We clear blocked drains every week, and most of them didn't have to happen. Here's what we find, and what to do instead.
Fats, oils and grease. The number one killer of kitchen drains. Grease goes down hot and liquid, then cools and sets on the pipe walls like candle wax, catching everything that follows. Pour cooking fat into a container, let it set, and bin it.
'Flushable' wipes. They're not flushable, not in any way that matters. Wipes don't break down like toilet paper; they snag, mat together, and combine with grease into blockages that need machine clearing. Toilet paper only, everything else in the bin.
Coffee grounds. They don't dissolve, they compact, into a sludge that settles in pipe bends. Bin or compost them.
Food scraps and rice. Rice and pasta keep swelling in the pipe. Scrape plates into the bin before rinsing, and use a sink strainer.
Hair. The bathroom equivalent of grease. It webs across the drain and catches soap scum. A $5 hair catcher in the shower saves a call-out.
Chemical drain cleaners deserve a special mention: they rarely clear a real blockage, they make the pipe hazardous for whoever works on it next, and repeated use damages older pipes. If a drain keeps slowing, the problem is usually deeper in the line: tree roots or a pipe defect, and no chemical fixes that.
If you've got a slow or smelly drain, we'll clear it properly and, if it's a repeat offender, put a camera through to show you exactly why. Call 0423 345 575 for an upfront price.
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