Why Are My Drains Blocked?

There are several causes of blocked drains. However, the most common are unsuitable items being flushed down the toilet or leftover cooking oils and fats being poured down the sink. Over time, these items will build up and cause a severe blockage. You can usually identify blocked drains by accompanying bad smells, slow draining water, and sewage coming back into the toilet or sink.

How To Fix Blocked Drains

There are several ways you can fix blocked drains, though they will depend on the blockage. Try these potential plumbing help solutions to find one that will work for you.

• Boiling Water – Boiling water can dissolve substances with a low melting point, so pour a kettle full of water down the drain to help shift the blockage.

• Natural Cleansers – If boiling water doesn’t work, try chasing it up with about 200 grams of bicarbonate of soda and 250 ml of vinegar. Leave it for ten minutes, then pour down more hot water.

• Caustic Cleaning Solutions – Caustic cleaners can dissolve fat, oils and grease to dislodge tougher blockages. Always follow the instructions of the cleaner you purchase.

• A Plunger – This classic plumbers tool is an effective way of dislodging blockages. A plunger will form a seal around the plughole, encouraging a vacuum effect that will suck out any blockage.

• Drain Snake – A drain snake is a plumbers tool, but you can make your own out of a thin metal wire. Fashion a hook at the end of the wire and insert it into the blocked plughole. Try using your DIY drain snake to pull out any hair blockages.