Do You Need a Plumber to Clear Blocked Drains?

It is a good idea to call a plumber if you have blocked drains nearby because this problem can eventually lead to foul water overflowing into your home if left unchecked. This could mean thousands of dollars of damage would be sustained. Even worse, allowing wastewater to enter your home could be a considerable health hazard. However, there are things you can do that might help to resolve the problem. What should you check before calling out an emergency plumber?

Ensure Your Toilet Drains

Most blocked drains are first noticeable because of the foul odour that tends to build up. If you detect this, then it might mean that your toilet's air trap has become clogged up. Flush your toilet once and see whether the bowl drains properly. If it does, then the blockage will be further down in the system. If it drains slowly, then try to clear the blockage with a toilet plunger. Alternatively, you can try to remove any trapped material in the U-bend by hand. This is a dirty job so wear rubber gloves or call a plumbing firm to help you.

Check For Water Flow in the Drains

If the toilet is working okay, then the next thing to do is to look into the inspection pit of your drains. Lift up the cover and look for still water. If you see water that is not free-flowing, then it will mean the blockage is downstream from that location. Keep going until you have identified between which two inspection pits the blockage must be so you can take the next step.

Rod Your Drains

Use pushrods to help physically shift the material blocking the drains. The best way to do this is to connect pushrods together and insert them into the drain pushing downstream. This way, the material should clear and be helped on its way by the rush of water behind. Rotate your rods clockwise to prevent them from unscrewing as you push down. This is a tiring job so you may need a professional to help you unless you are physically fit.

Call For Help

If rodding your drains has not cleared the problem, then it may be you have something solid in the way, such as a build-up of congealed fat. It could also be that a broken pipe is allowing earth to fall into the drain. Have a plumber come by with an inspection kit so you can see inside the drain remotely. Some will then use high-pressure jets of water to clear the problem. Contact a plumber for further information.