How To Clear A Blocked Drain — Tips You Need To Follow

Clear Blocked Drain

Whether in your residential property or on commercial premises, having a blocked drain can put a stopper in your day and affect the daily running of your home or business. A blocked drain is a common plumbing issue many property owners dread facing. So, we bring you some simple ways to clear drain blockage yourself before you enlist an expert’s services.

It’s important to note that even if we are diligent in cleaning our drains, things happen. Sometimes small items can flush into the drain and cause a water blockage, or grease and build-up can accumulate over time and cause a blockage. You’ll usually notice a funky smell coming from your drain when the latter happens. The next most obvious sign that you may have a blocked drain is that water will begin to overflow.

6 Easy Tips To Clear A Blocked Drain

Try these methods at home and see if you can clear your drain yourself first;

Boiling Water

For grease build-up, pouring boiled water down your drain can help loosen the grease or any accumulated food scraps. This method is an excellent option for the environment as there aren’t any chemicals involved.

Plunge

Highly effective for solid blockages, you can use a plunger to try and unblock a kitchen drain, bathroom sink or toilet. Ensure you purchase a plunger big enough to cover the entire drain opening. Using a good amount of pressure, plunge into the drain with vigorous up and down movements and note whether this loosens anything solid which may be lodged in, blocking your drain.

blocked drain plungers

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Another environmentally friendly method, this popular option, has been a go-to home remedy for many for successfully unblocking a drain. Give this one a try and see if it works for you.

Start by pouring boiled water down your drain to help loosen up any grease or food scraps that may have built up. Then add half a cup of baking soda into the drain and let it sit for a few minutes. Follow this by pouring in a cup of vinegar, plus another cup of boiling water. Cover the drain with a plug and let the mixture work its magic for a few minutes. End this method by flushing everything down with another cup of boiling water

Wire Coat Hanger

Using an old wire coat hanger is a simple and effective way to remove any solid objects or debris that might be blocking your drain. Unbend the hanger and create a hook at the end. Then insert the hanger into the drain and fish around for anything it can catch onto, which might be causing the blockage.

Check The U-Bend

If you’re experiencing a blockage in your bathroom sink, checking the U-Shaped bend beneath is recommended. You can check this out relatively easily. Simply place a bucket beneath the sink to collect water and unscrew the two attachments holding the U together. You can then rinse any blockages from the U until water runs through smoothly and clear, and then simply re-attach.

High-Pressure Jet Blaster

If the blockage is quite severe, you can use a high-pressure jet blaster if you have one (or can borrow one from a neighbour or friend close by) to apply water force and rid the drain of its blockage. This method, along with using CCTV, is how most plumbers will initially tackle a blocked drain during a call-out.

Disclosure: A high-pressure jet blaster can cause injury if not used properly. Skip this step if you are unsure about the procedure. Get in touch with a plumbing specialist to unblock the drain.

high pressure jet blaster
Give these options a try and let us know what you think. You can save quite a bit of money by attempting to unblock your drain.

However, please keep in mind that this article is intended for households and small commercial blocked drains. Blockages in stormwater or sewer drains should be left to a licensed professional as they know how to tackle larger and more intricate drain blockages such as these. If you have any questions concerning a blocked drain, big or small, give the specialists at Link Plumbing a call for the best advice and knowledgeable expertise in all matters of blocked drains.

Blocked Drain Plumbers – Your go-to local plumbers in Sydney!

Blocked Drain – FAQs

How do you unblock a badly blocked drain?

For a severe blockage, we recommend calling in licensed professionals to tackle the issue for you. The last thing you want is to attempt to unblock a complicated drain issue and unintentionally cause more harm than good. Having a specialist attend to the issue can save you money in the long run.

What is the easiest way to unclog a drain?

Review our steps listed in the blog for tried and tested ways of tackling minor household and commercial drain blockages. Alternatively, give us a call today for expert advice.

Will a blocked drain clear itself?

Sometimes it may clear itself, such as if there is grease trapped and has built up to form a blockage. Running hot water down the drain can help break this down and disperse the blockage. However, we have found more often than not that once a drain has become blocked, and if you experience an overflow of water, this is when conscious action should be taken to rid the blockage.

What do plumbers use to unblock drains?

Plumbers use expert equipment to help unblock drains. From small to large blockages, you can expect your plumber to arrive for your blocked drain repair with all the necessary components to help fix the issue. The equipment can include commercial-grade snakes, plungers and CCTV to help locate the issue quickly and with ease.

How to clear blocked drain?

A blocked drain is a common plumbing issue many property owners dread facing. So, we bring you some simple ways to clear a blocked drain yourself before you enlist an expert’s services.