Australia has a nice sewerage system. The sewerage systems of most towns and cities from residences and commercial establishments treatment plants for the welfare of the society. These are either re-used or discharged back into the environment.
Because there is a system in place to dispose of wastewater, most Australians don’t give it a thought. That is until they encounter a blocked sewer pipe.
So what do you do when this happens? Of course, most of you will call a plumber immediately. However, there are things that we can do to remedy this on our own. But first, what causes these blockages?
Common causes of blocked drains
Hair is the most common cause of a blocked drain. This entangled mess can become dirt traps that can cause sewage drain blockage. The best way to deal with this is to prevent it from getting into your drain by putting drain guards to catch it.
Another common thing that blocks drains is food scraps. These should never be thrown into the drain because there is some foodstuff that does not break down. These things also contain grease and oil that will solidify, causing a blockage. The best thing to do with food scraps is to put them in a compost bin.
Blocked drain plumbers are well equipped to handle blocked or overflowing pipes, drains, toilets and sinks. They have access to modern and state of the art equipment to unblock sewer or stormwater pipes.
Small objects can find their way into your drains. If you have small children at home, this can become quite a frustrating regular occurrence. A drain trap can help prevent small objects from getting into your drains.
Tree roots can also cause drainage blocks. A tree root can penetrate a drain with the tiniest crack. Once it gets inside, it can grow big fast.
How to unclog drains
There are DIY methods on how you can unclog a drain. Do these first before calling a plumber.
1. Vinegar and baking soda solution
This solution works best for clogged sinks. The first thing you do is clear the sink first. Then mix half a cup of baking soda with half a cup of vinegar. Pour the mixture down the drain and let it rest for half an hour. After resting, pour some hot water into it. Do this several times for better results.
Vinegar, salt, and lemon also have the same effect. So, if you do not have any baking soda, you can just use salt and lemon.
2. Clothes hanger method
You can use a hanger for fishing out the object causing the blockage. To do this, straighten your clothes hanger and create a hook at the end. Use this to remove the block. It may take a few tries, but it is a cheap method of unclogging your drain.
You can also purchase a drain snake if you do not have a wire hanger. This thing can go down your pipe with flexibility.
3. Use a wet and dry vacuum cleaner.
You can use a vacuum cleaner to suck out any debris that is causing clogged drains. To do this, you only have to set your vacuum cleaner to wet and seal the area between the clogged drain and the vacuum arm.
If these methods do not work in unclogging your blocked sewer pipe, then it is time to call a professional plumber. Do not attempt to loosen your pipes or drill holes on them to remove the debris. Doing this will only aggravate your problem. The best way to fix it if all DIY methods fail is to call a professional.
