How Long To Unblock A Drain?

Introduction to Drain Blockages

Drain blockages are a common issue encountered in both residential and commercial settings. They occur when the water flow gets restricted by a clog, causing dirty water to back up.

Multiple factors lead to drain blockages, often signalled by standing water, peculiar gurgling sounds, foul smells, and sluggish drainage.

Clogged drains frequently result from the build-up of hair, grease, soap residue, and improperly flushed items, all of which require effective drain unblocking approaches. Untreated blockages can escalate to severe drainage complications, such as waste water backflow, flooding, water damage, harmful mould growth, and skyrocketing repair expenses.

At Beecroft Plumbing, we’re dedicated to promptly and effectively addressing clogged drain challenges. We provide rapid, cost-effective drain clearing services in the Beecroft area.

Our proficient technicians tackle everything from minor sink blockages to major sewer line obstructions, using sophisticated tools and techniques to repair pipes and restore optimal water flow.

The article explores a range of do-it-yourself and professional drain unblocking strategies, detailing the time investment for each method. Continue reading to discover how to tackle drain issues yourself or determine when to call a professional plumber.

Common Causes of Clogged Drains

Multiple factors contribute to the prevalence of clogged and blocked drains across Beecroft’s homes and commercial establishments:

• Accumulation of blockage culprits like hair grease, soap residue, and food scraps over time
• Tree roots growing into and damaging underground drainage pipes
• Flushing unsuitable items that cause blockage your drains may include items like baby wipes, dental floss, and caustic cleaning agents
• A build-up of fats, oils and grease (FOGs) from kitchen sinks
• Toys or construction materials that get stuck turning into drain obstructions
• Drain pipe damage such as crushing, breaking, or collapsing due to ground shifts or ageing

Our seasoned Beecroft plumbers adeptly manage drain issues, offering precise diagnoses with state-of-the-art drain camera technology. From there, we can investigate what can effectively clear debris, remove roots, repair broken pipes, and prevent future blockages.

We possess the expertise to accurately identify the specific causes of blockages in your drainage system and detect pipe damage.

For swift assessments and solutions on how clear blocked drains in the Beecroft region, contact our friendly team online or dial 1300 349 338.

Signs You Have a Blocked Drain

There are a few clear indicators that signify your drains may be blocked:

• Drainage slowing down significantly from your sinks, bathtubs, or showers
• Gurgling noises clearly indicate disturbances from obstructed drain passages
• Sinks and tubs failing to fully drain
• The unmistakable sewage smells emanating from drains are clear indicators of blockages
• Toilets overflowing or taking longer to refill
• Large puddles forming around floor drains

Our Beecroft Plumbing technicians often encounter these telltale signs of a blocked drain during calls to homes and businesses. Left unchecked, blocked drains can damage your home by affecting walls and floors with water coming your way from leaking into drain cavities, resulting in substantial water damage and unhealthy mould growth.

If you notice any of the above indicators, your drain can benefit from some common household remedies or professional assistance. Our plumbing service includes high-tech drain inspection equipment to diagnose if the drain is blocked, and can expertly fix issue with even the toughest clogs.

DIY Methods to Try and Unblock a Drain

Use a Plunger

You can use a simple method for clearing blocked drains in your bathroom, kitchen sink, or outdoor area by vigorously plunging. Place a standard sink plunger firmly over the drain opening to form a tight seal and force water down blocked pathways. Work the plunger in a vigorous up-and-down motion in the sink to create sufficient suction that aids in dislodging the blockage.

First, fill the sink halfway with water, allowing the hot water to build enough pressure to dislodge debris during plunging. Repeat the plunging process a few times if needed. Protect your hands by wearing rubber gloves to safeguard your hand during the process.

Boiling Water

For minor clogs caused by hair or grease, using baking soda followed by hot water helps dissolve and remove the sticky residue. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a vigorous boil and pour boiling water down drain, ensuring the heat can make a difference in clearing the blockage. Carefully pour the boiling water down the drain and let it work on the clog for 10-15 minutes.

The heat from the nearly boiling water assists in the process to clear a blocked drain by melting fatty oils and hair grease clusters stuck in pipes. Follow with plenty of cool water to flush remnants down the drain. Take care to ensure your safety when handling hot water to avoid injury.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

You could succeed in clearing your drain using baking and white vinegar combo, which works especially well on soap scum or grease clogs. Pour half cup of bicarbonate soda down the drain followed by one cup white vinegar, creating an effective soda vinegar reaction. The bicarbonate of soda will fizz and bubble, which can help remove blocked drain gunk lining your pipes.

Allow the baking soda and vinegar mixture to react for a few minutes before flushing with hot water to clear any residue. You can try this treatment overnight to tackle particularly stubborn backups.

Always start small with home remedies for your plumbing. Should DIY approaches fall short, consulting your plumber may be necessary, and our Beecroft professionals are ready to accurately diagnose and rectify the issue.

Professional Drain Cleaning Methods

For severe or recurring drain clogs, it’s best to have your pipe clearing done by your local professionals, such as our Beecroft plumbing company. We have industrial-strength tools and methods for clearing even the toughest blockages.

Hydro Jetting

For stubborn blockages, our specialists use a drain cleaning method called hydro jetting, which involves blasting your drainage system with a high-pressure water stream. Our skilled technicians work diligently to get rid of blockages, including these types of stubborn build-ups, by controlling flexible high-pressure hoses with a drain snake when needed, blasting away years of accumulated grime.

Hydro jetting is highly effective in removing grease, soap buildup, tree roots, and other resistant debris. Moreover, hydro jetting is a gentler alternative than using drain snakes, as it does not require feeding cables through the pipes.

Drain Snakes

Our technicians skillfully manoeuvre hand and motorised drain auger devices to dislodge even the deepest clogs within your pipes. The coils reach deep into pipes, aiming to break up drain clogged situations by grabbing hold of hair and debris, scrubbing them clean.

Drain snakes can unclog sink, tub, toilet and main sewer drains up to 100 feet long. We also use advanced CCTV drain cameras able find and visually locate clogs.

From simple fixtures to complex types drains, Beecroft Plumbing possesses the tools and expertise to sort out any blocked drain dilemmas. Call us on 1300 349 338 for same-day drain unblocking services.

How Long Does It Take to Unblock a Drain?

When faced with a blocked drain, how long it takes to clear the clog depends on a variety of factors:

DIY Drain Unblocking

Minor sink or tub clogs can often be resolved within 10-30 minutes using DIY methods such as plunging or pouring a mixture of boiling water, baking soda, and vinegar.

Substantial build-up might require multiple attempts over several hours or days to entirely clear plastic or metal pipes. Start with the least invasive methods before attempting more complex solutions like dismantling pipes.

Professional Drain Cleaning

The Beecroft Plumbing team has the high-powered hydro jetting gear and drain snakes to clear even the toughest clogs in under an hour, sometimes in as little as 15 minutes.

We employ compact CCTV cameras to precisely locate and determine the cause of the more substantial obstructions. From there, we have all the necessary techniques and industrial-strength equipment to restore proper water flow.

For emergency blocked drain repairs throughout the Beecroft area, call our team 24/7 at 1300 349 338. We offer same-day unblocking services to prevent flooding damage or unhealthy backups in your home or business.

Preventing Future Blockages

Regular Maintenance

As a regular maintenance step, periodically pour boiling water down each drain to prevent blockages and keep your pipes healthy. Let the hot water work for 5-10 minutes before rinsing with cold water. This procedure aids in eliminating grease and is crucial to keep your drainage system clear of obstructions.

Monthly, flush each drain with a mixture of boiling water, 1⁄2 cup of baking soda, and 1⁄2 cup vinegar.

Also regularly remove hair and debris from your kitchen sink drains using a drain catch. Wipe out fat and food residue from down sink surfaces to avoid sending murky water through the drain after washing up.

Avoid Harsh Chemicals

Avoid harsh chemical drain cleaners, oils, or paints – these can damage your pipes and lead to significant clogs.

Use a Drain Strainer

Consistently use drain covers or strainers to trap food remnants, hair, and other debris before they go down the pipes. Regularly dispose of collected debris from strainers into the bin.

Be Careful What You Flush

Avoid flushing anything besides toilet paper and human waste down toilets. In your house, items like baby wipes, dental floss, hair, grease, and other unsuitable materials can become lodged and lead to clogs.

Following these handy tips and yearly professional drain servicing by Beecroft plumbers will mitigate the risk of blockages. Contact us online or call 1300 349 338 to enquire about our preventative drain maintenance plans.