How to Unblock a Drain

There is nothing more annoying than having a blocked drain in your home. Bad odours, backed-up sinks, and gurgling drains can occur at the most inopportune moments. Although there are many drain cleaners in supermarkets, sometimes an underlying problem causes blocked drains, and only professional plumbers can diagnose the root cause and effectively fix it.

Continue reading to learn more about blocked drains and how to fix them.

What Causes a Blocked Drain?

The issues that cause a blocked drain include:

• Food waste being washed down the kitchen drain
• Oil, fat and grease build-up
• Loose hair
• Soap build-up
• Natural debris
• Foreign objects and toiletries being flushed down the toilet
• Tree roots that grow inside storm drains and sewer pipes
• Damaged pipes that collapse or become misaligned

What Are the Signs of a Blocked Drain?

The most common signs of a blocked drain include:

Foul Odours

If you notice bad smells emanating from your drains, it’s a sure sign that they are clogged. Once the items blocking your drain begin to break down, it can cause a foul smell. The longer you leave this blockage, the worse the smell will get.

Gurgling Sounds

If your pipes or drains make a gurgling sound, it could be another sign of a blocked drain. These sounds might be more noticeable when they occur in strange places, for example, in the kitchen when somebody has a shower or in the laundry when somebody flushes the toilet.

These gurgling sounds are caused by the water struggling to drain away efficiently and by air becoming trapped in the pipes.

Slow Draining Water

If the water in your sinks, showers, and baths drains slowly or pools, it’s another sign of a blocked drain.

If you notice this problem in only one sink, it can mean that it’s a localised issue (usually a blocked pipe attached to a specific appliance). If you notice it in all the sinks, it’s a likely sign that the blockage is in the sewer drain.

Low Water Pressure

A blocked drain can cause low water pressure, which can be a nuisance, especially when you’re trying to shower or wash dishes.

It can also indicate other plumbing issues, so if you notice low water pressure, call your local plumber to correctly diagnose the problem.

Different Water Levels in Toilet

If the water level in your toilet rises higher than usual when it’s flushed and then recedes to a lower level afterwards, this usually means that there is a blockage somewhere.

You may also notice the water level rise in the shower or sinks when the toilet is flushed.

Frequent Blockages

If you notice your toilet or shower drain becoming clogged quite frequently, then it means there’s an undiagnosed blockage somewhere in your pipes that needs attention.

Pests

If you notice an increased amount of insects and rodents in your backyard or buzzing around your drains, it could signify a blockage in your sewer drain. Insects feed on the nutrients from the sewer, and the rodents feed on those insects.

Backfilling

When pipes are blocked, the water still has to end up somewhere. This is known as backfilling. If you use the bathroom sink, water may pool in the laundry sink, or if the washing machine is running, your bath may fill up with water.

How Do You Unblock a Drain?

There are many ways to unblock a drain; however, if you notice recurring blockages, it is time to call a professional plumber who can properly diagnose and fix them.

Here are some ways to unblock a drain:

Vinegar, Water and Baking Soda

This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to clean a drain.

1. Boil some hot water and pour it down the drain.
2. Pour a cup of baking soda down the drain
3. Mix half a cup of boiling water and half a cup of vinegar and pour it down the drain.
4. Put the plug in the drain.
5. Leave the water and vinegar mixture in the drain for 10 minutes.
6. After 10 minutes, pour boiling water down the drain to flush out all the debris.

Using a Drain Auger or Plumber Snake

If using a plunger for a toilet blockage doesn’t work, it’s worthwhile trying a plumber snake or drain auger, which can be more effective.

A plumber snake is a long cable that goes further into the pipe to unclog it.
Here is how to use it:

1. Rotate the handle and uncoil the drain snake along the drain.
2. Once you feel resistance, it means that you’ve reached the clog. Rotate the snake using the handle and repeat.
3. If the snake gets stuck, pull it out, and you might be able to pull out the blockage.
4. Pull the snake out
5. Clean thoroughly.

Clear the P-Trap

The P-trap is found under every sink and can be taken apart and cleaned easily. If you feel confident enough to do this, here’s what you do:

1. Place a bucket under the U-shaped bend.
2. Using a wrench, unscrew the bolts on both pipes and remove the P-trap.
3. Empty the pipe into the bucket.
4. Use an old toothbrush or brush to clean the debris out of the pipe.
5. Rinse the pipe with hot water.
6. Replace the pipe.

Natural Cleaners

Natural drain cleaners can be found in all hardware stores. They create a fizzing effect that breaks apart drain blockages. Follow the instructions and follow this up by pouring boiling water down the sink.

Caustic Cleaners

Caustic cleaners are stronger than natural cleaners. If you resort to using them, make sure you follow the instructions on the bottle very clearly and open up windows to allow fresh air and ventilation.

How Professional Plumbers Can Help

If you try unblocking the drains yourself but are having trouble fully clearing them, this is where we come in!

CCTV

We use CCTV to determine exactly where your drain blockage is, allowing us to treat it more effectively.

Plumber Drain Snake

A plumber’s drain snake is more powerful and effective than a regular one and should only be used by a professional plumber. The plumber drain goes further down your pipes and can remove deep clogs.

Pipe Excavation

If the pipe blockages are serious, we may need to dig deep around the drain to make repairing or replacing the pipes easier. This method is only used in more severe cases.

Hydro Jet

A hydro jet is a powerful hose that emits sharp bursts of water to remove the debris that has built up inside the pipes.

Pipe Relining

Pipes can become damaged due to serious or repeated blockages. In these cases, they may need to be relined with resin. This solution is a cheaper and quicker alternative to fully replacing them.

Ways to Avoid Drain Blockages

Here are the best ways to avoid drain blockages:

• Food waste: Discard food waste correctly (e.g., throw scraps in the bin instead of washing them down the sink).
• Fats, grease, and oils: To discard oils, fats, and grease, put them in a disposable container and throw them out. Otherwise, collect them and reuse them in cooking.
• Only flush toilet paper down the toilet: Only toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet. Do not flush wipes or sanitary products.
• Stop children from flushing toys down the toilet: Keep a close eye on your children and stop them from flushing toys and other foreign objects down the toilet.
• Collect loose hair from the shower and bathroom drains: Before washing it down the drain, collect all loose hair from the bathroom and shower drains and throw it in the bin.
• Clearing your backyard: Make sure your backyard is free from excessive leaves and stick debris, especially after heavy rainfall or storms. This can stop storm and sewer drains from becoming clogged.
• Rinse your drains: Regularly pour hot water, baking soda and vinegar down your drains to keep them clear and clean.

If you have blocked drains or a plumbing emergency, give Flow Plumbing Solutions in Newcastle a call at 0461 408 283. As your local plumbers in Newcastle, we are dedicated to resolving all plumbing emergencies as safely and swiftly as possible. You can count on us to get the job done!