Blocked Drains

If your drain is outside, the blockage is likely to be caused by a build up of dead leaves or tree roots which can grow into pipes and stop water flowing properly. An indoor blocked drain is generally due to heavy materials being flushed down the drain and clogging it up – for example, sanitary products or paper towels. A kitchen drain could become blocked because of food or grease.

It’s very important to keep a close eye on what goes down your drain – for example, scraping plates to avoid excessive food going down the drain, and not pouring cooking oil down the drain. In the bathroom, throw items such as hair grips, hair, nappies, tampons, face wipes and cotton wool in the bin. Excessive toilet paper can also cause a blocked drain, so don’t use too much. Outside drains should be kept free from leaves or garden waste. A drain trap is a cheap and effective method to stop your sinks and bathroom/shower drains becoming blocked in the future.

Sometimes it can take a while for a blockage to build up and become obvious. It’s important to be aware of the signs of a blocked drain so you can fix it before it causes any long-term damage. Here are some tell-tale signs of a blocked drain:

• Your toilet, shower, bath or sink is draining slowly or not at all
• If flushing the toilet causes water to rise in the shower, or running taps causes the water in the toilet to rise
• If any appliances which use water are causing water to rise elsewhere, including external drains
• A bad smell – this can often be the first signed of a blocked drain
• Gurgling noises from drains, plug holes, flushing your toilet and in your pipes.

Get in touch with Hello Plumbing as soon as possible and prevent any unhygienic mess or damage to your home. Call us today on 1300 30 30 55.