Whose responsibility is it to attend to a blocked drain? If the drain is on your property then it’s obviously your problem to unblock the drain. Plumbers Perth advise that if you are renting then best you check with your real estate agent to find out who is responsible for plumbing issues like this.
In some instances, it might be the council’s responsibility. If you are not sure, you can either visit the council website or give them a quick call.
Unblocking Drains
There are many ways to unblock a clogged drain. Some are relatively easy, others not so easy. Here are a few things you can do before you call a plumber.
Baking Soda (or Bicarb Soda) and Vinegar
It’s an old way to do it but works often enough to head the list. Most households carry these items and they are environmentally friendly – more so that caustic type chemicals.
Here’s a few mixtures and methods you can try. Half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar, mix, then toss it down the sink quickly. The other way to use this combo is to wait for the sink to dry a bit, then put the baking soda into the sink and pour the vinegar in. Leave it overnight or for a few hours, then clean it all out with some boiling water from the kettle.
Boiling Water
This method is by far the simplest and sometimes gets overlooked as we all seek more complicated ways. Boil a kettle full of water. Pour it down the sink. If the blockage has been caused by oils, greases or fats, it might take a few kettles, but the hot water will melt and loosen the solidified oils and fats.
Boiling water, Baking soda and salt.
Use half a cup of salt, half a cup of baking soda, mix them together and pour down the sink. Wait a few minutes (15 – 20) then pour the boiling water into the sink. Unwanted blocks will hopefully be removed with the chemical reaction.
A Plunger
You should always buy a plunger before you need a plunger. They can come in handy when almost everything else fails. They still sell plungers in hardware stores for the simple reason that they continue to give great results. When using a plunger make sure you have a good seal before you start the up and down movement.
A Drain Snake
A drain snake, which is an auger or tool for cleaning drain pipes, can be purchased at your local hardware store. They are okay to use if the blockage is not too far down the pipe. They are a handy tool. You can push the extended cable down into the drain and turn the handle hoping that it will unblock whatever it is that is causing concern.
Pipework
If after you’ve tried everything else and the sink is still blocked, then you can have a try to take the pipes apart. If you are unsure of how to do it, you can watch a YouTube video. Most of the time the blockage is in the trap at the bottom and once you have removed that you can access the material clogging the drain.
When all else fails – call your local plumber!