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We’ve all experienced the dreaded stench of stagnant, methane-laden air hovering around a slowly emptying, blocked, or overflowing drain.
There’s nothing worse than spending hours pouring boiling water, using caustic cleaners, a wire hanger, or madly plunging away at a drain blockage, only to be frustrated by minimal results.
While chemical drain cleaners can effectively clear blocked drains, they contain harsh chemicals that can be dangerous if misused and may negatively affect plumbing and the environment. Considering natural alternatives is often a safer approach.
What if you need to clear a blocked drain? In that case, the crew at Woden Valley Plumbing & Gasfitting are ready to loosen blockages, as well as offer solid advice on how to prevent future blockages using various tools and methods. Using the best plumbing equipment on the market, our blocked drain plumbers can tackle even the most stubborn clogged drain.
Understanding Blocked Drains
Blocked drains are a common household problem that can cause significant frustration and disrupt daily life. A blocked drain can occur in any part of the plumbing system, including sinks, toilets, showers, and outdoor drains.
Understanding the causes of blocked drains is essential to prevent them from happening in the first place. Common culprits include hair, grease, soap scum, and foreign objects. Tree roots can also invade outdoor drains, while faulty plumbing and poor water flow can lead to blockages within the plumbing system.
Our Fool-Proof Process to Clear Blocked Drains in Canberra
When called to your home or business to manage your drain cleaning needs, our Canberra blocked drain plumbers work through a three-step process to ensure we resolve the issue entirely.
This includes:
1. Assessing Broken Drains
Using miniaturised CCTV cameras, our technicians can accurately locate the causes of blocked drains. This is superior to pouring boiling water, white vinegar and baking soda, using a traditional plumber’s snake and an electric eel hoping to loosen the drain’s obstruction.
Our high-tech cameras allow our plumbers to determine the best type of specialist equipment required to clear your ceramic pipes, PVC pipes and outdoor drains. This use of superior technology allows our crew to clear severe blockages rapidly.
2. Clearing Drainage Systems
Given that the CCTV camera will accurately locate the cause of the blocked drain, our drainage specialists work to remove the offending clog using a simple drain auger or high-pressure water jets.
They may also consider using different types of drain cleaners, including natural enzyme cleaners that break down organic matter and store-bought chemical cleaners that can effectively clear blockages. They ensure the pipes are clear and everything is running smoothly before completing the job.
3. Cleaning Up Your Entire Plumbing System
As with any other task, once they have cleared your blocked drains, our plumbers are trained to use the utmost professionalism when servicing your home or commercial property. They meet your needs and quickly collect all their equipment, wipe down surfaces and dry any mess made across your plumbing system during the appointment.
In doing this, you don’t have to worry about any aspect of the service once it’s over – just get back to enjoying your home or business with a fully functional drainage system.
What Causes Blocked Drains in Canberra?
Our drain specialists commonly see the following culprits causing drain blockages:
- Fats, cooking oil, and grease build-up (FOG): Pouring these down the drain opening of the kitchen sink will eventually cause the FOGs to solidify and block pipes.
- Tree roots: Trees and other plants can grow into pipes and cause blockages and breakage.
- Sanitary products and wet wipes: These items do not break down like toilet paper and can accumulate in pipes, causing a blocked toilet.
- Debris: Leaves, dirt, and other debris can build up in stormwater drains and cause severe blockage.
- Foreign objects: Items like toys, food waste, cat litter, jewellery, tools, and other materials can be accidentally washed down the sink, fall into a drain hole, or flushed down the toilet, causing stubborn blockages.
- Corrosion: Over time, pipes can corrode and wear away, leading to clogged drains.
- Construction and Development: Uncontrolled discharge of sediment-laden stormwater, channelisation, and wetland filling are other causes of clogging.
When faced with these circumstances, our local plumbers use state-of-the-art equipment and their expertise to repair or replace your drains.
Signs You Need a Blocked Drain Cleared Fast
Some common signs you may need to call in the best blocked drain plumbers (hint: that’s us!):
- Water Draining Slowly: Slow draining water from your sinks, shower, or bathtub is a common sign of an issue with your pipes and can get worse when left unattended.
- Gurgling sounds: If you hear gurgling sounds coming from your drains, it’s usually a sign that air is trapped and unable to escape.
- Back-Up: If water or sewage is backing up into your sinks, toilets, or shower, it is a clear sign of a blockage.
- Unpleasant odours: If you notice a foul smell coming from your pipes, it could signify a blockage and rotting matter
- Water pooling: Water pooling around your sink, toilet, or shower.
- Water discolouration: If you notice discoloured water in your sink, toilet, or shower, it could be a sign that there is a serious blockage in the drain.
If you notice any of these signs, ensure they’re not left untreated, as it is important to address the issue as soon as possible to avoid further damage and costly repairs.
DIY Methods for Clearing Blocked Drains
Clearing a blocked drain can often be tackled as a DIY task, but it’s crucial to use the right methods and tools to avoid causing further damage to your plumbing system. Here are some effective DIY methods for clearing blocked drains:
- Plunger: A plunger is a simple yet effective tool for clearing blocked drains. Ensure you use a large plunger to cover the drain opening, and apply vigorous up-and-down strokes to create suction and dislodge the blockage.
- Baking Soda and Vinegar: This natural and non-toxic method can work wonders as a drain cleaner. Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1 cup of vinegar. Allow the mixture to sit for a few hours, then flush the drain with hot water to clear the blockage.
- Boiling Water: Pouring boiling water down the drain can help dissolve grease and soap scum that may be causing the blockage. Be cautious to avoid splashing, as boiling water can cause burns.
- Drain Snake: Also known as a drain auger, this long, flexible tool can be used to clear blockages deep within the pipes. Insert the snake into the drain and rotate it as you push it further into the pipe to break up the clog.
- DIY Drain Snake: If you don’t have a professional drain snake, you can make a DIY version using a wire coat hanger. Unbend the hanger and create a small hook on one end. Carefully feed the hook into the drain to fish out any debris causing the blockage.
Prevention is the Best Cure
There are simple ways to ensure pipes remain clear; some of these steps include:
- Properly dispose of grease: Instead of pouring grease down the drain, let it cool and solidify, then dispose of it in the rubbish bin.
- Only flush toilet paper: Do not flush sanitary products, wipes, or other non-biodegradable items down the toilet.
- Keep debris out of stormwater drains: Keep leaves and other debris out of stormwater drains to prevent more severe blockages.
- Regularly clean your drains: Instead of relying on hot water alone, use a toilet plunger or a DIY drain snake to remove debris build-up and clear your household pipes.
- Be mindful of what you dispose of: Avoid disposing of large food scraps, coffee grounds, bones, and other food debris and items that can cause solid blockages.
- Be careful with chemicals: Be careful when using caustic cleaners, and avoid pouring grease, oil, or other chemicals down the drain. Using baking soda and vinegar with boiling water is a great natural alternative.
- Schedule regular maintenance: Regularly maintain your metal or ceramic pipes and sewer systems to ensure they are in good working condition.
Contact Plumbers You Can Rely On
Our service is more than pipe relining and removing tree roots from drains. We emphasise using jet blast plumbing and specialised equipment alongside preventive measures, so your blocked drain doesn’t worsen or arise again.
Our services also extend to the following:
- Installation & repair of hot water systems
- Installation and maintenance of heating and cooling
- Fixing water leaks
- Emergency services
- And much more!
Don’t wait to clear a blocked drain or plumbing concerns until you’re experiencing burst pipes while washing dishes. Our team is here and ready for emergency call outs to solve slow drainage issues and offer various solutions for your plumbing needs.
As soon as you notice something out of the ordinary, contact us for rapid service – we come and do an inspection at all hours and await those call-outs for emergency plumbing services.
Drains Savings
$50 Off
ANY ANY CAMERA INSPECTION WITH DRAIN CLEANING
Cannot combine with any other discount. One discount per customer.
Free
KITCHEN TAP
WITH ANY 2 X TOILET SUITES WE SUPPLY AND FIT FROM OUR SHOWROOM
Cannot combine with any other discount. One discount per customer.
$200 Off
SEWER REPAIRS OVER $5000
Cannot combine with any other discount. One discount per customer.
Please mention coupon at the time of booking or present to technician onsite to redeem.
Redeeming coupons after payment has been made is not permissible. Redeeming coupons for cash is also not permissible.