Most blocked drains we clear around Geelong didn't happen overnight. They build up over months from fat, hair, wipes and roots, until one day the water stops going down. The upside is that a few simple habits go a long way. Here's how to keep your drains flowing.
Step 1: Know what should never go down the sink
- Fats, oils and grease. They're liquid when hot but set hard in the pipes and catch everything else. Let them cool in the pan, then wipe them out with a paper towel and put it in the bin. Larger amounts of oil can go into a sealed container in the rubbish.
- Coffee grounds. They clump together and don't break down in pipes. Put them in the bin or the compost.
- Food scraps. Rice, pasta, vegetable peels and eggshells all build up. Scrape plates into the bin or compost first.
- Paint, plaster, grout and cement. Wash tools outside into a bucket, never down the sink or stormwater.
Step 2: Treat the toilet like it's only for three things
Toilets are designed for wee, poo and toilet paper. Everything else is a blockage waiting to happen:
- Wet wipes, including "flushable" ones. They don't break down like toilet paper and are one of the biggest causes of sewer blockages we see.
- Cotton buds, cotton balls, dental floss and hair
- Sanitary products and nappies
- Paper towel and tissues (they're made to stay strong when wet)
- Cat litter, even the "flushable" kinds
A small bin with a lid in every bathroom makes the right habit easy, especially with kids or guests.
Step 3: Fit strainers and hair catchers
A cheap sink strainer in the kitchen and a hair catcher in the shower are the best few dollars you'll spend on your plumbing. Empty them into the bin regularly. In the shower, pull hair out of the waste every few weeks before it builds into a mat.
Step 4: Build a simple maintenance routine
- Weekly: run a kettle of hot (not boiling) water down the kitchen sink to help shift light grease. Boiling water can soften plastic pipe joints over time.
- Monthly: half a cup of bicarb soda down slow drains, followed by a cup of white vinegar. Cover it, leave it for half an hour, then flush with hot water.
- Every few months: take out and clean the shower waste grate and the sink plug or pop-up.
- Skip the harsh chemical drain cleaners as a routine fix. They can damage pipes and don't remove the root cause.
Step 5: Keep an eye on the garden
Tree roots are one of the most common causes of serious drain problems around Geelong, especially in older homes with clay or earthenware sewer pipes. Roots find their way into tiny cracks and joints, then grow into a thick mat that catches everything.
- Plant with care: keep large trees and thirsty shrubs well away from where your sewer and stormwater pipes run.
- Know where your pipes go: if you're not sure, a drain camera inspection can map the line.
- Watch for warning signs: gurgling toilets, slow drains across the house, or the outdoor overflow gully bubbling up after heavy use.
Step 6: Look after stormwater too
Your gutters, downpipes and stormwater drains are a separate system from your sewer, but they block too. Clean leaves out of gutters before winter, make sure downpipe pits aren't full of silt, and keep grates in the yard clear of mulch and debris.
Step 7: Keep the overflow relief gully clear
The overflow relief gully (ORG) is the small grated drain outside, usually near the kitchen or laundry. If your sewer ever blocks, it's designed to overflow outside instead of inside your house. Keep the grate visible, make sure it isn't covered by pavers, garden beds or pot plants, and make sure the ground slopes away from the house around it.
Step 8: Get recurring problems checked properly
If the same drain keeps blocking, something is causing it, whether that's roots, a sagging pipe, a broken joint or a build-up you can't reach. Clearing it again and again doesn't fix the cause. A free drain camera inspection shows exactly what's going on inside the pipe so you can make a proper decision, whether that's jetting the line clean or repairing a damaged section.
When to call us
- Drains in different rooms are slow or gurgling at the same time
- A drain blocks again soon after you've cleared it
- Bad smells from drains or the yard
- Soggy patches in the lawn or sinking pavers near a sewer line
- The overflow gully is bubbling or overflowing
More info on our blocked drains page.
Need a hand?
A few good habits will save most homes from a blocked drain. If you've got a problem that keeps coming back, our drain work starts from $120, and we offer a free drain camera inspection. Call 1800 224 229 or book a quote and we'll help you get to the bottom of it.