Have a blocked drain or clogged kitchen sink you need to fix? We’ve got some cheap and natural alternatives you can try at home. Remember that if you’re running into problems, you’ll need to call a professional plumber.
Unblock a Clogged Sink in Three Easy Steps
During our long experience in the industry I’ve seen all sorts of plumbing problems from simple leaks to a complete piping overhaul. Blocked drains have proven to be one of the most common problems among Sydney residents and often it’s neglected until further damage is caused.
Sydney locals want a cheap and natural alternative to abrasive cleaners. Here’s our favourite option to help you out; if it doesn’t work, call a professional:
1. Pour 1/4 to 1/2 a cup of bi-carb soda (alkaline) onto the drain.
2. Wait 20 minutes and then add 1 cup of white vinegar (acid). A chemical reaction occurs whereby oxygen is forced into the mix and scours the pipe.
3. Wait a couple of minutes and pour a jug of boiling water into the drain to flush it clean.
If this doesn’t work you’ve got a bigger problem. Call a professional who can use high pressure water jets to flush clogs, electric eels to dislodge and remove clogs and mill cutting to fix misaligned joints.
If it does work, but clogged drains and blocked sinks are a recurring problem, you might to think about what it is getting down your sinks.
Common causes of blocked drains in Sydney households are toilet paper, food, oil build up, hair ball, corrosion and root growth. Some of the weirdest causes I have ever encountered were coins, kitchen utensils, all sorts of linens, concrete, small toy parts and many more.
Make sure you have a clog catcher or sink trap and the more superficial sink strainers and catchers. These cheap tools are a great money saver, particularly in the kitchen (kitchen drains clog the most!). Never poor oils down the drain; this is both an environmental issue and an issue for your pipes and plumbing.
If you’re worried about your bathroom sink pipes getting clogged, which if you have a hairy bloke in the house is a pretty likely, make sure you invest in a well-fitting plug. After shaving take the hair out of the sink as opposed to just letting it wash down. While the discarded bristles may seem harmless, they can get caught on old pipes and will continue to catch, build and rope-in other debris; causing blocked drains and backflowing sinks.
