How To Clear A Blocked Outside Drain

Identifying a Blocked External Drain

Signs of a blocked drain may include water pooling around the drain cover or unpleasant odours emanating from the pipes. Common causes of drains that get blocked in the Penrith area include a buildup of leaves, mud, and litter other debris that finds its way into drain pipes.

Should you identify a drain blockage, pour boiling water abundantly down the drain as a preliminary measure to potentially dislodge the obstruction.

Wear rubber gloves and use a drain snake to extricate the obstructive debris, a proven maintenance technique. If you’re pondering how unblock a drain and these DIY methods don’t succeed, A professional plumber will need to unblock outside drains completely from your drainage system.

Causes of Blocked External Drains

There are several common causes of blocked outdoor drains in the Penrith area:

• Debris such as leaves and twigs can obstruct drain pipes, leading to clogs
• Mud and dirt accumulate inside drain pipes over time
• Tree roots infiltrating and obstructing your drain pipe are common culprits that block water into drain, potentially leaving your outside drain blocked
• Improper disposal of food waste, fats, and oils down your kitchen sink can cause severe blockage issues, as these can easily adhere to the walls of your pipes and create a blocked outdoor drain over time
• Construction materials like concrete or mortar entering drainage system

Comprehending blockage causes enables the effective use of drain unblockers, such as routinely removing debris from drain covers. It also helps diagnose the likely obstruction when the need to unblock an outside drain arises, so an appropriate removal method can be determined—whether DIY solutions or enlisting a professional Penrith plumbing service.

Using a Plunger

Employing a drain auger, often referred to as 'snake drain’, can be a potent DIY instrument for managing a blocked drain outside with minor obstructions. Here is a step-by-step guide:

1. First, for an effective drain try, secure a tight seal by setting a moistened towel over the drain cover to prevent water from splattering out.
2. Ensure the plunger is correctly placed to achieve a secure seal over the drain opening before applying a downward push.
3. With force, Quickly plunge up and down 10-15 times to dislodge the clog and help the drain clear.
4. After plunging, flush the drain with hot water to clear any remaining debris, ensuring efficient water flow.
5. You may need to repeat steps 2-4 several times before the drain is fully cleared.

Take safety measures to keep your plumbing system’s external drain functional and avoid further complications like a clogged drain - wear old attire to avoid messy splashes and rubber gloves to shield your hands. Should the plunger fail to liberate the blockage, you’ll need to contact a professional who can employ more sophisticated solutions like a drain snake or expert drain cleaning.

Boiling Water

Dispatching boiling water into pipe networks can serve as a pragmatic DIY solution for dissolving grease blockages externally. The heat aids in melting and dispersing grease buildups that can lead to a clogged outside drain. It also dislodges smaller bits of debris caught further Down Pipe.

Prioritise safety when deploying this method. Always be cautious when handling boiling water to prevent scalds or burns.

With precision, you can use boiling water poured over the drain opening in a steady flow from an approximate height of 12 inches.

Mix hot water with eco-friendly cleaning products and leave for 5-10 minutes for deeper cleaning of exterior drains. If this DIY approach does not successfully clear the blockage, specialised drain cleaning solutions or professional plumbing services will be required.

Finally, to enhance water flow, rinse your outside drain with cool water to remove any dislodged debris, repeating if necessary.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

A homemade drain cleaner made from baking soda and vinegar is an effective solution for minor clogs. Here’s a straightforward strategy for attending to your drain:

1. Begin by pouring a cup of hot water down the drain, followed by one cup of baking soda to start the unblocking process.
2. Next, add a cup of white vinegar; the reaction between baking soda and vinegar will fizz and help dissolve the clog.
3. After a few minutes then, gingerly administer a soda white vinegar blend, coupled with boiling water, down the drain to assist in dislodging any residue.
4. You may need to repeat this process 2-3 times, which can ensure a fully clear blockage.

Wear gloves, goggles, and closed-toe shoes. For severe blockages, however, you may need to enlist the expertise of a professional plumber.

Drain Rods and Augers

A drain rod and augers are useful mechanical tools for clearing stubborn drain blockages that other DIY methods can’t resolve. Drain rods consist of long, rigid metal cables that can be fed down pipes to snag debris and pull it out. Augers feature a rotating spiral tip that can grip and remove obstructions, ensuring they don’t remain in the pipes.

Using Drain Rods

Follow these key steps when using drain rods on an external blocked pipe:

• Locate the drain access point and insert rods of appropriate length, manually feeding the cables into the pipe.
• Crank the handle to spin the rods until resistance is felt from a clog.
• Continue cranking while applying light pressure to force through the blockage.
• Rotate and manoeuvre rods to dislodge debris.
• Retract rods carefully to avoid leaving scratches inside drain.
• Flush drain with water to rinse away dislodged gunk.

Using an Auger

To clear an outdoor drain with an auger:

1. Carefully lower auger cables into the pipe, guiding the rotating auger head down towards obstruction.
2. Upon encountering resistance, crank the auger steadily to engage and fragment the blockage.
3. Retrieve auger, pulling debris up the drainage line.
4. Repeat steps until drain flows freely.
5. Rinse the drain with water to remove loosened particles.

Safety is critical when using powered drain tools - wear gloves and eye protection. Improper use could scratch pipes or cause injuries. If DIY efforts don’t succeed, call a professional Penrith plumbing company to properly clear stubborn drain blockages.

High-Pressure Water Jets

A potent water jet stream from high-pressure water jets stands as an effective remedy for resolving external drain blockages and efficiently clearing clogged drains. Professional plumbers employ high-pressure hoses, with water jets exerting up to 5000 PSI, to clear drain lines.

Such high-powered spray is one of the most robust solutions and effective methods to thoroughly cleanse pipe walls, proving that drains can be freed from even heavily compacted debris. Grease, soap buildup, mud, sand, rocks and tree roots can all be broken down and flushed away.

Connect the high-pressure hose to the outdoor drain’s access point. A flexible hose with a narrow nozzle is carefully guided to navigate through the pipe. As water jets through the nozzle at high velocity, it emits a targeted spray in all directions inside the pipe.

When it comes to slicing through stubborn clogs, propelling water into the pipe using high-pressure jets is far superior to DIY methods. They can penetrate blocked drains up to 100 metres in length, clearing obstructions located deep below the ground.

This makes them an versatile solution for both house drains and larger stormwater lines. Drain jetting lasts between 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the blockage severity.

To thwart the recurrence of drain clogs, plumbing experts can conduct a CCTV pipe inspection after using cleaner product high-pressure jetting. This allows them to identify and address the root cause, whether pipe damage, tree root invasion or infrastructure issues.

Routine measures such as using a sink strainer or sweeping foliage from the gutters can prevent clogging in your home’s plumbing. But for existing stubborn obstructions, high-powered water jetting is usually the most reliable drain unblocking method.

Clearing Tree Roots and Stubborn Clogs

While professional equipment is often needed for tree roots and stubborn clogs in external drains, homeowners might attempt initial clearing methods. While DIY methods like plungers, boiling water, and drain snakes may work for minor clogs, severe obstructions can get resilient and usually need high-powered solutions.

When tree roots infiltrate and wrap around underground drain pipes, a drain can experience complete blockages that resist dislodging. Trying to tackle a Blocked Outside Drain on your own could damage your piping and leave scratches or openings for more roots to penetrate.

Waste buildup over time can strain your plumbing system, leading to blockages that simple homemade cleaners cannot fix. If the clogging material is densely compacted, you’ll need to contact a professional to handle it.

In these tricky scenarios, when your standard remedies fail, your most secure option would be to contact a professional Penrith plumbing service. Advanced tools like water jetting and mechanical drain augers will be needed to bore through roots or extremely stubborn gunk. CCTV pipe inspections can also identify damaged sections requiring repair or replacement.

Addressing severe external drain clogs requires expertise and equipment beyond the average homeowner’s possession. At the first sign of roots or hardened blockages, contact a seasoned Brisbane plumbing professional for reliable solutions.

CCTV Drain Inspections

A CCTV drain survey is an essential process for diagnosing issues in blocked external drains. A professional plumber will insert a specialised waterproof camera down the drain line to provide a full visual inspection.

Plumbers can pinpoint the exact locations and causes of blockages through precise visual evidence. It can identify intruding tree roots, cracked pipes, misaligned joints, buildup of grease, soap residue, and compressed waste material.

CCTV inspections also assess pipe condition and any damage that might necessitate repairs. It mostly answers the question of how to clear the mystery behind unidentified recurring clogs that haunt your property, evading amateur clearing attempts.

The detailed footage analysis allows plumbers to instruct on how to clear blockages best, whether through high-pressure jetting or pipe repairs. It also guides the clearing process - the camera reveals progress as obstructions are removed Into Your plumbing.

CCTV drain inspections provide vital diagnostic clarity that DIY guesswork lacks. They should be considered whenever you’re unsure about how to clear a blocked drain or when facing complex drainage issues.

Combining CCTV with expert drain jetting or augering ensures a comprehensive clear out of any obstructed pipes. It also prevents future headaches by rectifying underlying infrastructure faults.

Preventing Future Blockages

There are several key steps you can take to help prevent future blockages in external drains:

• Fit drain covers over sink openings to prevent leaves and other debris from entering.
• Clear gutters regularly to prevent leaf litter from entering drains
• Restrict fats, oils, and surplus soap from entering your bathroom sink or kitchen sink is imperative to avoid blockages – better to dispose of them responsibly in the bin
• Employ sink strainers to capture food scraps and prevent buildup hair, which might otherwise result in clogs
• Pour boiling water down external drains monthly to cleanse pipes.
• Monthly use of enzyme cleaners or a baking soda mixture helps dissolve oils and maintain clear pipes.
• Trim back trees and shrubs near drains to prevent invasive roots
• Arrange professional high pressure water jetting every year or two to wash away buildup

Staying proactive with exterior drain maintenance and proper waste disposal practises will significantly reduce future clogging issues. But if blockages do occur, Penrith Plumbing has the skills and technology to clear even severe obstructions quickly.

When to Call a Professional Plumber

It’s time to call Penrith Plumbing when DIY efforts to clear a blocked external drain have failed repeatedly or when you suspect the clog is caused by extensive tree root invasion or pipe damage.

When you notice these signs of a blocked drain, professional intervention is likely needed:

• Indications of an obstruction, such as water amassing around the drain despite efforts with tools like plungers, drain snakes, or homemade cleaners inside your home
• a stubborn your blocked drain that won’t budge and resists all your endeavours
• The presence of a foul smell emanating from the drain indicating organic buildup or persistent obstructions
• Knowledge that tree roots are one of the common causes of a blocked drain in your drainage system
• An infestation of drain flies around the outdoor pipe entry
• Leaking water at joints in the exterior drain piping

When dealing with stubborn blockages in your external drains, our friendly team of licenced Penrith plumbers have the potent jetting apparatus and mechanical augers to clear them. We also perform CCTV drain inspections to diagnose problems and identify necessary pipe repairs.

For reliable solutions and long-term preventative maintenance of your outdoor drainage system, contact Penrith Plumbing on 1300 349 338 or jobs@penrithplumbingservices.com.au.

We’re local plumbing experts equipped to handle any external drain issue quickly and effectively, whether routine clogs or extensive blockages requiring pipe replacement. Call us today for superior clearing services backed by our satisfaction guarantee.