When Should I Call A Plumber For A Blocked Drain?

Blocked drains are unfortunately quite common, with showers, toilets and sinks all susceptible to blockages and plumbing issues. Despite being a common plumbing problem, blocked drains are very frustrating and they can cause further issues if the cause is not tackled quickly. However, it can be difficult to know how bad the blockage is and whether a professional plumber is needed, so our team is here to help you decide when to call a plumber with our latest blog post.

Blockages can form almost anywhere in your drains, with the cause often depending on where the issue is located in your home. For example, bathroom drain blockages within sinks and showers tend to be caused by hair, which can often be pulled out easily. But there may be times when the blockage is deeper in the pipe and a plumber may be needed. In comparison, blockages in the kitchen tend to form within the pipework from the sink and dishwasher if food and grease are not disposed of properly.

If you have a blocked drain in your home, the first thing to consider is whether the water is still able to drain. Although the blockage may be slowing water drainage down, you may be able to fix the issue yourself with a drain unblocking tool or a plunger. However, your success with this method is likely to depend on what is causing the blockage. In general, organic food waste and hair are often simple to remove, but if the blockage is caused by sewage, you should call a plumber as the issue is likely to be more complex.

In addition, you should also consider the location of the blockage as it may be a difficult-to-reach area, such as beneath the flooring or behind a tiled wall. In these situations, a plumber should be called as they will have the specialist equipment needed to locate and unblock the issue without causing damage to your home.

We know that it can be difficult to spot serious issues and what may seem like a simple blockage can actually be much more complex, so always look for these serious issues when deciding whether you need a plumber:

1. Is the drain completely blocked? If you have a blockage in your toilet, it may still be draining slowly. However, if the drain becomes completely blocked, the toilet could overflow, and the mess could cause significant damage to your home.

2. Is the issue impacting many drains in your home? If there are several drains in your home that appear to be blocked, the issue is probably located in the main drain and so you are likely to need a plumber.

3. How much difficulty is the issue causing? There are times when the issue may not be an immediate emergency, such as a blocked sink drain in a guest bathroom. However, if it’s a critical area of your home, such as your main bathroom or the kitchen, you should call a professional in as soon as possible.

Although there are times when you will need to call in the professionals, the best way to avoid this expense is to try and prevent blockages before they arise. The following are our top tips for maintaining healthy drains:

1. Only flush toilet paper: Your toilet is only designed to handle toilet paper, so never flush baby wipes or sanitary items as they can easily block drains.

2. Dispose of food waste and grease properly: Never wash food waste, peelings and grease down your kitchen sink as this will gradually lead to blockages. A trap for your sink is a great way to prevent food from accidentally being washed down the drain.

3. Buy a plunger: If your drains are starting to drain slowly, you may find that the blockage can be removed simply with a plunger.

It’s important to remember that the pipework in your home could be quite old, so never try home remedies or solutions which could cause damage. There are many strong chemicals available that claim to unblock hair and grease, but these can cause serious damage to your pipes, especially if they are used over a long period of time. Instead, call a professional plumber who will be able to quickly and effectively unblock the drain.

Here at Carrick Plumbing & Roofing, we always recommend that if you’re in doubt, you should call a plumber, so please don’t wait until the issue becomes an emergency situation. The longer the drain stays blocked, the worse the problem is likely to be, which will lead to more disruption and expense.

As professional plumbers, we will always aim to fix the issue quickly and with as little disruption to your home as possible – we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To find out more about our drain unblocking services, innovative drain inspection technology, high-pressure jetting and our competitive pricing, please contact our team today.