The weirdest things plumbers have found when unblocking drains

There are plenty of things that come to mind when we think about what causes blocked drains in Sydney homes and further abroad. The most common articles plumbers remove from clogged drain pipes include hair, food scraps, tampons, sanitary items and tree roots. However, plumbers often encounter more unusual things deeply buried in the waste disposal systems.

Toy flushed by children

You would be surprised by the number of children who flush toys down the toilet. They don't understand that toilets should not be played with. To them it's fun experimenting flushing things down the toilet. We have pulled many children's toys out of drains including Lego, dinosaur toys and teddy bears.

Underwear

Flushing underwear down the toilet may seem like a good way to dispose of "accidents". However, just because it can be flushed it doesn't mean underwear should be flushed. In a Daily Mail article, a pair of underpants were blamed for blocking the sewer system in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Underwear can get lodged in the pipes and combine with other debris, leading to major blocked drains.

Kitty litter

One would think it's obvious that kitty litter should not be flushed. The fact that kitty litter is designed to swell when wet should be deterrent enough. However, many people flush kitty litter down the toilet. Perhaps they think it's easier, more sanitary or more environmentally friendly. Kitty litter can create huge problems for your sewer system. Cat excrement can also carry diseases which is harmful to marine life. So it's always best to place kitty litter in the bin.

Goldfish and small animals

Following the release of Finding Nemo, lots of children began flushing their goldfish in a misguided attempt to set them free. However the reality, as reported by The Smithsonian Mag, is that most flushed fish die shortly of being flushed due to shock and the noxious chemicals found inside the sewer pipes. Small animals, such as mice, can also end up in the outside sewer or stormwater lines. One plumber reported removing a dead possum when unblocking a clogged drain in Sydney.

Jewellery and watches

Another item that unintentionally ends up in the drains is jewellery. People often place rings and jewellery on the bathroom vanity, which in many cases is directly next to the toilet. Jewellery may be accidentally knocked off into the toilet, ending up in the sewerage system. Watches have also been found in drains. A 2012 article by The Telegraph, London, reported that one man found not one, but four expensive watches in a drain in Essex with a combined value of around £60,000.

Dentures

People may place their dentures on the vanity and accidentally knock them into the toilet. One client told a plumber that he had been sick after a big night drinking and lost his dentures. After being called out to look at the clients blocked toilet, the plumber pulled both the upper and lower dentures out of the pipes.

Mobile Phones

Have you ever dropped your phone in the toilet after forgetting it was in the back pocket of your jeans? You’re not alone. According to one study by Plaxo, 19 per cent of people who took part in the study admitted to dropping their phone down the toilet at some point. Unsurprisingly, a phone down the toilet is likely to cause a blocked drain.

Food scraps

Yes that's right, some people think that flushing food is an entirely normal method of disposal. Depending on the type of food being flushed, it can cause blocked drains. Even liquid foods that have a high-oil or fat content should never be flushed. This is because oil congeals when it cools and cat coat the interior lining of plumbing pipes util they gradually become completely blocked like an artery.

JAB Plumbing Solutions are a team of expert blocked drain plumbers located in Sydney. We offer high-pressure jet blasting, CCTV drain inspections, sewer cleaning and blocked drain repairs.