It doesn't matter where in the house you’re dealing with it, your drains can block up at any time and there are plenty of reasons that your drains can back up. Once you notice a blockage - and believe us when we say, you’ll notice - you need to do all that you can to unblock them so that you can avoid water backing up and flooding, unpleasant smells and a high toilet water level. Whether your drains are blocked from excess hair, soapy scum or broken, old pipes, you have to sort the drain issue before it really starts to intrude on the rest of the house. 

In fact, it’s not well known that a drain that’s blocked up is a threat to your property, but it’s something you absolutely should know! It can cause a lot of damage to your home and if you want it unblocked, here are some of the top tips to help you to do it.

How to Clear a Blocked Drain

Boiling water

It’s a simple trick, but it’s an effective one. A kettle of boiling water down the drain is going to help you to clear the smaller blockages. You can do this in the shower, down the kitchen sink and you can try this out at any time. You should be a little careful with it if you don't know what material your pipework is made from, and it’s only really worth trying on metal pipes. Boiling water can warp PVC pipework.

Natural and caustic cleaners

There are several drain cleaners available on the market and some of them are only designed for heavy blockages, where others are designed for all types. Commercial drain cleaners should be only used for the heaviest blockages and only by a plumber, but you can use a DIY natural option. Organic cleaners are good for your drains and all you need is boiling water, baking soda and vinegar. You start by pouring the baking soda through the drain, then the boiling water. Follow it up with white vinegar and you’ll need to plug the drain. Repeat if needed.

Plunger

A cup plunger is something designed for sinks, and it’s perfect for any other drain with a flat surface, too, like the one in the shower or the bath. It fits the drain hole and it’s one of the fastest ways to dislodge minor blockages.

DIY/Plumber drain snakes

There are times where the hair and soap debris block the drain to the point the plunger won’t work. A DIY drain snake like a wire hanger or buying a DIY store drain snake will help. It does take patience, though. If yours doesn't work, ask your plumber to use their professional drain snake. They’ll know how much to put down the drain for you.

CCTV/Hydro Jet/Pipe Relining/Excavation

One of the better options is to call a plumber for a CCTV drain inspection. A CCTV drain camera can help your plumber to determine the cause of the blockage, and they can use hydro jets to unblock the pipes. If the pipes are seen to have collapsed, then excavation may be the only option and pipe relining is necessary. It’s a great piece of plumbing technology for your drains.

Call a plumber for a CCTV drain inspection

If you want to get your drains unblocked, the best thing to do is call a plumber today for a CCTV drain inspection!