Blocked Drains and Toilets BLOCKED DRAINS AND TOILETS Blocked drains, pipes and toilets are a frustrating experience for home or commercial residents; this article looks at the most common causes and offers some hints to help you avoid the hassle and expense of fixing them. There are many reasons why blockages happen but these are some of the most regular culprits of blocked drains: 1. Clip On Toilet Freshner Holders 2. 3. 4. Tree Roots and broken pipes due to old age Caustic Soda The other unexpected things we may find in your drains Clip on Toilet Fresheners Can Cause a Stink Woodorth plumbing has been helping property owners for over 40 years but in our experience one of the most recent regular causes of blocked toilet drains are clip-on toilet fresheners. Although these products might seem attractive they can quickly turn from leaving your toilet with 1/4 Blocked Drains and Toilets fresh fragrance to leaving your bathroom with an awful odour. The danger in these products is that if they fall into the toilet and get flushed down the drain the clip which usually holds them onto the toilet basin becomes an anchor fixing them to your drain pipe where they are unable to be flushed away. The toilet freshener then begins to trap anything which is flushed down the toilet and causes a blockage that can only be removed by digging up the pipe. We recommend that householders refrain from using all such clip on fragrance holders. A better solution is to use a tablet that is dropped into the cistern which adds a freshener to the water used to flush the toilet. Tree Roots and Broken Pipes due to Old Age Another common cause of blocked drains is tree roots breaking into the pipe. The root system of trees and especially bamboo is very aggressive and is drawn to any source of water. It senses the water in the pipe and will eventually crack into it if left to its own designs. However, if the drain or sewer pipe is old cracks and damage will occur due to normal wear and 2/4 Blocked Drains and Toilets tear. The pipe will either collapse or collect refuse on broken pieces that stick into the drain and obstruct the free flow. Modern Technology Makes Finding Blockages Easy It used to be quite difficult to find a blockage and often a large trench needed to be dug to find the problem area. Today we use modern technology for example ground penetrating radar or we feed a camera into the drain to find exactly where the blockage is making the job quicker to repair. Here is an example of the film footage we obtain when looking for a blockage in a pipe. Caustic Soda is good for clearing drains - and blocking them! Caustic soda is sometimes used by handymen to clear blocked drains but surprisingly – it can also make them worse. It is also a very dangerous material to use and should be handled with great caution. Due to its hazardous nature it is imperative that you keep it out of reach of children of any age. 3/4 Blocked Drains and Toilets Used pipe the properly residual caustic hardens soda like can cement clear some leaving blockages you with but - water anot blocked ifthe not properly drain. flushed through the The carefully protect very right dangerous your pour way eyes to the ifuse caustic itas gets caustic there on soda may your soda into be skin is some the to or pour drain. in bubbling your hot Be eyes water careful and (see down splutter first the to aid that stand drain not spits too so below). up. the close Caustic pipe and isdamage! especially warm. soda is Then 2133) Leave all (Woodorth’s caustic the caustic plumbing soda soda has services in been the washed pipe all of for the 2 away. minutes Sydney Ifthe the then Metropolitan drain flush is still area blocked drain and with call can hot abe plumber water reached again until 9897 If itthe does get on your skin or in your eyes follow these first aid instructions: Caustic Soda First Aid washing caustic with soda large solution quantities must of water removed only. as quickly as possible after bodily contact byon Eye Contact Wash fountain forth. eyes for immediately at least 30 minutes and continuously while holding with plenty eye lids of open preferably and rolling from the eyes an eye back wash and Call a doctor immediately and continue flushing until the doctor advises you to stop. Any time lost prior to such washing with water could cause serious and use soap Do .not Do not attempt to neutralize the caustic soda with chemicals. Ingestion give the person large quantities of milk (preferable) orirreparable water. Call a doctor Immediately transport to hospital. Things we Find in Your Drains The drain blockage last through most had an been common open caused pipe. cause by On of a a 90cm blocked recent soft call drains ball out lodging is to objects fix a itself blocked flushed in the drain down pipe. we the discovered toilet or entering the the Matt) (insert picture from how it got there and can only imagine it was flushed and / or pushed down the We toilet. have no idea Children unintentionally. England while can often attempting This be year the a to culprits four wash year of him putting old after boy objects his accidentally twin down brother flushed the got toilet the is either puppy puppy intentionally dirty. down the toilet or in Thanks family and to some a very quick apologetic plumbing little work boy. the puppy was rescued and is now safe at home with his Summary To avoid blocked drains and pipes use clip-on toilet fresheners, Don’t leave caustic soda in the drain for694 a2133 lengthy period of time, -hour play soft ball in the bathroom and wash puppy’s in the toilet. However with 24 all your Emergency if you plumbing do need Plumbing needs. a plumber Call Hotline: us Woodorth on0414 9897 Plumbing 814ororfor Services click afterhere hours would be happy towe help have youa . emergencies {jcomments on}{sharethis} 4/4