How to Unblock a Drain at Home

So your drain is blocked or slow draining, and you want to know how to sort it out. You’ve come to the right place! A blocked drain is a common household plumbing problem, and for minor blockages, it may be easy enough to resolve.

However, if you knew how many callouts we attend because of DIY plumbing gone wrong, you’d know that even the easiest plumbing jobs require a bit of preparation and a whole lot of caution. Read on to discover what to do – and what not to do – when unblocking a drain.

What Causes Blocked Drains?

From a kid’s toy going for a swim in the toilet s-bend to a saucepan of cooking oil poured down the drain, there are lots of reasons why a drain might be blocked. Here are some of the most common causes we see.

• Pouring cooking oil and other fats/grease down the sink. Oil can solidify in the pipes and block them.
• Foreign objects (e.g. toy cars, dental floss) flushed down the toilet.
• Flushing too much toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, sanitary products, or wipes (even flushable ones).
• Tree roots – with plenty of water hungry culprits to be found in Brisbane’s subtropical climate.
• Build-up of hair, soap scum, and other product residue.
• Incorrect installation of the plumbing system and/or its components.
• Old, deteriorating pipes.

What Can Go Wrong with Unblocking a Drain?

We could write a novel on how wrong DIY plumbing can go, but for the purpose of this article, let’s start with some of the ways trying to unblock a drain can cause more harm than good.

• Drain Cleaning Products: Ironically, many drain cleaning solutions contain corrosive chemicals that can damage pipes, fixtures and tapware, causing them to be marked, stained, leak or even burst. These products are also hazardous for human health and can cause burns and other injuries if they come into contact with the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes like the lungs and nose. These toxic chemicals also pose an environmental risk to local ecosystems.
• Augers, Drain Snakes & Plungers: When used incorrectly, these tools can push the blockage further down inside the pipe, making it more difficult to remove and exacerbating the issue. Excessive force can damage pipes, fittings, fixtures, or other plumbing components, resulting in more extensive (and more expensive) repairs. More importantly, tools like augers and drain snakes can be extremely dangerous and in inexperienced hands can result in serious injury for the user or any bystanders.

How To Unblock Your Drain

A thorough diagnosis of your blocked drain is the best way to resolve it properly. However, these methods may be sufficient to clear minor blockages.

Boiling Water

Suitable for: small blockages in sink, shower or bath drains with metal pipes.

Not suitable for: PVC pipes. The boiling water can melt or soften the pipe and cause leaks.

This method works by melting or loosening the blockage so it can flow through the pipes more easily. It’s especially effective for blockages caused by cooking oils, fat/grease, or soap scum that may be lining the pipes.

1. Boil water in a kettle and pour it down the drain, a little at a time.
2. After a couple of minutes, run water from the tap to see if the blockage is gone.

Vinegar and Bicarb Soda

Suitable for: stubborn blockages in sink, shower or bath drains with PVC pipes.

Combining vinegar and bicarb soda to dissolve drain blockages is a commonly used method that may be the trick to getting your pipes flowing again.  

1. Measure half a cup of bicarb soda and pour it down the drain, as far down as you can get it.
2. Now take a cup of white vinegar and pour this directly down the drain, too. The bicarb and vinegar combo will cause a chemical reaction, fizzing and bubbling inside the pipe, and hopefully, breaking up the drain blockage.
3. Use the sink plug or some duct tape to seal off the drain. Let the bicarb and vinegar do their thing for 10-20 minutes.
4. Remove the plug or tape and pour a cup of very hot water down the drain slowly.

The Plunger Method

Suitable for: blockages in sink, shower or bath drains.

You’ll need a cup plunger and, depending on where the clog is, some duct tape. Protect yourself against gross splashback by wearing eye protection, gloves, and an old t-shirt.

1. If the blockage is in the sink or bath, take a strip of duct tape and stick it over the top of the overflow drain. This prevents the air or water from escaping and directs it towards the unwanted clog instead. Next, fill the sink or bath with a few inches of water.
2. Secure the plunger tightly over the drain opening and apply firm, steady pulses for about 20 seconds. You may feel the pressure changing inside of the pipe, which can indicate that the blockage has cleared.

Want to skip the drain cleaning DIY? Call Salmon Plumbing today!

The Hands On Method

Suitable for: shower drain blockages that are close enough to the drain opening to reach – usually hair.

Not suitable for: blockages deep within the pipe. Digging around in your drains with coat hangers or other DIY tools could lead to damage and further expense.

If your shower is slow-draining, it could be due to a big and extremely gross ball of hair, soap residue and general unspeakable gunk (or the toddler “posted” a toothbrush down there….). You may be able to resolve the issue by gloving up and manually removing the blockage.

To do this, you’ll need a screwdriver, rubber gloves, a torch, and needle-nose pliers. Make sure to wear some old clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and have a garbage bag on hand to dispose of whatever is lurking in your pipes.

1. Unscrew the shower grate from your drain, making sure to keep track of the screws for reattaching later.
2. Shine your torch down the opening into the drain below. If you can see the blockage in the drain, you may be able to remove it.
3. Put your gloves on, then use the needle-nose pliers to carefully grab the mass. Slowly pull it up and out of the drain. Use the garbage bag to dispose of the waste.
4. Once the blockage is removed, run some hot water down the drain.
5. Finally, reinstall the grate and ensure everything’s working properly.

When Should You Call a Plumber for a Blocked Drain?

Some blocked drain issues can’t be resolved with DIY methods – and others that should always be left to the professionals. Here’s when to call the plumbers in.

• DIY methods did not remove the blockage: Some blockages are deep in the pipes, and no amount of DIY will help. For example, tree roots can cause all sorts of plumbing problems. Professional diagnosis is needed before the blockage gets worse.
• DIY methods work temporarily, but the drain keeps getting blocked: If you’re stuck in a cycle of unblocking the same drain over and over, you might be pushing a blockage deeper into the pipe without actually removing it.
• Your plumbing is old: Pipes do wear out over time so attempting to clear blockages in vintage plumbing can lead to damaged pipes – and that can open a floodgate of other problems – sometimes literally!
• Your shower has turned into a shallow bath: If every shower leaves you ankle-deep in soapy water (and who knows what else – yuck), your plumbing is not happy. Don’t wait and see if the problem goes away on its own.
• There’s a foul smell coming from the drain: Something unpleasant is lurking in your pipes. Don’t let it fester!
• The toilet won’t flush: Saving water is great, but there’s only so much yellow you should let mellow.

Playing the wait-and-see game with blocked drains could be your one-way ticket to bigger problems – and more expensive repairs. Call your plumber for professional diagnosis and repair solutions. The team at Salmon Plumbing are fully qualified and insured. We use the latest high-tech equipment to diagnose blockages and clear your drain effectively.

How Do Plumbers Unblock Drains?

Before your plumber can unblock and/or repair your drain, they’ll need to accurately diagnose the cause. Often the best way to do this is with a CCTV camera.

Once the blockage is located within the drain, a plumber will choose an appropriate method to clear it. The common techniques are:

• Drain snake or auger: This involves inserting a flexible cable into the pipe and rotating it to physically break up, dislodge, and pull out the obstruction.
• Hydro-jetting: This specialised machine blasts high-pressure water into pipes to clear out blockages and debris. Hydro-jetting is particularly effective for stubborn blockages and for cleaning the interior of the pipes.
• Other specialised tools and equipment: To remove specific types of blockages, a drain blockage specialist may use things like root cutting tools for tree root intrusion, or descaling equipment for mineral build-up.
• No-dig pipe relining: If the problem is due to deteriorating and damaged pipework, pipe relining specialists may be able to address the issue without digging up your entire yard.

How To Prevent Blocked Drains

The best way to avoid blocked drains and clogged pipes is to look after your plumbing! Here’s how.

• Never flush non-biodegradable stuff in the toilet (sanitary products, dental floss, face wipes, make-up pads, cotton buds, tissues etc).
• Install covers on drains to catch hair and debris.
• Never put oil, grease or food scraps down the sink. Let them cool and solidify, then wrap and chuck in the bin.
• Book regular plumbing maintenance to detect problems early and keep your system in good working order.

Call the Plumbers Brisbane Relies On to Fix Blocked Drains

Don’t wait for a blocked drain to turn into a plumbing emergency! Call the team at Salmon Plumbing for a thorough assessment, cost-effective repair and prevention solutions. Get in touch now.