Understanding the ‘Drain Drama’ beneath Adelaide’s homes: Frustration of blocked drains is accurate, and when it strikes your pipes at your home, it is a real ‘drain’ of your time, money, and mental well-being. Dealing with blocked drains can really drive you crazy. Read here to know everything about it from causes to fixes!
As an owner of a beautiful house in Adelaide, blocked drains don’t sound like a new problem to you, but sometimes this apparently minor issue can turn out to be major chaos, destroying your pipes and peace.
Be it slow drainage in sinks, snarling sewages, or sewer blockages, blocked drains clog up your daily routine and budget. And the worst part is, you don’t know what causes the blockage and how to flush out this problem before it becomes a major pipe-bursting catastrophe.
So, whether you’re a seasoned homeowner or have just bought a new house in Adelaide, blocked drains are life-sucking. This blog educates you on the possible causes of blocked drains, explaining you the significance of drain cleaning in Adelaide. Also, you will learn how to fix blocked drains in Adelaide using DIY methods and when to call an emergency plumber in Adelaide to save the day.
Common Causes of Blocked Drains in Adelaide
Before you brainstorm the solutions to fix the blocked drains in Adelaide, you need to know the culprits. As they said, ‘Prevention is always better than the cure’, know all the possible root causes of slow drainage below:
Hair, Soap Scum, and Grease: The Unholy Trinity
Hair, soap scum, and grease is the deadliest combination ever in the world of blocked drains. Soap and grease buildup and clogging of hairs create a barrier and prevent the water from flowing freely.
Flushing Non-flushable Items
Your drainage can’t flush out everything you pour into it. Be mindful of what you are flowing through it. Solid wastes like wet pipes, waste clothes pieces, feminine sanitary pads, or baby diapers can’t be flushed out of drainage. Instead, it clogs pipes and leads to sewer blockages.
Tree Roots: The Silent Pipe Killers
Tree root intrusion is one of the common causes of drainage blockages in the older home construction in Adelaide. Houses that have lush green trees, with aging cracks and infiltrate underground pipes. Thus causing blockages plus damage.
Collapsed or Damaged Pipes: A Sign of Aging Infrastructure
Aged infrastructure homes in Adelaide often face problems of pipe collapse and damage. It is quite natural that as the pipes get older, they are more prone to collapse and thus cause blockages and slow drainage.
Food Waste and Fat Deposits: The Kitchen Sink Culprits
Kitchen makers often flow food waste and oily, greasy substances into the kitchen sinks without knowing their aftereffects. These wastes and greasy substances then solidify and deposit in the pipes, creating a sticky barrier in flowing water. To avoid grease buildup, never flow oily substances in the kitchen sink.
Stormwater Drain Blockages: A Seasonal Problem
Although Stormwater drain blockages are a seasonal problem, they are troublesome all year round once they clog pipes. During the autumn and winter seasons, dried leaves, dust, and debris build up in drains and, over a period of time, block the drains. You may get blocked stormwater drain cleaning services in Adelaide without breaking the bank.
Foreign Objects: The Uninvited Guests in Your Pipes
It is essential to understand that drainage pipes are meant to flow water through them, but people often flush anything and everything into them, be it toys, small pieces of metals, plastics, or anything. One should be mindful of what he is putting down the drain, lest the problem will be yours.
Signs Your Drain is Blocked
Check out the following signs that tell you the presence of drain blockage and prompt you to call a professional drain cleaning expert.
- A slow-draining sink, toilet, or bathtub is a warning sign that there is something wrong with the drainage flow.
- Gurgling drains show that there is air trapped in the pipe and blockage present. Noticing such sounds, you should call a professional Adelaide plumber immediately.
- When your nose smells foul odour from drains and sewages, it is a sign that there is something wrong with your drainage. Do not mask the odour by spraying air fresheners. Instead, plumbing repair is needed.
- One of the clearest indications that the drain is blocked, is water backing up. Such a situation arises when water is not flowing from the drain.
- Your drainage system will not work as expected if the outdoor dreams overflow.
DIY Methods to Unblock Drains
No doubt, blocked drains are plague and need emergency plumbing treatment, but sometimes minor issues can be detected and treated through DIY methods. Try these DIY methods before you call an Adelaide plumber.
Home Remedies For Minor Blockages
Boiling Water Method: Melting Grease Buildup
Get some hot billing water and pour it down the drain. This may melt grease buildup and other small substances and let the water flow freely. However, be careful that you do not burn yourself.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Solution: Natural Cleaning Power
The combination of baking soda and vinegar solution works as a cleaning agent. All you need to do is take a cup of baking soda mixed with a cup of vinegar and create a natural cleaning solution. Then, pour this mixture into the drain and rest for a few hours. After a few hours, pour hot boiling water into the drain and see the difference in the rate of water flow.
Using a Plunger: Techniques For Success
Plunger is a tool specifically designed to clear the blockages. You may use this tool to clean the drain. Set the plunger over the drain properly, push it down slowly and pull it up quickly. Repeat the process at least 3 to 4 times.
Drain Snake or Auger: Dislodging Deeper Blockages
If you think the blockage is more stubborn, you may try another effective tool i.e. drain snake, also called auger. Simply feed the cable to the pipe and keep rotating it while slightly pushing down the drain. This cleans and throws out all the debris and unwanted solid waste materials out of the pipe.
What Not to Do When Clearing a Drain
Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners
Do not use chemical drain cleaners, as they harm your skin and damage the pipes’ walls.
The Dangers of Excessive Plunging
Do not force excessive plunging, as it can push the blockage back to the pipe. If this happens, it will become harder to clean the drains.
Professional Drain Cleaning Solutions
When DIY methods do not get you results, decide to call a professional Adelaide plumber. They are professional and trained to use advanced techniques to resolve even the complex drain issue in no time.
Advanced Techniques Used by Plumbers
CCTV Drain Inspection
In order to diagnose accurate problems and decide on target solutions, professional plumbers make use of CCTV Drain Inspections. Using this technique, they get the visuals inside the pipe, knowing what exactly hampers the water flow.
Hydro-Jetting Services: High-Pressure Water Cleaning
In the Hydro-jetting method, Adelaide plumbers use the high-pressure technique to clear the blockages and debris. This is an effective method that works to restore the water flow and also prevents future blockages.
Electric Drain Augers: Deep Sewer Blockage Removal
Using Electric drain augers proves effective to remove deep-seated blockages in pipes. It breaks up the big particles of solid buildup into pieces and ensures a clean drain.
When DIY Methods Don’t Work: Signs You Need a Licensed Adelaide Plumber
If you’re experiencing any of the following signs, it’s time to call in a professional:
- If you observe Persistent blockages even after applying DIY methods.
- A slow draining sink, toilet, or bathtub is a warning sign that there is something wrong with the drainage flow.
- Gurgling drains show that there is air trapped in the pipe and blockage present.
- Water backed up in sewage and sinks is the sure shot sign that pipes are clogged.
How to Prevent Blocked Drains
Check out the following best practices to prevent drain blockages and ensure a smooth-flowing drainage system.
Best Practices for Kitchen Drains
- Do not pour grease, oils, and food scraps from the kitchen sinks and drainage. Instead, you may throw the waste into the trash or use it as a compost. Wipe out the greasy substances with a cloth or paper before you wash it.
- Buy a sink strainer today which catches the hairs, food particles, and other debris to get washed down the drain.
Preventing Bathroom Drain Blockages
- Hair traps in showers can quickly become clogged with hair and soap scum. The solution is simple. Develop the habit of removing hair and debris from the trap after each shower.
- Do not use too much soap so that soap buildup in pipes can cause blockages and damage. Use a moderate amount of soap which will also save you some extra bucks. Alternatively, you may also consider using soap-free body washes or shampoos.
Outdoor & Stormwater Drain Maintenance
- Dry leaves and other dust particles are the main reason behind the blockage of outdoor drains. You may use a leaf blower to prevent this.
- Underground pipes are victims of tree root intrusion. To prevent this, the only solution is to inspect regularly and look for the signs of any tree root intrusion.
Routine Drain Maintenance Services
- CCTV drain inspection is an easy and quick solution to locate the exact problem with drain blockage.
- Maintain drain cleaning annually or quarterly to ensure smooth water flow through the drains.
Costs of Ignoring Blocked Drains
Block drains seemingly appear to be a minor plumbing issue but if ignored constantly, it gradually becomes a giant monster that eats up your budget. Note down the cost of ignoring blocked drains:
Cost of Pipe Replacement
Drainage pipes needs to be replacement early because:
- High-pressure on pipes leads to bursts or cracks.
- Stagnant water can corrode pipes.
- Ignoring minor blockages today results in major expenses tomorrow.
Cost of Structural Damage
Structural damage caused by the blocked drains includes:
- Cost of repairing damaged walls, floors, and ceilings due to water flooding.
- Cost of repairing foundation cracks due to water seeping.
- Cost of removing molds and mildews due to blockage of stagnant water.
Cost of Health Hazards
- Block drains give rise to bacterial growth.
- Contaminated water spreads diseases.
- Mould and mildew cause respiratory diseases like asthma and skin allergies.
When to Call a Professional Plumber in Adelaide
Above mentioned DIY methods work effectively to deal with the minor sewer blockages. Still, there are certain situations where DIY methods fail to provide the solution, and it becomes essential to take the service of Adelaide plumber. Here is the list of scenarios where plumbing repair is needed from a professional.
- In case of overflowing toilets.
- Complete drain blockages need emergency plumbing solutions.
- Recurrent drain blockages when home solutions aren’t enough.
- Foul smells that don’t go away is a sign of deeper sewer issues.
- Major stormwater drainage problems which may cause structural damage.
Right Now Plumbing Repair Adelaide
Right now, plumbing repair services in Adelaide offer round the clock emergency plumbing solutions. It offers :
- 24/7 emergency plumbing services.
- Gives a prompt response to handle the situation and minimize potential damage.
- Provide service from experienced, skilled, and licensed plumbers.
- Offers broken drain excavation service in Adelaide.
Conclusion
Blocked drains have the power to turn a beautiful home into a haunted water clogged house. These frustrating blocked drains not only break the bank but also cause serious health hazards and infrastructural damage. This article helps you to understand its causes, signs, and DIY methods to take proactive steps against it. Also, when DIY fails, experience and expertise come to your rescue through a professional plumber in Adelaide. Regular maintenance and inspection are the key to staying away from such problems.
FAQs
What are the First Signs of a Blocked Drain?
- When the sink, toilet, or bathtub starts draining slowly.
- If your drains are making gurgling sounds.
- When your nose smells foul odour from drains and sewages.
- Water backing up.
- If you notice your outdoor drains are overflowing
Can Blocked Drains Cause Health Issues?
Yes, water backed up in sewage and sinks is the sure shot sign that pipes are clogged. Block drains give rise to bacterial growth, contaminated water spreads diseases, and mold and mildew causes respiratory diseases like asthma and skin allergies.
How Do Plumbers Find Hidden Blockages?
- Professional plumbers use CCTV Drain Inspections.
- Applies Hydro-jetting method that uses high-pressure technique
- Use an Electric drain auger.
Are Store-bought Drain Cleaners Safe?
No, Store-bought drain cleaners are not always safe. They may temporarily resolve the problem, but it damage pipes, skin, and the environment in the long run.
How Often Should I Get My Drains Professionally Cleaned?
According to the recommendation of experts, every Adelaide house owner should get their drains cleaned at least once in a year. However this frequency depends on the plumbing age and usage.
Do Tree Roots Always Require Pipe Replacement?
No, tree roots don’t always require pipe replacement. Techniques like hydro-jetting, augering or pipe relining may help.
What’s The Fastest Way to Clear a Blocked Kitchen Sink?
Plunging is considered as the fastest way to clear a blocked Kitchen sink. Using baking soda and vinegar mixture with boiling water also cleans drainage instantly.