7 Culprits of Your Blocked Drain

Drains can seem boring, but really there is not much that’s more important in your house. 

When you’ve got a million things going on in your day and forget that you’ve left the bathtub running overnight. Welp, having functional drains can be the difference between waking up refreshed or in an oversized swimming pool. 

And, not to mention, if something like that does happen, it can prevent a lot of water damage… which will save you a lot of money.

Nevertheless, these drains can get blocked. And often do.

Here are the top 7 culprits that are blocking your drains

1. Tree roots

The pine tree at the front of your house looks awesome. However, for some Aussies, it can cause a bit of an issue. 

When your tree goes looking for water and nutrients, a cracked pipe is the jackpot. The plants try to suck up as much as they can, and then grow into the pipes. Sooner or later, the root is blocking the water flow.

Good for the pine tree – not so much for your plumbing.

2. Grease and fat

I remember watching my grandmother pour her cooking into bottles to throw out, rather than in the drain. I didn’t really understand why – but now I can see that she was on the right track.

Grease can stick to the sides of your drain and build up. Since fats repel water, this then makes it a lot harder for water to pass through. 

You can still cook your juicy steaks, just make your grease go somewhere else other than the sink.

3. Food

Sometimes when we’re washing the plates, and have a few scraps left after dinner – they can make their way down the drain. However, foods like pasta and rice expand in the presence of water which makes it harder to pass through. Even coffee grounds can clump together and get stuck in your pipes.

4. Toiletries

A reason people’s drains often block is because they flush down things that they think are ok, but really aren’t. A lot of Aussies don’t realise that flushing wet wipes, floss, or hygiene products can actually do things that can get stuck in your plumbing.

5. Leaves and dirt

If you have any drains outside, and it’s been a particularly heavy storm – your drain may be collecting more than just water. In moments like this, dirt turns into mud and moves leaves along with it. When this collects in particularly low points of drains, it can build up and prevent the usual flow of water.

6. Breaks in the pipes

When a pipe cracks, it opens the door for everything else to come inside. This is another way in which dirt and debris commonly enter pipes. 

7. Golf balls?

When you’ve got kids, and they discover that the toilet is their next magical toy… just about everything gets flushed down there. 

People have been found flushing down things from golf balls, to kids’ toys to tea towels. A lot of parents are unaware of the ‘game’ their children play, so get a bit of a shock when they discover an entire playpen down their drain.

In short, there are a lot of things that can block your drains. Just be careful what you put down there.

It’s not all doom and gloom though. If your blocked drains are driving you nuts – feel free to request a free quote, and we’ll try to help you out.

This blog is not meant to constitute advice and is general in nature. Please read more here.