Perhaps the most common plumbing problem encountered by homes and businesses are blocked drains. Blocked drains can cause significant damage to your property if not rectified correctly, and in a timely manner. It is also important to find the underlying cause of blocked drains, as there may be more damage to pipes and drains than may appear on the surface.
There are many different causes of drain blockages. From something as simple as hair being washed down your shower, to damage outside the home caused by tree roots, and each problem has a different remedy.
Waste and debris
Drains and sinks take away waste water from our homes into either storm water or sewage systems. This is an important function for our home as the build-up of water can cause considerable damage – as well as being inconvenient and costly to repair.
However, when removing this water from the home there can often be other types of waste and debris also carried away. This has the potential to become trapped in pipes and build up over time. As the build up grows, the amount of space available for water to flow decreases, eventually leading to a situation where no water is able to flow through the drain.
Whether it is the bathroom, kitchen, or even outside, there is almost a limitless number of items that can block a drain – you’d be amazed at what we’ve found to be the culprits!
In a bathroom, items such as hair, soap, shampoo and detergents can all build up in a pipe over time as they are washed down through sinks, showers and baths. Toilets can also become blocked if too much toilet paper is used, or if sanitary items and nappies are flushed down.
Kitchens are also a common source of blocked drains. Food waste, fats and grease washed down sinks or through dish washers can stay inside pipes leading to a blockage.
Storms and heavy rain can also lead to blocked drains in Sydney, especially over the summer months. They can cause debris, such as leaves and dirt, to be washed into drains, potentially causing extensive property damage if they become blocked.
Damaged pipes
As with pipes blocked with waste and debris, a damaged pipe can also slow or even stop the flow of water leaving your home.
Broken or damaged pipes are much harder to identify than a blockage, and require a licensed and qualified plumber to correctly diagnose the problem. Damaged pipes can also sometimes be costly to fix and cause household disruption, depending on the extent of the damage and location of the pipe.
So what can damage pipes? Old pipes can become cracked and damaged simply due to their ages and amount of use. Incorrectly installed pipes can also become damaged and fail as they are not able to do the job for which they were designed.
Perhaps the biggest cause of damaged pipes and blocked drains are tree roots. As a very green city with many trees, roots are a major cause of blocked drains in Sydney. As roots spread in the ground, they can grow into and wrap around pipes. This can not only cause the pipe to crack and collapse, but also become full of roots which can stop the flow of water through the pipe, causing the drain to become blocked.
Repairing blocked drains
To correctly unblock a drain and repair pipe damage it is best to use a licensed and qualified plumber.
Here at JEDI Plumbing, we have a real advantage of having modern diagnostic devices which pinpoint exactly where a blockage is, as well as the latest equipment to quickly and easily remove blockages.
With the use of a CCTV drain camera and pipe locating devices, blockages can be quickly and easily identified. High pressure jetting devices also remove any blockages from drains and pipes caused by the build up of waste and debris.
We also have the knowledge and experience to make any repairs in line with relevant legislation and best practice.
Servicing Sydney’s Northern Beaches and North Shore, we can provide the best and most cost-effective solution to your blocked drain, and we are available 24/7 for your plumbing emergencies.
Call us on 0411 774 381 for all your plumbing needs.