It’s guaranteed that no one likes to deal with a blocked drain or clogged plumbing pipe. Many Australian residential and commercial property owners find themselves dealing with this issue more than they care to, and while many can be sorted out as a DIY job, some require serious plumbing intervention.
It’s with this in mind that many locals enlist the help of the blocked drain plumber Melbourne homeowners rely on for everything from clogs to leaks. If you’re struggling to keep your drains clean and flowing smoothly, it may be because you haven’t established the root cause of the problem. This post takes a look at the top culprits that could be clogging up your plumbing.
Common Causes to Look Out For
If you’re having the same issue with your drains becoming blocked after only a few uses, it’s an indication that somewhere, something isn’t happening the way it should. This can either mean that something is obstructing the natural flow of things in the drain or that there are ongoing bad habits of flushing easy-clog items. Getting to the bottom of your drain issue will require taking a closer look at what’s being flushed or poured into it. Here’s a list of the top culprits that could be blocking your drains and toilets.
1. Cooking Oil and Grease
The number one reason commercial and kitchen drains routinely clog up is because someone is pouring used cooking oil or grease down the drain. This could happen when you’re doing dishes or simply because you don’t really know what else to do with hot oil you no longer need.
Many people don’t see the harm in this because the misconception is that if you’re pouring a liquid down the drain, it’s just going to wash away, right? Wrong. Once cooking oil, fat, or grease enters the drain, the fat particles cling to the sides of the walls.
As the fat cools, it becomes hard, and every time more oil is poured down, more fat particles cling to the existing ones. Eventually, a large ball of bat has formed, and this can easily create what’s commonly called a fatberg. When this happens, other scraps and liquids won’t be able to move past it, creating a blockage.
Avoid this by not flushing oil of any kind down the sink. Be sure to rinse your sinks and drains with boiling water, vinegar, and bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) to break down any fat particles. Do this often to keep your drains fat-free.
2. Food Scraps
Another kitchen culprit that can cause blockages is food scraps. Just because your food scraps are small enough to fit through the sink drainage holes doesn’t mean they should go down there! Food scraps easily latch onto other things in the drain, such as twigs and fatbergs, and will make large, foul-smelling blockages.
Be sure to scrape scraps off before putting your dishes in the sink. Invest in a small counter-sized composter where you can easily scrape your food waste into. If you know your family has the habit of scraping things down the drain, make it a rule that the person who washes dishes also rinses the sink with boiling water to help flush scraps away.
3. Soap Scum
It’s not uncommon for people to be surprised to hear that soap is contributing to their blockages. However, since soap is made up of various oils, fat particles can cling to the plumbing pipes and other debris already in the drain. Add to this the regular hair fall that happens when you bathe or shower, and you have a nasty soap blockage waiting to happen.
To prevent this from happening, simply wait for all the water to drain out of your bath or shower and then pour a few kettles of boiling water down the drain. As with the fatbergs in the kitchen, the oil particles will be forced to move along. Adding baking soda or vinegar to the mix encourages the fat particles to break up.
4. Wet Wipes and Other Toiletry Products
The number one reason why toilets and sewage pipes get clogged up is because people are constantly flushing items down the toilet that don’t belong there. Baby diapers, wet wipes, and sanitary products are the most common.
Keep in mind that none of these items go very far down your pipes before getting stuck on something in the pipe. None of these products will biodegrade on their own, which means they’ll be stuck there until someone removes them or they flow back up your pipes.
Final Thoughts
There are many reasons why your pipes, drains, or toilets could be getting blocked. Knowing which behaviours inside your home could be causing the issue will go a long way toward finding a permanent solution. If you are still experiencing blocked drains and pipes even after changing the habits inside your home, it may be time to call a professional. They will use advanced systems to check for possible external issues. You will also then find a permanent solution for your blocked drains!
Also read: Tips from Drainage Experts on How to Prevent Blockages
