Northern Beaches plumbers tips

Blocked drains can have a nasty habit of creeping up on you and becoming a severe plumbing problem that a vigorous session with the plunger has no hope of solving. When your blocked drains get to this stage, it’s essential that you down tools and seek the services of a professional blocked drains expert.

Before your drains get to that stage, however, our resident Northern Beaches plumbers and blocked drains experts have some words of advice for preventing clogged drains in your Northern Beaches property.

1. Know if you have a blocked drain problem

The first thing you need to do is ensure you have a problem.

There are some sure ways to tell if you have a blockage building up and that’s to check the speed of the drainage. If it’s slow, then some preventative measures may be warranted, or it may be time to call your plumber.

Other signs are drains that make a gurgling noise and foul odours that weren’t there before.

2. Regular maintenance is a must

Even if you make a point of ensuring no grease and oil goes down the drain, there is always going to be some residue making its way into the pipes. To prevent even this small amount from building up into a more significant problem you can pour hot water down the drain for at least 3 minutes once a fortnight.

The idea is to melt any build-up in the drain to send it on its way. You should also do this after you have cleaned a few pots, plates, and pans which are oily or greasy.

3. Get into good habits in the bathroom

Hair going down the drain can lead to big problems in your pipes as clumps act like a net to catch subsequent hair and debris. At the end of your shower discard the hair, rather than try to stomp it down the drain with your foot where it might get trapped. Naturally, every member of the family will need to get involved in keeping your pipes free and clear.

4. Inspect your sewer lines

Checking the main sewer lines yourself is most likely a job that is out of your skillset, as it takes specialised equipment and a professional who knows their way around residential plumbing.

A CCTV camera is used to provide the plumber with a worm’s eye view as to the state of your pipes. If any problems are detected, they can be taken care of right away before they develop into something significant and expensive.

While there will be a minor cost involved, it is much easier and cheaper than waiting for a significant blockage to occur which can be costly to fix and disruptive to your week.

5. The stuff you can do yourself

In a lot of situations, you will be able to clear a blockage yourself using a few simple pieces of equipment you can get from any hardware store. You can use a toilet plunger to remove a blockage in the toilet quickly. An auger can get rid of slightly more severe problems if you feel confident.

Boiling water can also help release a blockage if there is still some drainage. Let the sink drain completely before you pour in the boiling water. Don’t pour in too much water at first, and wait for the first lot to drain away before pouring in more.

Plungers can also be used in the bathroom basin or kitchen sink to remove blockages which have built up close to the drain. If none of your efforts works then, it’s time to call your friendly local blocked drains plumber.

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