The Ultimate Guide to Preventing and Fixing Blocked Drains

A blocked drain can cause big headaches! If you have a blocked drain on your property at home or work, you may be feeling frustrated and worrying about this being an expensive problem to fix. If your drain blocks repeatedly, you may feel like this is a never-ending circle of annoyance and you might like to know that there is a solution! We are here to help and we can ensure that your blocked drain is sorted once and for all.

Blocked drains are a very common issue and it may surprise you to know that many simple preventative measures can help to resolve this problem. We’ll take you through the potential solutions, giving you a step-by-step guide to resolving blocked drains on your property and, if that doesn’t work, we’ll share our expertise and get the job done for you.

Use a catcher to prevent food and other waste from going down the drain

Common Causes of Blocked Drains

Here at Clearwide Environmental, we unblock drains daily and we see the same problems over and over again. Here, we’ll share the most common causes of blocked drains so that you can avoid costly and frustrating blockages – remember, prevention is better than cure!

The most common reasons for blocked drains are:

• Oil and fat. Many of the blocked drains we are called out to are due to cooking oil and fat being poured down the sink, and most people don’t realise the damage they are causing when they do this. This can not only block the drains in and around your home but is also a problem in the maintained sewers all over Ireland as the fat solidifies and causes blockages that can be very difficult for water companies to resolve. Never pour hot oil, grease or fat down your sink, dispose of it with household food waste if possible.
• Hair. Hair blockages in drains are extremely common and this is usually the reason for a slow draining or blocked shower, bath or bathroom sink. It is normal to lose a certain amount of hair every day and this can clog drains and cause blockages, especially when combined with shampoo or soap. Using a hair catcher in your plughole is a great solution to this problem, as it will trap stray hairs and enable you to dispose of them in the bin rather than allowing them to go down the drain. You can also use a plunger or a commercial drain cleaner regularly, but you should be aware of the environmental risk this carries and use a hair catcher to protect your drains in the first instance since this will stop the problem at the source.
• Soap. Did you know that liquid soap is more likely to block drains than the residue from bars of soap? This is usually because people tend to use more than they need and this leads to unnecessary clogs and blockages when combined with the other things that go down your plughole. It’s important to be aware of what is going into your plughole as this is usually a good clue to the blockages in your drains.
• Food waste. Leftover food, even tiny remnants, can build up and cause serious problems in your drains. It’s very important to dispose of food waste according to your local council requirements, which will often mean it can be recycled and turned into compost. Allowing waste food to go down the plughole will likely lead to clogs and blockages in your pipes both inside the house and in external drains. This is an easy problem to remedy by scraping plates and dishes before you wash up and protecting your plughole with a sink strainer that will catch loose bits of food and debris so that you can dispose of them in the bin rather than letting them make their way into your drains.
• Wet Wipes. Wet wipes should never be disposed of in your drainage system, and yet many people flush them down their toilets daily. Whether used for nappy changing, cleaning or facial care, wet wipes and cleaning wipes are unsuitable for the drainage system and should always be put into a bin instead. When they are flushed, wet wipes can clump together in the pipes and lead to serious problems in the sewerage system. Make sure that everyone in your home knows that this is a big contributor to blocked drains – teenagers and their facial cleansing wipes are often the culprit when we are called out to unblock domestic drains!
• Toiletries. In a similar vein, you mustn’t dispose of toiletries in the wastewater system, so do not be tempted to flush cotton buds, cotton wool or sanitary products. These are bulky, non-biodegradable items that cannot be safely flushed away and they should always be thrown into a bin or recycled if possible. Making sure that you have a rubbish bin available in your bathroom is an easy solution to avoid this problem, and you can also display a short note for guests to remind them that all toiletries should be disposed of in the bin.
• Coffee grounds. Many people don’t realise that coffee grounds can cause a problem when washed down your sink, but they are a common cause of drain blockages. When rinsed down the plughole, coffee grounds tend to solidify and then they can harden in the pipes and block your drains, either inside or outside your property. A simple solution is to save your coffee grounds and use them in your garden or on your house plants, as they can help to nourish certain plants. Research which plants will benefit from them and you’ll be making the most of recycling to benefit your plants and your drains! Alternatively, simply dispose of them with other food waste to protect your drains from damage.
• Poor quality drains. If your plumbing has not been carried out correctly, you are much more likely to experience problems with your drains. If waste pipes are not fitted correctly, you will likely experience blocked drains regularly and this can be very frustrating and expensive. You should ensure that anyone doing work on your home is experienced and qualified to do the job and check that they have insurance. If an error is made and your plumbing is not finished to a high standard, you should contact the tradesperson responsible in the first instance and ask them to rectify the problem. If this cannot be done, you may need to ask a reliable plumber to fix the problem or explore whether you can make an insurance claim. In the meantime, you may need to use a professional drain unblocking service to resolve the problem temporarily.
• Leaves. Outdoor drains are most commonly blocked by leaves and debris that get blown into your guttering and drains, or washing into the drains by rain. It’s well worth keeping an eye on the drains and drainage systems on your property, keeping your garden tidy around any outdoor drains and clearing your gutters regularly to help prevent this from happening. To help protect your outdoor drains, it is possible to buy a drain guard, which can cover the drain and stop leaves and larger debris from entering the drainage system. You should check this regularly to ensure that it does not become clogged and that drainage is not compromised.
• Tree Roots. Did you know that tree roots often cause problems for external drains? The drains outside your house can be affected by the roots of plants and trees all around the area and this can destroy your drainage systems before you realise what the problem is. Look out for tiny leaks and cracks that can contribute to the situation and consider using a CCTV system to check on your pipes and ensure that they are in good shape.

If you notice that you have a blocked drain, you can try to clear it in one of the following ways before seeking professional help:

1. Use baking soda. Mix 1/3 cup vinegar with 1/3 cup baking soda, pour down your clogged drain and allow to sit for a while before flushing with hot water. You can also use salt in place of vinegar and follow with boiling water after 20 minutes. Sometimes, boiling water alone will be enough to dislodge a blockage so this is also worth a try.
2. Use a drain snake. A drain snake is a long tool that can be used to break up clogs in your pipes and can be very effective for unblocking drains. These are available from hardware stores and can be a simple solution to most blockages.
3. Remove the U-bend. Sometimes it is necessary to manually unblock an internal drain by removing the u-bend section of the pipe for cleaning. This is a straightforward job but it can get messy so make sure you protect yourself and your home if you decide to give it a go.
4. Use drain unblocker. You can buy a chemical unblocker in any major supermarket and these can be very effective. Biological cleaners are more environmentally friendly than chemical cleaners so it is worth looking for these first but both carry an impact on the waterways so should not be used routinely.

Professional Drain Unblocking at Clearwide Environmental

If you are unable to clear your blocked drain yourself, don’t despair – we’re here to help. We operate 24-hour emergency drain services in Dublin, Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Clare, Galway, Tipperary and Limerick and we will always be available when you need us. Just give us a call and our friendly team will take care of the problem for you and help you to keep your drains in great shape for the future.

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