Drain Unblocking: Expert Solutions for Blocked Drains
Blocked drains are a common yet frustrating household and commercial problem. Whether it's a slow-draining sink, a clogged toilet, or an overflowing sewer line, drain issues can disrupt daily life and lead to costly repairs if left unchecked. 
Drain unblocking is vital to ensure your plumbing system remains efficient and trouble-free. This guide explores various methods of unblocking drains, from DIY tips to professional services, while highlighting preventative measures to keep your pipes clear and flowing.
What is Drain Unblocking?
Drain unblocking refers to clearing obstructions in plumbing systems to restore proper water flow. These blockages often result from a combination of debris, grease, hair, soap scum, and foreign objects lodged in the pipes. The severity of the blockage determines the solution, ranging from simple tools like plungers to advanced techniques such as high-pressure jetting or CCTV surveys.
Common Causes of Blocked Drains
Blocked drains are a common problem faced by households and commercial properties. Understanding the underlying causes is essential for preventing issues and ensuring smooth plumbing operations. 
Below is a detailed breakdown of the key contributors to blocked drains:
Grease and Fat Accumulation
One of the most frequent culprits of blocked drains, grease, and fat can wreak havoc on your plumbing system. 
Cooking oils and fats solidify in pipes, leading to persistent clogs in kitchen drains.
How It Happens
- When cooking oils, fats, and grease are washed down the sink, they often solidify as they cool.
- These solid deposits adhere to the walls of pipes, gradually narrowing the passage.
- Over time, this leads to complete blockages that can be difficult to dislodge.
Symptoms are varied and start with slow water draining in kitchen sinks. They also include unpleasant odours caused by decomposing food particles trapped in grease. Our team uses the safest solutions to clean grease trapped in drains, ensuring the drains are safely unblocked and protected.
Hair Build-Up
Hair strands bind with soap residue, forming stubborn knots in bathroom pipes. This is a major cause of blocked bathroom drains, particularly in showers and sinks.
Strands of hair that go down the drain bind together, creating clumps. These clumps mix with soap scum and other debris, forming stubborn obstructions in pipes.
Symptoms can be seen as a clumping of water in showers or sinks or visible hair caught in drain covers. Our emergency response team uses elastic 'snakes' that adapt to the structure of the drain pipes by reaching down until they reach the spot causing the blockage, unblocking them immediately. In some cases, these drain unblocking tools are equipped with a powerful water jet that practically cuts the existing blockage in the pipe, eliminating it urgently. Call us with confidence and we will unblock your drain and forget this common problem forever.
Foreign Objects
Drain blockages can be caused by sanitary products, baby wipes and cotton pads flushed down toilets or food scraps and large particles improperly flushed down kitchen sinks, as well as toys, jewellery and other household items accidentally flushed down the drain can also cause blocked drains. Leakage blockage is due to these non-biodegradable items that can build up in the narrow parts of pipes creating an obstruction that prevents water from flowing freely down the drain.
Drain unblocking is part of our range of services and we have often acted effectively in resolving blocked drains without damaging the drain pipes, which we have effectively unblocked, so please do not hesitate to call us for whatever your blocked drain problem is.
Tree Root Intrusion
Tree roots can be a significant problem for outdoor drains and underground sewer systems. Because tree roots naturally seek moisture they can grow into small cracks in pipes. Once these enter, they expand, rupturing or completely blocking the pipe. Symptoms are akin to gurgling sounds in drains, slow draining or even backing up of water, and in severe cases, visible flooding in gardens or driveways. High pressure water jetting, is the best solution in "cutting" tree roots and unblocking drains.
Structural Issues
Structural problems in the drainage system can occur due to age, wear or external soil pressure. The most common causes can be collapsed pipes, often caused by old or brittle pipe material, misaligned pipes that are subject to displacement in the ground or improper installation that can lead to voids or disconnections. Another cause can be generated by cracks and leaks, so damaged pipes allow debris to accumulate, aggravating blockages. Symptoms are evidenced by frequent clogs in the same area, or even unusual potholes or wet patches may appear in the lawn, indicating an underground leak. Our team of technicians comes to the aid of our customers with sophisticated prevention methods that consist of replacing old or damaged pipes with durable, modern materials, and performing regular maintenance checks to identify weak spots before they fail. Call a technician now and we can urgently come to you in resolving any situation that pertains to unblocking your drainage system.
Blocked drains are often caused by preventable factors such as grease, hair, and foreign objects, while more complex issues like tree root intrusion and structural problems require professional attention. Our team of plumbers quickly find solutions to these common causes and through our good collaboration, we can assist you in maintaining a healthy and efficient drainage system for your home or business.
Use our plumbing services from qualified plumbers with confidence.