How to Unblock a Drain

Do you want to know how to unblock a drain?

Clogged drains are one of the most common plumbing problems in Australia. A blocked drain pipe can strike at any time. They can even affect newly laid pipes, so it pays to be prepared.

An untreated blocked drain can cause larger problems for your plumbing system, such as leaks, foul smells and flooding. Severe drain blockages can even result in a burst water pipe, which can be very costly to repair.

Find out which 5 things to NOT put down the sink so you can avoid a clogged drain in the first place.

Your Guide to Clearing Blocked Drains

Should you find yourself dealing with a blocked drain, there’s every chance you may have a bigger problem on your hands. You might find yourself with a broken pipe or even a moisture-seeking tree root growing through it.

If you find yourself clearing blocked drains regularly, especially at a frequency that’s clearly out of the ordinary, it’s a sign that you may have more serious issues at play. We strongly recommend arranging a CCTV inspection of the affected drain to rule out major problems.

When a clogged drain disaster hits, here are some quick fixes to help you resolve it fast.

Hot (Not Boiling) Water

One of the easiest natural “how to unblock a drain” remedies to try is simply flushing it out with hot water. Now, this won’t necessarily be a fail-safe method for every situation, and will only work with very minor blockages. However, it can be a good place to start before trying more complicated methods.

A word of caution – we generally advise that you don’t pour boiling water down plastic or PVC pipes as the extreme heat can soften them. While this method works best with metal pipes, you could otherwise play it safe by simply using hot water from the tap.

DIY Natural Drain Cleaner

Using a natural drain cleaner made from baking soda and vinegar is one of the easiest DIY methods for clearing minor sink blockages. It’s simple, safe and uses ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen pantry. Here’s how to do it:

1. Start by pouring half a cup of baking soda (or bicarb soda) down the affected drain. Try to get it as deep into the drain as possible.
2. Carefully pour half of the two cups of vinegar into the drain. This will react with the baking soda, creating a bubbling action that can help loosen blockages.
3. Cover the drain opening with a plate or a flat piece of plastic to encourage the fizzing reaction to move downwards through the pipes. If you’re working with a toilet blockage, simply flush at this point instead.
4. Once the bubbling settles, add the remaining vinegar and let the mixture sit for at least one hour. Try for longer if you can.
5. After the waiting time, pour hot (not boiling) water from the tap down the drain to wash away any remaining debris and residue.

Natural drain cleaners are an easy, eco-friendly way to clear light blockages. For tougher clogs, though, you might need to try mechanical methods or seek professional assistance from a licensed plumber.

The Plunger

The faithful plunger is a tried-and-true method for clearing clogs. Most people have one tucked away in some corner of their houses. But when your drain is clogged, do you know how to wield your plunger?

Thankfully, they are pretty straightforward.

Position the plunger’s rubber cup firmly over the mouth of the drain, then pull back slightly to create a strong seal. Once you’ve locked in the seal, plunge vigorously up and down for several minutes, or until you hear a gurgling sound that signals the blockage is shifting.

Keep enough water in the sink or basin to fully cover the rubber cup, which helps maintain suction. It’s a good idea to have some rubber gloves and old towels nearby, as well as a bucket underneath, as things can get messy once the clog starts to clear.

This method is most effective at clearing blocks caused by an accumulation of waste or by people putting the wrong things, such as foreign objects, down their sinks.

The Drain Snake

A drain snake can be highly effective at dealing with particularly blocked drains that natural remedies like hot water and baking soda can’t resolve. Particularly useful for a shower drain or outdoor drains that are frequently clogged with leaves or debris, this flexible, coiled tool navigates through the twists and turns of your pipes. People often refer to it as a plumber’s snake or drain auger.

The process is straightforward. Insert the drain snake head into the blocked drain and rotate it to catch and draw out obstructions as the snake lengthens in the drain. If your blockage is a bit more stubborn, you might want to go for an electric eel.

This is a motorised version of a drain snake, and can provide the additional power you need to clear your pipes.

While drain snakes can tackle many common blockages, for persistent or recurrent issues, it’s wise to seek professional help from a licensed plumber.

Chemical Drain Cleaners

Always prioritise safety when using chemical-based commercial drain cleaners such as caustic soda or anything containing hydrochloric acid. These products can be highly effective at breaking up drain blockages and are readily available at hardware stores. However, they are highly potent and potentially hazardous. We recommend using these commercial cleaners purely as a last resort on the DIY scale.

It’s essential to wear rubber gloves and protect your eyes, as these substances can cause severe burns. Follow the directions precisely, usually involving dilution with water, and never exceed the recommended amount, which is typically no more than one cup.

Always be careful when adding directly to the toilet or drain to avoid splashback or pipe damage. For safety, consider mechanical methods like a drain snake first for more stubborn blockages.

CCTV Drain Inspection

Now it is time to get serious. If you have read this far, it probably means that your drain issue is more serious than a simple clog. You may have damaged drainpipes and need a more comprehensive solution to protect your plumbing system.

Chances are that there is more than one blockage, or that your blockage is further along than originally thought. Your pipes may be damaged or they may have collapsed.

By using the latest CCTV drain camera technology, you can easily discover what’s creating the blockage. This removes any guesswork from the equation. It also allows us to effectively repair the drainpipe exactly where we’ve located the issue.

Hydrojet and Electric Drain Machines

Once a CCTV camera has identified your drainage issues, a Hydrojet drain cleaner or an electric drain machine can quickly destroy even the toughest of blockages.

With a reach of close to 100 meters, a Hydrojet works by inserting a flexible cable down your drain. The Hydrojet then blasts extremely high-pressure water through your pipes and drains, clearing blockages and even slicing through invading roots. The ideal outcome? Squeaky clean drains and pipes.

Similarly, an electric drain machine clears blocked drains by inserting a flexible cable with a versatile cutting-edge attachment down your pipes. It can then slice and cut through blockages, but it does have a shorter reach than a Hydrojet.

Drain Excavation

When things are really bad, and even the most reliable of home remedies and mechanical methods don’t cut it, it might be time to excavate your drains and pipes.

Drain excavation is a last resort plan of attack. We only use it when we’ve exhausted all other methods, including pipe relining, but the pipe is clearly beyond repair. This can be the result of several possible causes, including:

• tree root invasion
• debris
• shifting and compacting soil

Each of these can cause your drainpipes to collapse.

In these scenarios, it might be necessary to completely remove the damaged pipes and replace them. The biggest advantage of this method is that your new pipes will be better than new. And, if done right, they will probably never cause you any issues ever again.

Know When to Call the Professionals

Sometimes, the best method is simply to know when to call the pros should you need help unblocking your drain.

Usually, once you’ve tried tackling your drain blockage with a plunger, baking soda and vinegar or a chemical solution and are still having problems, it’s a sure sign you likely have a more serious problem on your hands. And if you need to alter your pipework, you’re legally required to use a licensed plumber anyway.

In these cases, you might need the services of an emergency plumber with the experience, equipment and next-level knowledge of how to unblock a drain.

Contact Metropolitan Plumbing when you need an expert who can use a CCTV inspection machine, a Hydrojet or an electric drain machine to clear your drains. As a last resort, we can even excavate your drains and pipes.

Please note: Thanks for reading our blog “How to Unblock a Drain”. This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.