Do you keep hearing gurgling noises from your drains? Have trouble flushing the toilet? Are there any bad smells in your kitchen or bathroom? All these signs may indicate that something is wrong with your plumbing system.
Grease, dirt, diaper wipes, and food leftovers can easily clog your drains and cause a lot of trouble. Luckily, there are ways to prevent and fix these issues before it’s too late.
Common Causes of Blocked Drains in Melbourne
Clogged and blocked drains in Melbourne are a common occurrence. Indoor blockages are typically caused by tissues, wipes, sanitary products, and heavy objects being flushed down into the drain. If you’re dealing with an outdoor blockage, it could be due to a buildup of tree roots, debris, or dead leaves.
When cooking, most homeowners discard food leftovers and oils into the sink. The same happens when they’re cleaning plates and glasses. Over time, these residues accumulate into the drains, restricting water flow. Other common causes of blocked drains include:
- Hair
- Soap
- Toilet paper
- Tampons
- Mineral buildup
- Dirt
- Tree roots
- Shrubs and leaves
- Toiletries
- Broken pipes
- Heavy rain
- Cat litter
- Baby diapers
Soap, for instance, is made with fat or grease. These substances combine with the minerals in the water, leaving soap scrum behind. In the long run, your drains get clogged and stop working properly. Soap-free dishwasher detergent is your best bet.
If you’re washing your hair in the sink or bathtub, the drains can easily become clogged. To prevent this problem, make sure all drains have guards. If the hair is visible in the drain, pull it out with tweezers.
Signs Your Drains Are Blocked
Blocked drains can cause a lot of problems in your household. Sometimes, it’s difficult to tell what’s wrong.
The most obvious and unpleasant sign is a foul smell. If food leftovers, grease, or something else got stuck in the drain, it may begin to rot and produce a bad odor.
Another common sign of a blocked drain is a gurgling noise. You may hear it anytime throughout the day or only when you’re flushing the toilet or taking a shower.
Also, watch out for slow draining sinks and bathtubs, localized damp patches, cracks around the drains, and changes in the toilet water level. For instance, clogged drains may cause the water level in your toilet to rise higher when flushing. This could lead to water damage and flooding.
Other common signs of blocked drains include low tap water pressure, slow flowing water, burst pipes, and water draining out of the washing machine. If left unaddressed, these issues can escalate and cause drainage emergencies. You could come home and find everything covered in water.
What Can You Do about It?
The good news is that blocked drains can be easily prevented. Simple things, such as using a drain cleaner and throwing out wet pipes in the garbage, can make all the difference. As a rule of thumb, avoid disposing food or grease down the drain. Check the drains regularly for cracks, leaks, and other signs of damage.
If you’re always dealing with a blockage, call expert help. These issues won’t go away by themselves. The longer you wait, the greater the damage.
Contact a professional plumber in Melbourne to inspect and fix the drains. Some problems could be due to your close neighbours, especially if you live in an apartment building. Unless you’re a plumber yourself, it’s hard to tell what caused these issues in the first place. Plumbing services in Melbourne are fairly inexpensive and can save you a fortune in the long run.