Blocked Drains

Mr Emergency has more than seven years of experience in clearing blocked drains. We know you don’t want to be waiting around for days with a blocked kitchen sink or clogged shower drain.

That’s why we have expert blocked drain plumbers who can be at your door just 30 minutes* after your call. When it comes to drain clearing, we’re the emergency specialists.

No matter how severe the blockage or what caused it, you can get your drain cleared today with a professional plumber from Mr Emergency.

Blocked drains can be a real headache, and understanding what’s causing the issue can help you prevent it from happening in the first place.

Here are some common culprits behind those pesky blockages:

1. Hair and soap scum: In the bathroom, hair and soap scum are frequent offenders. Over time, they can accumulate and create stubborn clogs that slow down water drainage.
2. Food scraps: In the kitchen, food waste, grease and cooking oil often find their way into the drain, forming buildups that lead to blockages.
3. Foreign objects: Accidental slips happen – jewellery, small toys, or even cotton swabs can find their way into the drain, causing obstructions.
4. Toilet paper and sanitary products: Flushing excessive paper, wipes, or sanitary products down the toilet can easily lead to a blocked toilet drain.
5. Tree roots: Outdoors, tree roots can infiltrate your pipes and outside drains, causing severe blockages as they grow and create a barrier for water flow.
6. Grease build up: Pouring grease down the drain might seem convenient, but as it cools, it solidifies and sticks to the pipe walls, narrowing the passage for water.
7. Mineral build up: Hard water can leave mineral deposits in pipes, gradually reducing the diameter and causing water flow problems.

Preventing blocked drains involves a little vigilance. Use drain covers to catch hair and debris, dispose of food scraps properly, and avoid flushing non-flushable items.

Regular maintenance with natural drain cleaners and professional cleaning can help keep your plumbing system flowing smoothly.

You’ll usually know immediately when you have blocked drains and the toilet doesn’t flush or the kitchen sink drain doesn’t flow properly.

The early warning signs of a blockage aren’t always so obvious, however, and there are some signs of a blocked drain you can watch out for.

• There are foul or rotting smells coming from your drain.
• You can hear gurgling sounds in your pipes.
• Slow draining sinks, tubs or showers.
• You have decreased water pressure.
• The water level in your toilet is too high or too low.
• Water is pooling outside your house or you have sinkholes.
• Stormwater pipes and gutters overflow when it rains.
• Pipes/inspection openings are full of water.
• You notice dampness around your home e.g.: walls and floors.

If you’ve noticed these signs, there’s a good chance you have a blocked drain. You need to call a blockage specialist to investigate ASAP. Leave these signs unaddressed too long and you could be left with an even more serious problem and more costly repairs.

Dealing with a blocked drain can be a real hassle, but fear not – you can tackle this issue on your own without having to call in the pros right away.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you clear that stubborn blockage:

1. Start with boiling water: Sometimes, all it takes is a kettle of boiling water to clear clogged drains. After carefully pouring boiling water down the drain in a slow and controlled manner, wait for five minutes, then try the drain again. This can help break down minor clogs such as grease and soap scum.
2. Use a plunger: If the boiling water doesn’t do the trick, grab a toilet plunger. Make sure there’s enough water to cover the plunger cup, then place it over the drain and give it a few vigorous plunges. This can create pressure that dislodges the severe blockage.
3. Baking soda and vinegar: Here’s a reliable homemade drain cleaner. Mix half a cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup of vinegar. Pour it down the drain and cover it for about 30 minutes. Follow up with hot water. The chemical reaction can help break down gunk and clear the blockage.
4. Wire hanger or DIY drain snake: Straighten a wire hanger or use a drain snake (aka drain auger or plumber’s snake), inserting it into the drain and manoeuvring it to break up or pull out the obstruction.
5. Natural enzyme cleaner: Consider using bacteria-based enzyme cleaners specifically designed for drains. These enzymes eat away at organic matter that causes blockages. A commercial drain cleaner can often do the trick.

Remember, safety comes first. Always wear gloves and protective eyewear when working with chemicals or using tools to clear blocked drains.

If these DIY methods don’t work on severe blockages or if you’re uncomfortable trying them, it might be time to call the blocked drain specialists at Mr Emergency to prevent any further damage to your pipes.

How to Prevent Blocked Drains

Nobody likes dealing with clogged drains, but the good news is that there are steps you can take to prevent them from happening in the first place.

Here are some practical tips to keep your drains flowing smoothly.

1. Use drain screens: Placing drain screens or stoppers over your sinks and showers can catch hair, food particles, and other debris before they have a chance to go down the drain and cause a blockage.
2. Dispose of grease properly: Instead of pouring grease down the drain, let it cool and then scrape it into a container for disposal. Grease can solidify in pipes and lead to blockages.
3. Be mindful of food debris: Avoid letting food scraps go down the sink. Use a compost bin for organic waste, including coffee grounds and cat litter, and a strainer in the sink to catch small food particles. This matter will clog drains if allowed to build up.
4. Regular cleaning: Routinely flush your drains with hot water to help prevent buildup of soap scum, grease, and other residues. You can also pour a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain followed by hot water to keep it clear.
5. Proper toilet use: Only flush human waste and toilet paper down the toilet. Sanitary products, wet wipes, cat litter and other items can easily cause toilet blockages.
6. Gutter guards: Use gutter guards on your gutters to prevent debris from overhanging trees getting into your drainage system.
7. Tree roots: If you have trees near your pipes, consider having them inspected regularly to prevent invasive roots from growing into your pipes and outdoor drains.
8. Professional maintenance: Schedule periodic professional drain cleaning to ensure any developing issues are caught early and resolved before they turn into major problems. Always turn to a qualified professional for more severe blockages. Our experienced plumbers have access to equipment such as CCTV drain cameras and high-pressure water jetting and can perform pipe relining if necessary.

Whether you have PVC pipes, metal or ceramic pipes, by following these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of blocked drains and keep your plumbing running smoothly. We can also clear blocked stormwater drains.

Blocked drains can really interrupt your day, especially if it’s in the kitchen or bathroom. On occasions like this, Mr Emergency can save the day. We have experienced plumbers on standby who can be at your door just 30 minutes* after your call.

Our team comes prepared to fix your clogged drain on the spot. Our vans are fully stocked with common parts and tools so we can get to work straight away.

This rapid response time means we can clear your drain blockage and you can get back to business as usual sooner rather than later.

24/7 Drain Cleaning

Mr Emergency is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  So no matter what day or time you’ve found yourself with a blocked drain, we can send someone out for expert drain cleaning services.

Even better, we charge the same prices, 24/7. This means our drain cleaning services are the same price after hours, on weekends and even public holidays. You can rely on us for consistent pricing on clearing stubborn blockages no matter when you need us.

When you need a licensed plumber to help you deal with solid blockages in your shower drain or any other drain pipes, we understand that it’s a genuine emergency.

Don’t put your plumbing fixtures through any more stress. From blocked sinks to a clogged toilet bowl or collapsed pipes, Mr Emergency is a specialist at restoring proper flow to your plumbing system again.

So, when the in-laws are coming over for dinner Saturday night and you’ve found yourself with a blocked sink at 2pm, Mr Emergency can save the day. No need to rush down to the local hardware store to buy a plumber’s snake.

Unblocking drains is one of our specialties. We’ll clear any drain blockages before dinner and make sure there’s time to spare. No one but you and our friendly team will ever need to know about your blocked sewer pipes.

No one ever plans for drain blockages. That’s why it can often come as a surprise that you haven’t accounted for the price of unblocking a drain in your monthly budget.

Leaving your blocked drain until you can save up to have it unblocked isn’t a good idea either. The severity of the blockage can get worse and cause even more plumbing problems which you’ll have to repair.

That’s why at Mr Emergency, we offer a range of flexible finance options** for eligible customers. No matter the price to unblock your drain, you can get the job done immediately.

Your on-site technician can take you through the easy application process and approval usually takes only a few minutes. Then Mr Emergency can get on with fixing your blocked drain.

We also accept payment by cash, cheque, direct bank transfer and credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express).

Ready to clear that blocked sink and get your plumbing flowing again? Contact Mr Emergency by phone or fill out our online form now and we’ll aim to have a plumber at your door within 30 minutes*.