How to unblock drains and prevent future blockages

 A clogged-up drain isn’t just inconvenient - it can also contribute to pest infestations, gas build-up and mould.

Learn how to prevent sink blockages, what good drain maintenance looks like, and what to do if your pipes are already clogged.

What should I not put down the sink?

Most of us have probably poked a little bit of food down the drain after doing the dishes. While it might not seem that big of a deal at the time, it can easily cause blockages. The worst foods to put down the sink include:

• Pasta, rice and other grains that continue to absorb liquid. While they might start out small, they can cause a bigger blockage as they continue to expand.
• Cooking oils and fats. These solidify and expand as they cool, potentially causing big problems for your drains. And even if they make it out your house’s pipes, they can wreak havoc in sewers by forming ‘fatbergs’. Get rid of these by cooling them in the fridge, then placing them in the rubbish.
• Flour and water. They combine to form a kind of glue, which obviously isn’t a great thing to have in your pipes.
• Coffee grounds. These tend to clump together, which can mean big problems for your drains. The compost is the best place for these.

How do I unblock a sink without a plunger?

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t always need an industrial drain cleaner or to call out a tradesperson if you’re experiencing a blockage. If it’s not a severe build up, you might be able to clear it easily on your own with a few household ingredients.

What you’ll need to unblock a drain:

• baking soda
• white vinegar
• boiling water, and
• a plunger (potentially).

What to do to unblock a drain

• Pour a cup of boiling water down the drain, followed by a mixture of half a cup of white vinegar and half a cup of baking soda. The boiling water will loosen soap and other build up, while the chemicals will form a reaction that breaks through more stubborn bits of gunk.
• Cover the sink with a plate and let it sit for 30 minutes.
• Flush the drain with more boiling water. This will (hopefully) clear the pipes of the cleared-off build up.

If it’s proving to be an especially stubborn blockage, you might need to use the plunger to get things moving. If it’s an especially fatty or oily buildup, you might need to use a commercial drain cleaner to clear things.

Since you’re working with boiling water, always take care when you’re clearing a drain. And take note: clearing a blockage somewhere in your pipes can cause a buildup further down the line where other debris has built up. So keep an eye on other drains to make sure they’re not suddenly blocked.

How to unblock a dishwasher

Is your dishwasher giving off a funky odour or not draining like it ought to be? This is much the same process as unblocking your sink. Boiling water, chemical mixture, more boiling water.

Fall back to a plunger or a professional cleaning liquid if that doesn’t clear things up.

Preventing a drain blockage in the future

Now that your pipes are hopefully debris-free, you’re going to want to keep them that way.

It sounds obvious, but this could be as easy as buying a sink strainer to make sure nothing unwanted goes down your drain. And when you’re in the bathroom, try not to shave or brush your hair over the sink, where it can clump together.

What about keeping storm drains blockage-free?

Bathroom and kitchen drains are the main blockage culprits indoors, but outdoor storm drains can also get blocked.

Sounds obvious, but storm drains should only be used to move stormwater. Never pour things like paint, chemicals or other unwanted liquids down them.

This is important not only to keep your drains block-free, but also to protect the environment and wildlife.

What maintenance should I perform on outside drains?

• Clear away leaves and other tree waste to ensure they’re not blocking stormwater from draining or acting as a fire risk.
• Flush out the pipe using water to make sure there are no leaves or other debris hiding where you can’t see them.
• If that doesn’t seem to be working and your drains appear to be blocked, it might be time to call in heavier reinforcements. You can use a drain snake – a long piece of flexible of metal – to push through blockages in pipes and get everything operational again. You may also have the option of contacting the council if the drains aren’t private.

Have someone to call in a plumbing emergency

If you’re still having trouble with a blockage, it might be time to call in a tradie.

If you have a plumbing emergency such as a blocked drain or a burst pipe, you’ll want to get professional assistance as soon as possible. Adding optional Home Assist to your home insurance policy gives you access to plumbers, as well as electricians, locksmiths and carpenters when you need them. That includes three emergency callouts in your policy period, available 24/7.* Terms and Conditions apply. Please read your Product Disclosure Statement for the full details. 

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The information is intended to be of a general nature only. Subject to any rights you may have under any law, we do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss or damage, including loss of business or profits or any other indirect loss, incurred as a result of reliance upon it – please make your own enquiries.

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GIO Home Assist is only available 24 hours after adding the option to a new or existing policy. Limits, conditions and exclusions apply.