Blocked drain – how to clear it

A blocked drain is one of the most common plumbing issues. Read on to know its causes, how to clear it, and when you should call a professional to clear it.

If left untreated, blocked drains can cause major damage to your property. For instance, they could be leaking sewage underneath your house causing mould and also weakening the foundations of the dwelling. In general, it’s a health risk having any overflowing sewage due to hepatitis B and other known forms of pathogens. So what causes your drains to block?

Blocked Drain Causes

Tree roots cause blockages by entering the drains seeking water and nutrient. The tree will continue growing larger and thicker once the root has entered the drain.

It’s worthwhile to note, however, that roots tend to grow back even after being cleared if they have entered the drainage system. Other common causes for blocked drains include debris and silt building up from garden materials and washing into stormwater sumps and open drains, as well as fat, oils, and foreign items getting into the drainage systems.

In some circumstances, the trouble can stem from incorrect installation and the earth moving from underneath the pipe. This can remove support from underneath the pipe, resulting in collapsed pipes.

Blocked drains are an incredibly common nuisance. It’s something all of us are bound to come across from time to time. Slow drainage, bad smells, gurgling noises, and overflowing are common signs that indicate your drain is blocked. So, if you notice a sudden change in your drainage speed, any unpleasant odours, gurgling sound, or overflows, or raised water levels, it is time to give a specialist a call.

How to Clear Blocked Drains

If you think the blockage is only minor and an easy fix, you can have a go at clearing the drain yourself. Check the inspection openings to your drains outside the property dwelling. You can see here blocked sewer drains.

If, however, the above-mentioned tricks don’t work, or you’re dealing with a bigger problem, get in touch with our team and we’ll have a fully qualified and licensed team member there on the same day. We use our specialist tools to find out where the problem is, what’s causing it and how we can fix it for the most cost-effective solution. Depending on the cause of the blockage our team will give advice and treatment options, as well as general knowledge, so your drains can keep running clearer for longer.

Other measures you can take to prevent blocked drains in the future are quite simple. Plant trees and shrubs as far away from your pipes as possible so their roots won’t disturb the drainage system. You should also use strainers over drains of sinks, bathrooms, and so on to catch any foreign items, debris, hair, and other common things that cause blockages. Lastly, you should learn the signs of a potential blocked drain so you can spot one and treat it before it becomes a bigger problem.

For more information on our blocked drain services and the tools we use, take a look at our Blocked Drain Plumber page.

We like to pass on our knowledge on what causes them, how you can clear them, and when you should call a professional to clear a blocked drain. Our team deals with blocked drains every day of the week and we know our stuff.

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