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Signs a Drain is Blocked

Recognising the early signs of a blocked drain is crucial to avoiding a host of inconvenient and unpleasant issues in your living space. Some clear signs blocked drain warnings include:

  • Water accumulating around kitchen and bathroom drains, suggesting a blockage
  • Gurgling sounds coming from drains
  • Sinks and tubs where water can be observed draining slowly
  • Unpleasant sewage odours coming from drains
  • Toilets flushing incompletely

Acting quickly upon noticing these signs can prevent further damage to your plumbing system. To remedy this, you can flush the drain with boiling water and use a plunger to dislodge debris, but for a thorough resolution, a plumber’s in-depth inspection is advisable.

Common Causes of Blocked Drains

Within your home, the most common causes of blocked pipes include a buildup of hair, grease, food scraps, and other debris.

Tree roots expanding into pipes are a significant cause of outside drain blockages. Several common culprits contribute to drain blockages, affecting both indoor and outdoor drains.

Specific factors often responsible for blocked drains include:

  • Accumulation of food scraps, along with fats oils residues
  • Accumulated hair soap combinations
  • Tree roots
  • Sediment buildup
  • Problems in older pipes such as cracks or misalignments
  • Foreign objects inadvertently flushed down the toilet can cause blockages

Homeowners are typically responsible for resolving any blockages between the home and the sewer line. For issues like a blocked sewer drain on public property, including pipe relining, your local water authority is generally accountable for maintenance and repairs.

Actions such as fitting drain screens can prevent blockage risks by averting issues your drains might face from pouring fats and oils into kitchen sinks and using too much toilet paper. However, familiarising yourself with unblocking techniques is essential to prevent plumbing damage and sewage backflows if a clog does occur.

DIY Methods to Detect Blockages

Before ringing up your plumber, there are some home remedies and DIY methods you can use to unblock drain woes that are suffering from minor blockages.

Listening

Listen for gurgling noises near sinks, tubs, showers, and floor drains; such sounds may indicate a partial clog. Begin by running the shower and listening attentively to pinpoint the exact location of the blockage.

Plungers

Attempt to resolve the issue by donning rubber gloves and using a standard plunger on your sink, tubs, and toilets to dislodge any accumulated debris. Cover drains fully when plunging to make sure good suction occurs and debris is flushed away effectively.

Snaking

Employ a drain auger or drain snake with a hand-crank striving to latch onto and remove the muck clogging your pipe. Carefully insert 1-2 feet at a time, cranking continuously, as you can inadvertently use drain snakes to cause blockage in the bend. Exercise caution not to scratch pipes.

Boiling Water

Pour boiling water down your pipes to dissolve grease and soap scum, then flush with cold water after a brief pause.

For serious blockages beyond minor clogs, consider chemical drain cleaners or enlisting professional drain clearing services that use high-pressure water jetting, pipe cameras, and commercial drain machines.

Professional Methods for Detection

Although DIY methods can handle minor blockages, plumbers have specialised tools like water jetters to accurately address all types of drain issues:

High-Pressure Water Jetting

High-pressure jetting units use water to forcefully clear stubborn clogs and restore pipe flow. This can sweep away years of buildup, clearing the causing blockage woes that drain snakes can’t reach.

CCTV Drain Inspections

Flexible drain cameras provide a live video feed of pipe interiors, enabling plumbers to identify clogs and assess pipe conditions.

Blowing non-toxic smoke into plumbing vents can identify leaks where smoke escapes from damaged pipe areas. Useful for locating breaks in buried pipes.

Jannali Plumbing utilises these techniques for comprehensive drain evaluations. If DIY efforts fail to open complete blockages, our professional drain technicians can accurately diagnose issues and get your water flowing freely again.

Using CCTV Drain Cameras

CCTV drain cameras are essential for plumbers to pinpoint blockages and evaluate pipe health. A flexible waterproof camera on a cable is inserted into the drain line and provides a live video feed to pinpoint problems.

Benefits of CCTV drain inspections include:

  • Precise identification of blockage locations and causes
  • Assessment of pipe condition and detecting cracks/breaks
  • Locating collapsed or damaged sections
  • Measuring exact pipe diameters and angles
  • Thorough inspections of pipes up to 100 metres long
  • Permanent video record for before/after comparisons

Jannali Plumbing employs advanced CCTV cameras for precise diagnosis of drain issues. Our expert plumbers can assess all your plumbing components and advise on any necessary repairs.

Our drain camera trucks are mobile workspaces, fully equipped with all the necessary gear to inspect and repair your onsite plumbing. We aim to solve most problems in a single visit, including those affecting sewer lines.

Though useful for minor issues, amateur drain camera inspections risk scratching pipes or getting equipment stuck. For best results, and to heed the signs blocked drains, we recommend the CCTV drain inspection professionals at Jannali Plumbing.

Hydro Jetting

Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water streams to remove blockages in your drains. Professionals recognise the best way to address stubborn clogs is by directing a concentrated stream of water through specialised nozzles into your drain pipe. Pressures can reach up to 5000 PSI, which generates tremendous scouring force to cut through and evacuate even the most stubborn drain clogs.

Hydro jetting has key advantages over conventional draining cleaning methods, which can include effectiveness on stubborn clogs:

  • Unrivalled cleaning power to clear years of buildup
  • Can dislodge tough clogs like a tree root intrusion and grease
  • Thorough cleaning of pipes up to 300 metres long
  • Eco-friendly with no chemicals used
  • Prevents digging up and replacing pipes

Despite its effectiveness, hydro jetting should be performed by professionals with the appropriate equipment to manage the high water pressures safely. The intense water pressure can damage pipes if not controlled properly by a certified plumber.

Here at Jannali Plumbing, our guide for keeping drains free involves leveraging state-of-the-art hydro jetting tools and methods for superior cleaning results without risking pipe damage. By precisely targeting the jet streams, our plumbers can scour your drain lines clean while keeping your plumbing intact.

We can then capture full video footage of the inner pipe condition before and after jetting using CCTV cameras. This enables us to assess the hydro jetting effectiveness and ensure no obstructions remain.

For an eco-friendly, non-invasive drainage solution, trust the hydro jetting experts at Jannali Plumbing. Call us on 1300 349 338 for your blocked drain emergencies.

Smoke Testing

Smoke testing is a clever method for identifying otherwise hard-to-detect leaks and blockages. It involves blowing non-toxic smoke through drains and vents while observing its pathway.

If smoke exits at unintended points, like around pipe joints, it indicates potential leaks needing repair. Observing the smoke’s behaviour can also help identify obstructions within the pipes.

Experienced plumbers like those at Jannali Plumbing use smoke testing to compliment other methods like CCTV inspections. Combining techniques provides comprehensive diagnoses of drainage issues before they cause expensive water damage or sewage backups.

Smoke testing excellently finds leaks in underground pipes without needing extensive digging. And unlike flooding a drain system with water for observations, smoke testing enables inspecting only desired sections without inundating entire pipe networks.

As smoke testing requires specialised tools and expertise for accurate results, it’s advisable for homeowners to engage qualified plumbers like Jannali Plumbing. We use the latest methods and technology to diagnose plumbing issues without property damage risk.

When to Call a Professional

Self-diagnosing and clearing minor blockages can provide immediate benefits. However, certain situations necessitate calling professional plumbers to unblock your drain:

  • Water is overflowing from drains or backing up into sinks/tubs when used
  • Persistent foul odours emanating from drains despite attempts to clear
  • Drain difficulties that also impact your water systems, creating further complications
  • You have tried plunging, snaking, hot water, and other DIY methods with no success
  • CCTV inspections reveal serious pipe damage or blockages that can happen beyond a homeowner’s capacity to fix

Blocked drains risk water and sewage leaks, severe plumbing damage, and costly repairs; it’s prudent to engage Jannali Plumbing services if DIY attempts are insufficient.

Our team of fully licenced technicians have the high-powered hydro jetting equipment, CCTV cameras, and expertise to clear the most stubborn blockages quickly and safely. We aim to accurately identify issues and implement appropriate solutions suited for each unique situation.

With 24/7 availability for blocked drain emergencies, Jannali Plumbing has you covered when problems strike. Call 1300 349 338 or email [email protected] to schedule an inspection or urgent repairs by our professional drainage specialists before your situation risks becoming hazardous.

Preventing Future Blockages

There are several proactive maintenance steps homeowners can take, like opting for alternatives to caustic cleaners, to help prevent drain blockages from occurring:

Install Drain Screens

Fitting sink drain cover screens over plugholes traps hair, food waste, and other debris before it proceeds down the pipes. This simple solution stops many clogs from forming.

Limit Grease Down Drains

Allow fats, oils, and greasy food residue to cool and solidify before disposal in the bin, rather than pouring them down sink drains. Over time, grease can form a buildup that coats pipes and causes major blockages.

Moderate Toilet Paper Usage

As a general rule, while toilet paper is designed to dissolve in water, using too much can easily overwhelm pipes. Use a reasonable amount of toilet paper per flush in line with your plumbing system’s capacity to prevent bowel clogs.

Regular Drain Maintenance

A weekly drain flush with boiling water, baking soda, and vinegar can prevent internal pipe buildup. Scheduling professional high-pressure hydro jetting biennially is advisable for maintenance.

For additional guidance or to take action before issues escalate, reach out to our team at Jannali Plumbing on 1300 349 338 or [email protected]. Staying proactive protects your property and health by avoiding drain clogs.

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