How to Protect Your Drains and Avoid a Costly Blocked Drain

The easiest blocked drain is the one that never happens. Most drain blockages we attend to in Melbourne homes are caused by the same handful of things — cooking oil, food scraps, hair, and wipes. None of them are hard to avoid once you know what to watch for.

Here’s what causes the most damage, and what to do instead:

Cooking Oil and Fat

The biggest cause of blocked kitchen sinks is oil and grease being poured down the drain. Oil and water don’t mix — and when fat cools inside your pipes, it hardens and sticks to the walls. Over time, that layer builds up until the pipe is partially or fully blocked.

This applies whether you’re using cooking oil, butter, or lard. Even small amounts poured down the sink regularly will accumulate over months, and the first sign is usually a slow-draining sink — followed by a full blockage.

What to do instead:

Pouring fat and oil down the drain can have disastrous consequences and this includes if you have a garbage disposal, unit or Insinkerator.

Follow these simple and responsible methods to get rid of used cooking oil:

1. Let the oil cool, pour it into a sealed container (an old jar or plastic bottle works fine), and put it in the bin.
   
2. If it’s solid fat or butter, let it cool in the pan and scrape it into the bin — don’t run hot water over it to wash it away.
   
3. If you have a cat, cooled oil can go into used kitty litter and disposed of with it.
   
4. Small amounts of 100% vegetable oil (peanut, coconut, olive, sunflower) can be added to a compost pile — but only in small quantities, and never animal fat.

One thing worth noting: having a garbage disposal or Insinkerator in your sink doesn’t protect your pipes from oil. The oil still makes its way through and builds up further down the line.

Food Scraps

Small food particles — coffee grounds, rice, pasta, vegetable peelings — are another common cause of kitchen drain blockages. They don’t break down quickly in pipes, and they mix with grease to form dense clogs that are hard to shift without professional clearing.

Use a sink strainer to catch food waste before it goes down the drain. Empty it into the bin or compost regularly. It takes about five seconds and saves you a lot of trouble.

Blocked drains like this are an expense that can easily be avoided.

Hair and Soap Scum

Bathroom drains are the most common location for blockages in Melbourne homes, and hair is almost always the cause. A single shower doesn’t cause a problem — but hair accumulates on the walls of the pipe and catches soap scum, gradually narrowing the drain until water backs up.

What to do:

• Use a drain strainer in the shower and bathtub — clean it out weekly
• If your shower is draining slowly, deal with it early — a slow drain becomes a blocked drain

Slow drainage in the shower or bath is the most common warning sign we see before a full blockage. If you’re noticing it, the build-up is already there — it’ll just keep getting worse until cleared.

“Flushable” Wipes and Cotton Products

This is one of the most common causes of sewer blockages we attend to. Wipes — even ones labelled “flushable” — do not break down in pipes the way toilet paper does. They catch on joints, bends, and any existing build-up in the sewer line and form blockages that can affect the whole property.

The same applies to cotton pads, cotton buds, and sanitary products. None of these belong in the toilet.

If you’ve been flushing wipes regularly and you start noticing gurgling sounds, slow-flushing toilets, or drain odours, there’s a good chance there’s already a partial blockage in your sewer line.

Keeping Your Drains Clear DIY

These methods are not only effective but also safe for the environment. Here are a few examples:

1. Baking Soda and Vinegar: This classic combination is a powerful duo when it comes to clearing drains. Start by pouring a pot of boiling water down the drain to loosen any debris. Then, sprinkle a cup of baking soda into the drain followed by a cup of vinegar. Cover the drain with a plug or cloth to contain the reaction, and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Finally, flush the drain with hot water to wash away the loosened clog.

1. Boiling Water: Sometimes, a simple pot of boiling water can do wonders for unclogging drains. This method works best for grease or soap scum build-up. Carefully pour the boiling water down the drain in stages, allowing it to work its way through the blockage. Be cautious when handling boiling water to avoid any accidents.

1. Manual Cleaning: For minor clogs, using a plunger can be highly effective. It allows you to physically dislodge the obstruction and restore the flow of water. If you find yourself having to use a plunger a lot – There will be a reason and it may be a good idea to call in a plumber to find out why the clogs are happening. Hydro jetting maybe needed to clean out the pipes as part of your plumbing maintenance

When to Call a Plumber

Even with good habits, blockages happen — especially in older homes with ageing pipes. Call a plumber when:

• A drain is running slowly and hasn’t improved with basic clearing
• More than one drain in the home is slow or blocked at the same time (this points to the sewer line)
• There are gurgling sounds coming from drains or the toilet
• There’s a sewage smell coming from drains

Don’t wait until it’s a full emergency. A partial blockage is much cheaper to fix than one that’s backed up into the house.

Call us on 0421 725 624 — we service all of Melbourne metro and carry hydro jetting equipment on the van for stubborn blockages.