Why Is My Drain Blocked?

Introduction: Why Do Drains Get Blocked and How to Prevent It

A blocked drain can significantly disrupt your daily routine. At Lilyfield Plumbing, we have over 20 years of experience dealing with blocked drains in Lilyfield homes and businesses. We understand the intricate network of pipes beneath your floors,

This article will detail common causes of drain blockage, indicative warning signs, practical prevention tips, and our professional drain unblocking solutions.

Continue reading for expert advice on preventing and addressing blocked drains, and learn how proactive cleaning can prevent obstructions.

Common Causes of Blocked Drains

When it comes to blocked drains, there are a few key culprits to watch out for.

Fats, oils, and grease accumulating in pipes from kitchen sinks over time are a primary cause of blockages.

Blocked drains are often the result of flushing non-degradable items such as wet wipes, cotton wool, and hair down the toilet. These materials, resistant to break down, often result in a clogged drain, lodging within the bends or joints of the drainage system.

Tree roots penetrating pipe cracks and slowly expanding can obstruct your drains and cause significant damage over the years.

At Lilyfield Plumbing, discover how to Use our high-pressure cleaning devices and CCTV drain cameras, tailored to determine blockages with precision and reinstate optimal water flow.

Grease and Fat Buildup

Washing cooking residues such as oils and grease down the sink is a key factor in causing drain blockages. As these cooking residues, including the troublesome fat oil, journey down the pipes, they cool and solidify, clinging to drain interiors. Over time, substantial grease deposits can accumulate and pipes can be blocked, eventually causing a total clog.

To avert grease blockages, place fats, oils, and grease in a heat-resistant container and discard with your usual waste.

Refrain from disposing of surplus grease and used cooking oil in your drain.

If you notice gurgling noises from plugholes, sinks draining slower or overflowing with sudsy water, a fat and grease-induced clog may be developing.

If you’re seeking safe drain unblocking methods that forgo using harsh chemicals, Avoid supermarket caustic drain cleaners which often just push grease further into your drain, worsening the problem. To understand how unblock drains professionally, contact our team at Lilyfield Plumbing on 1300 349 338.

Hair and Soap Suds

Clogs in shower drains and bathtubs are commonly caused by hair entangled with soap residue. Hair can merge with soap and shampoo residues to form thick mats that adhere to pipe walls and impede water movement.

Choosing liquid soap instead of bar soap can minimise soap scum buildup.

Removing hair products from tub or shower surfaces post-use also helps to prevent clog formation. To ensure your drains remain clear of hair-related clogs, install drain screens or stoppers to catch food waste and loose strands before they travel into the piping.

If you notice your tub or shower water draining slower, contact your local plumber at Lilyfield Plumbing on 1300 349 338. Our high-powered drain snake equipment can sometimes effortlessly retrieve items that get stuck in a blocked drain can and clear hair and soap clogs, ensuring water flows freely once more.

Tree Roots

Invasive tree roots entering main sewer and stormwater drains are a common cause of blockages. As roots grow, they find their way into tiny cracks and gaps in ageing pipe systems. Over many years the roots thicken, eventually causing major pipe damage and disrupt the drain system.

Trees such as willows, elms, and figs with robust, shallow roots near drainage lines pose significant risks. Their roots aggressively intrude, seeking any minute pipe defects, loose joints or broken sections where they might end up causing issues in the drain pipes. Tree root intrusion is a gradual process and may not cause issues for decades in some cases.

To mitigate tree root damage and shield your drains, know your sewer line locations and refrain from planting problematic vegetation nearby, which can prevent future root intrusions. Conduct CCTV drain inspections to check for root ingress and have established intrusions removed before they worsen. Removing problem trees altogether is the most effective solution.

If you suspect root growth has led to a drain blockage affecting your property, contact our team promptly on 1300 349 338. Our advanced CCTV pipe inspection tools and powerful root cutters will precisely detect and address any root-based clogs, restoring drainage flow effectively.

Identifying Signs of a Blocked Drain

Detecting early warning signs of a blocked drain can potentially save you from extensive pipe damage or flooding. Be vigilant for these common signs your drain issues might be emerging:

• Slow draining fixtures - If you have a slow draining sink, tub, or floor waste, a partial blockage may exist.
• Gurgling sounds - Loud gurgling noises from your plug hole or pipes indicate airflow is blocked by a clog.
• Foul sewage odours - Odours emerging from drains can be telltale signs that sewage gases are starting to back up owing to an obstruction.
• Overflowing sinks/tubs - If water level rises around fixtures and causes drain overflow rather than draining, an outright blockage is likely.

If you notice any of these issues, arrange for our team at Lilyfield Plumbing to conduct a thorough drain inspection. We have high-tech CCTV drain cameras to locate clogs and advanced drain cleaning equipment to clear blockages fast.

DIY Methods to Clear Simple Drain Blockages

For minor drain clogs that have not yet become full blockages, there are useful DIY methods you can easily attempt before calling a plumber:

Boiling Water

Pouring hot water into your drain may dissolve and dislodge persistent grease or soap residue. Repeat a few times for the best results. Avoid using boiling water on PVC pipes and ensure to protect any plastic materials from potential heat damage.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

A mixture of baking soda vinegar, using 1 cup of each, creates a chemical reaction that assists in breaking down organic matter. Pour the baking soda down the drain first, followed by vinegar and cover, as this combination can quickly react to dislodge minor blockages. The foaming combination works to dissolve minor clogs.

Plunger

Applying a durable sink plunger on the drain with adequate downward pressure for several minutes might free the blockage. Make sure to create a tight seal around the plunger to build sufficient vacuum pressure.

While useful for simple clogs, home remedies can deal blocked obstructions, yet DIY drain cleaning has its limits. Tree roots, extensive fat/grease blockages and a history of pipe damage requires professional drain cleaning equipment. Contact our team at Lilyfield Plumbing on 1300 349 338 if DIY methods are unsuccessful or issues reoccur.

Preventative Measures to Avoid Future Blocked Drains

Taking measures to prevent blocked drains can significantly reduce your risk of dealing with these issues in future.

Consider the following preventive measures:

• Regularly clean out gutters and downpipes to protect your water systems from becoming compromised, ensuring your outside drain system remains clear.
• Install fine mesh drain screens on plugholes to catch hair, toilet paper and food scraps.
• Never let fats, oils, or grease go down your kitchen sink. Cool and dispose of them in the bin instead.
• It’s crucial to avoid flushing items like cotton buds and baby wipes, as they are known to snag in pipes and cause blockages.
• Use a sink strainer to catch food particles when washing dishes.
• Conduct annual CCTV drain inspections to check for root damage or pipe defects, ensuring the relief gully isn’t obstructed.
• Trim back trees and invasive vegetation growing near drainage lines.

Simple preventive actions can notably prolong the life of your plumbing system and diminish the likelihood of future drain obstructions. Contact our team at Lilyfield Plumbing on 1300 349 338 if you have any other questions.

When to Call a Professional Plumber

While minor drain issues can often be managed with DIY methods, there are certain scenarios that definitively require professional assistance:

• Tree root intrusion - Attempting to remove invasive tree roots yourself risks pipe damage. Our experts will ensure to carefully and effectively pour down agents to remove roots while protecting your drains.
• Major grease/fat blockages - Extensive clogs caused by fats, oils, and grease necessitate heavy-duty drain jetting equipment for a comprehensive clean.
• Sewer drain backups Lilyfield Plumbing should promptly inspect any food scraps that can block your sink and contain overflowing foul water inside your home to identify and resolve the issue.
• Old or damaged drainage lines - If your pipes are older cast iron or have known defects, a drain machine could worsen existing damage.
• Persistent clogs returning - Repeat issues suggest a more serious underlying problem that requires identification through CCTV drain inspection.

Lilyfield Plumbing is available 24/7 to swiftly clear blocked drains and prevent pipe damage. If DIY efforts fail, call our team immediately on 1300 349 338.

Advanced Tools for Clearing Stubborn Blockages

Specialised tools and expertise are often needed to clear stubborn drain blockages, beyond what basic methods can achieve. At Lilyfield Plumbing, We utilise advanced technology to efficiently tackle troubling clogs that are coming your way in the main drain.

CCTV Drain Inspections

We routinely conduct inspections with a high-tech drain camera on properties with recurring or complex blockages. By feeding a tiny camera down pipes, we can accurately locate obstructions, identify what’s causing blockage, and pinpoint any underlying issues enabling the problem.

High-Pressure Water Jetting

Once the specific site and nature of the blockage is confirmed via CCTV, we use state-of-the-art drainage jetters emitting 3000 PSI of concentrated water pressure. The tremendous blasting force scours pipes clean, removing any blockage your drains may have.

To combat extensive tree root infiltrations in your sewer line, our water jetting equipment teams with root cutting augers to eliminate intrusions.

Whether it’s fat/grease buildup, years of scale accumulation or invasive roots, Lilyfield Plumbing knows how fix your blocked drains. Call us to use the latest tools to restore full drainage flow. Call us on 1300 349 338 where for every blocked drain we have professional unblocking services backed by cutting-edge technology.

Detecting and Repairing Pipe Damage

Compromised drainage pipes are a common blocked drain issue, contributing to blocked drains or causing them to reemerge post-cleaning. Cracks, holes and joint misalignments invite debris, which can fall into drains, alongside roots and sediment to enter the drainage system, gradually forming obstructions. Unfortunately, pipe damage is not always easy to detect.

At Lilyfield Plumbing, we use high-resolution CCTV drain inspections to thoroughly check pipes for any defects. Our cameras can identify even small damaged sections that may act as an entry point for blockages. We also confirm if invasive tree roots have gotten a foothold through cracks to infiltrate drains.

For minor pipe defects, we can use no-dig relining to seal damaged areas through inserting an internal epoxy coating. More significant pipe damage requires broken sections to be cut out and replaced. Our expert plumbers have the knowledge to evaluate how you can get issues resolved and repair or replace damaged drains as needed.

Don’t wait until you have a full sewer backup or sinkhole forming to address pipe damage. Arrange an inspection by questioning 'how do I get your drains checked if they are compromised?' and contact our Lilyfield team on 1300 349 338. Acting swiftly prevents expensive emergency plumbing work down the track.

Conclusion

As outlined in this article, knowing how to manage and prevent drain blockages is crucial, as blockages can result from various causes, often due their proximity to tree roots, extensive grease buildup, flushed debris, and pipe damage. Typical warning signs that can cause drain issues include slow draining water, gurgling noises, foul sewer odours, and overflowing fixtures.

Implementing preventative measures, like the plumbing service advice of using sink strainers and proper grease disposal, can significantly reduce future blockage occurrences. For minor clogs, DIY options like boiling water, plungers and baking soda combinations may provide relief.

However, recurring or severe obstructions definitively require professional intervention. At Lilyfield Plumbing, we have state-of-the-art CCTV drain cameras and high-pressure water jetters to accurately locate and clear even the most stubborn blockages while preventing pipe damage.

With 24/7 availability and rapid response times, call us to inquire about how much it costs for our expert assistance by calling on 1300 349 338. Our fully qualified plumbers have the insight to properly use your drainage systems, identify underlying issues, and carry out any necessary repairs.