 

• Cooking oil: When poured down the drain, cooking oil and grease harden against the pipe and get bigger and harder to move. Other item items in the drain will get stuck on this making it harder for water to flow around it.
• Food scraps: Any food scraps that are flushed down the kitchen sink can easily get stuck in the drain.
• Hair: People with long hair know that there’s a considerable amount of hair fall every time their hair is washed. This can get suck on whatever is stuck in the drain and aggravate the blockage.
• Toiletries: Common toiletry items such as baby wipes, nappies, and sanitary products can cause severe blockages and should never be flushed.
• Tree roots: If you have trees close to your drain it’s possible that roots can damage pipes and cause blockages. Add drain guards to prevent twigs and leaves from getting into the drain.

Simple Ways to Keep Drains Clear

Clearing a minor blockage is often not that difficult. Here are the top tips to keep in mind when you’re clearing your drains. 

1. Flush With Boiling Water

Boiling water is an effective way to loosen small amounts of grease from the sides of the pipe walls. Routinely boil a kettle of water and put it down the kitchen and bathroom sinks. You can add a mild dishwashing detergent to help with breaking up the oil, grease, and soap in the drains and pipes. 

2. Use a Drain Snake

A drain snake made out of a wire coat hanger, or a strong piece of wire is often all you need to loosen a small clog and get the water flowing. This is an effective way to get hair and soap scum out of the bathroom sink. 

3. Always Plunge

Cheap, grocery store plungers are also a quick and easy way to loosen gunk from your drains. Essentially, these nifty rubber gadgets work but form a seal around the sink plug-hole. The vacuum effect that’s created when you push the plunger down removes the clogs. 

4. Consider Caustic Cleaners

When plunging and boiling water alone isn’t moving the blockage along, you may need to resort to using caustic cleaning solutions. These are often sold in crystal form and as a type of acid, that works by dissolving fat, grease, and oils that may be stuck on the sides of your pipes. 

Keep in mind that these solutions can be toxic and can burn your skin. Always use rubber gloves and safety glasses when pouring these chemicals into the drain. You may also want to speak to your plumber about whether these chemicals are safe to use in your specific plumbing system. 

Final Thoughts

Keeping your drains clean will go a long way toward reducing the likelihood of blockages. Using simple household items such as boiling water, drain snakes, and plungers will help break down smaller clogs and keep your drains flowing. If all else fails, speak to your plumber for a more permanent and effective solution.