Blocked drains aren’t a lot of fun to deal with, and unfortunately, you often don’t know they are blocked until they start to back up. Sometimes it can be easy to clear a drain that has been blocked by cooking fat, but there are plenty of times you won’t be able to clear it yourself.
Before you call for a blocked drain repair in Sydney, we’ve got five tips to give you on attempting to clear your blocked drains.
How to Clear a Blocked Drain
1. Boiling Water
Boiling water is a great first step in attempting to clear a drain that is blocked for unknown reasons. It can’t damage your pipes, and it will clear blockages caused by grease, fat, and some toiletries.
The heat from the boiling water helps to break up these substances and push them through the drain. Simply boil your kettle and tip one to two full kettles of hot water down the drain – remember to make it boiling water and not just hot water from the tap.
2. Plungers
Most of us have probably seen a plunger in use, particularly when trying to clear blocked toilets. Plungers are a great first option to try as they can help with dislodging a blockage. Make sure your plunger has formed the correct seal around the drain as this will help the vacuum effect that clears the blockage.
3. Natural Cleaners
Bi-carb soda is a great cleaning tool for unblocking drains. How? When bi-carb soda is mixed with vinegar they react and cause a carbon dioxide gas which fizzes up and can help break down blockages.
This one is easy as well – pour some boiling hot water down the drain, then follow that with a cup each of bi-carb and vinegar. Let it do its thing for about 10 minutes, and then follow up with some more hot water. The combination of the hot water and the vinegar/bi-carb mix is what can clear the drain, so make sure you use them together.
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4. Caustic Cleaners
Many people tend to go for a caustic cleaner first as they are easy to pick up at the supermarket or hardware store. These cleaners have been formulated to essentially eat through grease, fat, hair, and other tough blockages. Just ensure to follow all the instructions on the packet, keep the room clean with good airflow, and keep the kids away.
5. DIY Drain Snake
If all else fails, and you think it might just be hair blocking the drain, particularly the bathroom drains, you can make yourself a drain snake out of an old wire coat hanger or any thin wire.
Simply straighten it out, make a hook in the end and thread it through the drain, trying to catch anything that is blocking the drain.
These are some great DIY methods, but sometimes they just won’t work and that’s because the blockage may be caused further down the pipe then you can reach, or it’s caused by tree roots that won’t clear with cleaners and plungers.
If you’re finding that your DIY methods to clear a drain aren’t working, it’s time to call the best plumber in Sydney.
We have several resources we can use to see what’s blocking your pipes including higher-tech drain snakes, and CCTV. We also have the option of clearing your drains using a hydro jet. If your blockage is severe, or it has been caused by tree roots, we can discuss the best options to clear the blockage.
If you have a blocked drain that just won’t clear, get in contact with our blocked drain plumber in Sydney and we’ll get your drains working properly again.
