Dos & Don'ts for Clearing Blocked Drains

Understanding Blocked Drains: Causes and Prevention

Frequently occurring, blocked drains can cause substantial inconvenience. They occur when built-up debris, like hair, soap scum, and grease accumulate and restrict water flow through pipes. Left unchecked, a slow flow in your drains can lead to stagnant water backups and sewage overflows, resulting in unhygienic conditions and costly repairs.

However, many drain issues could be avoided with preventative habits. Regular small preventative measures are crucial to reducing the risk of blockages.

To deter blockages, don’t pour fats or oils down kitchen sinks and regularly remove hair and soap buildup from bathroom drains. In the Sydney area, including Penrith, factors like ageing infrastructure contribute to frequent blocked drain issues.

Professionals possess the necessary tools and skills to eliminate blockages and ensure unrestricted water flow.

Begin drain cleaning with baking soda and vinegar solutions as an initial step. Attempting forceful drain clearing risks further damage. If facing persistent clogs, it’s wise to contact a plumber promptly to avoid escalation.

Grease and Oil: Avoiding Kitchen Drain Clogs

Never pour grease or oil down kitchen drains, as they are a definite no-go. Upon cooling, these substances solidify, lining the pipes and eventually obstructing gas and hot water flow. One small pour may seem harmless, but too much accumulation over time causes major clogs.

Instead, allow used cooking grease to fully harden in heat-safe containers before disposal. Once it hardens, dispose of grease in the regular rubbish bin. Wondering what to do? We offer guidance tailored to eco-friendly grease disposal methods preferred in Penrith council areas.

Metal cans are effective for oil disposal, but for larger quantities, contact Penrith Plumbing.

Blocked drains aren’t instant phenomena; they’re often blockages caused by small drips escalating into big problems.

Refrain from pouring oils down the sink and remove excess from cookware before washing.

Hair and Soap Scum: Preventing Bathroom Blockages

Bathroom drains easily clog from built-up hair and soap residue. As strands catch passing debris, pipes become restricted until water struggles to drain. Left unmanaged, water backs up, leading to still water and overflow risks.

Wiping down shower tiles also helps reduce soap scum.

Check and clear built-up hair clumps regularly, before they cause issues.

For ongoing care of your drains, contact Penrith Plumbing. Our technicians professionally clean pipes, maintaining a clear flow of water in bathroom drains. In high-use bathrooms, schedule maintenance every six months to prevent minor buildups from turning into major issues.

Using a Plunger to Clear Minor Clogs

A plunger can be an effective first response for clearing minor clogged drains. When used properly, it applies targeted pressure to dislodge obstructions, potentially fixing a blocked shower and other fixtures. Follow these steps for optimal results:

1. Fill the sink or tub to fully cover the drain opening, then firmly plunge straight down. Caution: If water overflows from a toilet, stop attempts and call emergency services immediately.
2. Use the correct type of plunger to ensure an airtight seal – a flanged “cup” plunger for sinks and a “forced cup” plunger for toilets.
3. Work the plunger straight up and down rapidly 10-15 times, compressing air tightly to apply pressure down the pipes.
4. Lift the plunger to break the seal and allow water to flush freely. Repeat if needed. But don’t overdo attempts or you may worsen pipe damage.

DIY plunging is effective for minor obstructions, like hair and soap residue, that impede your water flow. Don’t struggle excessively trying to clear significant blockages. For persistent clogged drains or overflows, rely on Penrith Plumbing’s professional hydro jetting, camera inspections, and drain repairs to fully restore flow.

Baking Soda and Vinegar: An Effective Home Remedy

When faced with a minor household clog, baking soda and vinegar can work wonders. The chemical reaction created from mixing these basic ingredients generates fizzing and bubbles that help dislodge gunk. Follow this simple process:

1. Pour 1 cup baking soda down your drain when it’s starting to get clogged.
2. Let sit for 5 minutes to allow sinking into the clog.
3. Pour 1 cup heated white vinegar down the drain after baking soda.
4. After 10 minutes, flush with boiling water to help clear the obstruction.
5. Repeat if needed for stubborn obstructions.

This safe, non-toxic method effectively cleans pipes.

It’s useful either for regular maintenance or when dealing with simple clogs from hair, soap, or grease before issues worsen. However, if excess water overflows or home treatments fail to improve drainage, immediately call Penrith Plumbing. Our experts have advanced tools to inspect water and sewer pipes and resolve trickier blockages.

Calling a Professional Plumber

There comes a point in many drain blockage situations where DIY efforts are no longer effective and professional assistance becomes absolutely vital. Our experienced Penrith plumbers advise seeking our services for urgent issues such as:

• Water overflows from multiple drains within a short period
• Blocked fixtures fail to clear after several attempts at plunging or home remedies
• Slow draining occurs in multiple bathrooms or sinks
• Backed up sewage smells or sightings of water pooling around cleanout pipes outside
• Gurgling sounds suggesting moving air pockets within pipe blockages

These signs often indicate issues within the main sewer line affecting your entire home and require specialised hydro jetting equipment to clear fully. With more than 25 years of service in Penrith, we’re skilled in resolving complex issues, including blocked sewers, utilising our advanced tools and local expertise.

For prompt assistance with blocked drains throughout Penrith homes and businesses, contact our friendly staff immediately online, via email, or by calling 1300 349 338. Our priority is restoring proper drainage safely and efficiency across the drains in your plumbing system.

Recognizing Signs of Serious Drain Issues

Catching drain problems early is crucial to prevent blocked pipes and extensive plumbing damage or backed up sewage flooding your home. Watch for these common warning signs of a developing blockage:

• Gurgling noises from drains
• Sewage odours wafting from sinks or bathtubs
• Water pooling around exterior cleanout pipes
• Toilets, tubs draining slowly despite light use
• Frequent need to plunge fixtures clear

Debris accumulation and subsequent pipe clogging are often due to slow drainage. Contact Penrith Plumbing for prompt attention day or night.

Act quickly after noticing one or multiple issues above to prevent the problem from compounding. Our team utilises cutting-edge drain inspections and hydro jetting to locate blockages affecting your house and clear the full length of your plumbing system.

Residents and businesses in the Penrith region can rely on our expertise for safe, efficient drain cleaning services. We identify early warning signs and act promptly to prevent flooding and expensive repairs.

Establishing Good Drain Care Habits

Adopting proactive drain care habits minimises the risk of troublesome clogs across your Penrith property. Simple household adjustments like properly disposing cooking oil or wiping bathroom tiles prevent gradual buildup threatening your plumbing system.

Treat drains well now by following these tips endorsed by local professionals:

• Scrape food scraps into the bin, avoid using the sink as a waste basket
• Pour used oil into heat-safe containers and dispose of it in the rubbish bin after solidification.
• Place drain baskets to catch hair and debris near baths and showers
• Wipe down sink and shower surfaces to limit soap scum accumulation
• Weekly, flush your pipes with baking soda and vinegar to prevent buildup.
• Schedule professional drain cleaning biannually to prevent clogs.

Instilling good habits minimises expensive emergency blockage situations. Contact Penrith Plumbing’s team for advice on adjusting your household routines to avoid plumbing issues.

Using Hair Catchers and Drain Covers

Installing hair catchers or drain covers in shower and sink drains prevents strands and debris from accumulating into clogs. As hair and soap residue attempt to wash down, basket strainers trap the material, allowing water to flow freely while capturing buildup.

In areas like Penrith, hard water can cause mineral deposits to form in pipes, expediting blockage formation with materials like hair. Our team recommends stainless steel basket strainers or hair catchers with smaller hole sizes to account for this faster accumulation reality.

Regularly empty and clean basket catchers to prevent hair and soap scum from clogging pipes. Reach out to Penrith Plumbing for custom advice on choosing effective hair-blocking bathroom products suited for your area.

Directly discard swept debris into the rubbish bin to prevent drainage problems before they occur.