Blocked Drains

WARNING! - Images below are not for the faint of heart!

At Mr. Nice Plumbing, we spend a lot of time investigating blocked drains. While every blockage is unique, most fall into a few common categories. Understanding where a blockage occurs can often provide clues about what's causing it.

Let's take a journey through the labyrinthine world of domestic drainage systems and explore the usual suspects.

Not All Blockages Are Created Equal

The three most common types of blockages we encounter occur in:

• Bathrooms

• Kitchens

• Main sewer drains outside the home

Sometimes a blockage affects only one fixture. Other times, it can impact the entire drainage system.

Bathroom Blockages

If your basin, shower, bath or floor waste is draining slowly or completely blocked, the culprit is usually a build-up of hair combined with naturally occurring body oils and soap residue.

Over time, hair catches on imperfections within the pipe and gradually forms a blockage.

In many cases, these blockages can be cleared by physically removing the hair and flushing the line with hot water. More stubborn blockages may require professional drain cleaning equipment.

Kitchen Blockages

Kitchen sinks are most commonly blocked by grease.

When fats, oils and grease are washed down the sink, they may be liquid when hot, but they cool and solidify inside the pipework. Over months or years, these deposits accumulate and gradually restrict the flow of water until the drain eventually blocks.

Minor grease blockages can sometimes be cleared with a plunger and hot water. More severe blockages often require mechanical drain cleaning equipment such as an electric eel or a high-pressure hydro jet to remove the grease build-up from the inside of the pipe.

Main Sewer Blockages

If sewage is backing up outside, multiple fixtures are affected, or you hear gurgling noises coming from toilets, sinks or floor wastes, the problem is often located in the main sewer line.

The most common cause is tree root intrusion.

Tree roots are naturally attracted to moisture and can enter sewer pipes through small cracks, faulty joints or ageing pipework. Once inside, they continue to grow and eventually obstruct the flow of sewage.

These blockages generally require professional equipment such as an electric eel or hydro jet drain cleaner. In many cases, a CCTV drain camera inspection is also recommended to identify the exact location and cause of the problem.

When to Call a Plumber

If only one fixture is blocked, the issue may be relatively minor. However, if multiple drains are affected, sewage is overflowing, or you can hear gurgling throughout the house, it's usually a sign of a larger drainage problem that should be investigated promptly.

The sooner a blockage is identified, the easier—and often cheaper—it is to resolve.