One of the most common reasons why people call on Blocked drains experts Gold Coast area is to fix a blocked drain. Suppose you’ve had this situation in your home. In that case, you’re familiar with foul smells from stagnant water and sinks that aren’t suitable for any kind of washing.
Such issues can cause a lot of discomfort for you and other members of your household if left unchecked. The good news is, it isn’t hard to clear a blocked drain, and once you do, things in the house can get back to how they originally were.
Before we get to how you can fix a blocked drain, here’s how to tell if you have one.
- Sewage like scent: this is usually the first thing that would alert you to a blocked drain.
- Overflow: when your sink overflows, you will notice that water waste will not flow down as usual. Instead, it’ll come back up if you have a blockage.
- Gurgling: If your drain is gurgling, it means that the collected water is pushing back against the drain.
- Slow drainage: when washing the dishes or showering, you may sometimes find that the water takes much longer to drain. If you don’t fix it, over time, the issue will get much worse.
Clearing a Blocked Drain
Depending on what caused a blockage in the first place, there are different methods to clear your drain. You can try out different ways before you get in touch with a plumber.
- Pour Boiling Water
If the blockage in your drain is due to toiletries, grease, or conditioner. Pouring hot water will help drain it as these substances will melt quickly. All you need to do is to pour some boiling water down the blocked drain.
- Vinegar and Bicarbonate
These natural cleaners will help to break down substances that block your drain. Once you’ve poured hot water down the drain, follow it through with a cup of vinegar and bicarbonate of soda
- Caustic Cleaners
These cleaners are great dissolving oils, fats, and grease, all of which are tough. Before you use them, ensure the room is aired then follow the instructions on the packaging.
- Plungers
Everyone has a plunger or two in their home. They’re an effective draining tool that ensures there’s a vacuum around the plughole to unblock your drainage.
- A Drain Snake
These are tools that should only be used by a professional. They can get into the drain to unblock it. Plumbers usually reserve drain snakes for clogs, which are difficult to unblock.
- CCTV
If the drain snake can’t get your drainage unblocked, a small camera is inserted into the pipes to find the extent to which your drainage is clogged and remove it.
- Excavation
In some instances, the extent to which a drain is blocked is usually so severe that it warrants more hardened solutions. Excavation requires that the area around the drain is dug up to replace or repair the pipes. Most of the time, such extensive work isn’t required, but when push comes to shove, it may be necessary.