Three Quick Fixes For Your Blocked Drain.
April 8, 2019
Do you have a blocked drain? A blocked drain can be caused by a number of factors. It could be a grease build-up, a solid mass like a tree-root or consumables that shouldn't such as wet wipes.
In many cases, the simple tips below can help you fix a blocked drain on your own, without having to call in a professional plumber. However, if your blocked drain can't be fixed, it's always best to call in a professional to fix the blockage before it causes any damage or gets worse.
1 - Boiling Water
It's a simple method, but it will work for minor grease blockages. Put the kettle on and give this a go. Another hack is to mix the boiling water with some vinegar and bicarb soda!
2 - Caustic Cleaner
Caustic cleaner is a chemical available from most supermarkets and hardware stores. Caustic cleaner is a chemical that's capable of dissolving grease, hair, food and other common blockages. It fixes your blocked drain the same way our first solution does, only with more power.
However, it's important to use caustic cleaner with care, and sparingly. It's understandably terrible for the environment and should only be used once on any given drain blockage - if the blockage keeps coming back, don't keep using caustic cleaner.
Lastly, it's important to note that caustic cleaner won't work on solid blockages like roots.
3 - The Humble Plunger
Just like it works on the dunny, the humble plunger can work on your blocked sink or drain. It's a great way to unclog more solid items like wet wipes or rubbish. However, it won't be useful on grease blockages.
What do you do if nothing here unblocks your drain?
If nothing here works, it's time to call in a plumber. It's important that you don't procrastinate on the issue, because there may be underlining water damage taking place.
If the drain is still blocked, it's likely that the drain is blocked further down the pipe and has been compromised by a tree root or the pipe has simply eroded and caved in.
Fixing a blocked drain may seem like a big costly job, but with modern CCTV blockage technology, plumbers are able to quickly locate a blockage in a drain and carefully target the troubled area.
Gone are the days of digging up your entire yard to find a blockage!
We're Melbourne based blocked drain specialists at Kovele Plumbing, and if you need a hand with your blocked drain, we're here to help anytime on 0418 340 501.
Hope this has been helpful!
Steve Kovac - Kovele Plumbing
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