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The surprising culprits of blocked drains: What you need to know

March 13, 2023

Blocked drains are a common household problem that can cause a lot of inconvenience and frustration. From blocked toilets to clogged sink drains, these issues can disrupt daily routines and even lead to costly repairs if not dealt with promptly. While many people assume that hair, food scraps, and soap residue are the primary culprits of blocked drains, there are several surprising factors that can contribute to these issues.

One of the most surprising culprits of blocked drains is flushing non-flushable items down the toilet. Many people assume that if an item fits down the toilet bowl, it is safe to flush. However, items such as wet wipes, feminine hygiene products, and cotton swabs can cause significant blockages in your plumbing system. These items do not break down like toilet paper and can quickly accumulate in the pipes, leading to clogs and even sewage backups. To avoid these issues, it’s essential to only flush toilet paper and human waste down the toilet.

Another factor that can contribute to blocked drains is the buildup of grease and oil in kitchen sinks. While it may seem harmless to wash greasy dishes and pans in the sink, this can lead to significant blockages over time. Grease and oil can solidify in the pipes, trapping other debris and causing clogs. To avoid this issue, it’s crucial to scrape excess food and grease into the garbage before washing dishes and to avoid pouring oil or grease down the sink.

Hair is another surprising culprit of blocked drains, particularly in bathroom sinks and shower drains. While it’s normal to shed hair during daily grooming routines, this hair can quickly accumulate in the pipes and trap other debris, leading to clogs. To avoid this issue, it’s essential to install a hair catcher in your shower drain and to clean it regularly to prevent buildup.

One final factor that can contribute to blocked drains is tree roots growing into the pipes. While this may seem like a rare occurrence, it’s more common than many people think. Tree roots can grow into pipes, causing blockages and even rupturing the pipes in severe cases. To avoid this issue, it’s essential to be mindful of where you plant trees and to avoid planting them near your home’s plumbing system.

If you experience a blocked toilet or drain, it’s essential to seek the assistance of a professional plumber near you. Attempting to fix the issue yourself can cause further damage to your plumbing system and even lead to costly repairs. A qualified plumber near you can quickly diagnose the issue and provide effective solutions to unclog your drain and restore your plumbing system to optimal function.

In conclusion, while hair, food scraps, and soap residue are common culprits of blocked drains, there are several surprising factors that can contribute to these issues. Flushing non-flushable items down the toilet, washing greasy dishes in the sink, and even planting trees too close to your plumbing system can all cause significant blockages over time. By being mindful of these factors and taking preventative measures, you can avoid costly repairs and keep your plumbing system functioning smoothly. However, if you do experience a blocked toilet or drain, it’s crucial to seek the assistance of a qualified plumber near you to avoid further damage and costly repairs.

Testimonials

Hear what our customers have to say about their experiences with Pinnacle Plumbing Group. 

  • Chris Friday

    5 stars
    This company is very reliable and offers prompt service.
  • Alona Reid

    5 stars
    Fabulous team to deal with from the start to finish on my carport roof plumbing! Nick and the crew, 5 stars!
  • Donna Taylor

    5 stars
    Plumbers came to the site and fixed my drains for a decent price , very professional. Highly recommend.
  • Ashleigh Smith

    5 stars
    Amazing work and great prices ! Best plumbing company in Melbourne. Highly recommend Nick and his team
  • Angela Rybalko

    5 stars
    I had a burst pipe at 7pm on a Wednesday night, called about 3 plumbers before finally I got on to Pinnacle who answered straight away. They arriv...
  • Stephanie Crawley

    5 stars
    I have used Pinnacle Plumbing Group for various plumbing jobs during my renovations. Each time, the expertise of the team has saved me time and mon...
  • Peter Wards

    5 stars
  • Dan Kelly

    5 stars
    Great service, very responsive, and showed up on time! Would highly recommend.
  • grant belchamber

    5 stars
    Second time I have used Nick Rybalko's Pinnacle Plumbing Group, last year for roof leak, this week for leaking toilet cistern. Fixed promptly both...
  • Kelvin Wang

    5 stars
    The most professional and reliable plumbing company I have ever used. Brilliant work with reasonable price. Customer service is amazing as well, es...
  • Joe Reed The Crafty Corner

    5 stars
    So grateful to Pinnacle Plumbing for working hard to accomodate me at short notice. They went out of their way to ensure that my issue was fixed pr...
  • Yanni Anastasiadis

    5 stars
    These guys do absolute quality work ! Nick and his team are easy to work with and ensure the job was smooth for us from start to finish! Thanks aga...
  • Charli Tjoe

    5 stars
    Nick and his team have been very prompt, friendly and professional. They've done great work for our pub and we will happily use them again for any ...
  • Craig Rowston

    5 stars
    Nick and Andy were great to deal with. Organised, on time and efficient to deal with on an older style roof, with a "bit going on". Support your lo...
  • Josh Branton

    5 stars
    Very impressed with the service for a replacement sink. Compared to other quotes we received, the price was competitive and took the time to confir...
  • Ch Farren

    5 stars
    I would definitely recommend this company. They responded promptly and fixed a roof leak, partially replacing the box guttering. Good service, goo...
  • Sheryl Carnie

    5 stars
    Pinnacle Plumbing were helpful, efficient and professional when the hot water service in our rented property failed on the eve of the Easter holida...
  • Brendan Corr

    5 stars
    Great service, very professional and competitive pricing. Fantastic to do business with.
  • Bel Karaliamis

    5 stars
    Thank you so much Pinnacle Plumbing! Special thx to Kyle and Simran. Kyle have given us a valid quote parameters and attended as emergency case. Si...
  • Franklin Lofts

    5 stars
    I have had a variety of works completed from Pinnacle, all with professionalism and courtesy. They are quick to respond and easy to deal with, high...
  • sophie su

    5 stars
    Kyle and Nick were both excellent , experienced good plumber. very responsive and provide good solutions , will recommened !
  • Jean Healey

    5 stars
  • Kim R

    5 stars
    Nick was my first contact at pinnacle, he was lovely on the phone and managed to fit us in that week! Rhys, came out to camera our pipes. He was v...
  • Reign W1

    5 stars
    Great service. Thank you Dan!
  • Marcus Trainor

    5 stars
    Superstar plumbers.
  • Liam McCallum

    5 stars
    There was a leak in the bathroom that was running to the apartment below. The plumber was professional and friendly with both myself and the tenan...
  • Brione Johnston

    5 stars
    Great service - Dan was professional, on time and listened to what we needed done. We definitely recommend Pinnacle plumbing.
  • Michael Piritidis

    5 stars
    The basics of what you want from a tradesperson they did what they said they were going to do when they said they were going to do it and at the pr...
  • Dan Ryan

    5 stars
    Really happy with our service from Pinnacle - professional, great communication, and they resolved our issues. Would recommend and use again.
  • Naomi F

    5 stars
    I was very happy with the service I received. Zach arrived within 24 hours of my phone call and was friendly and professional. I had a complicated ...
  • Melissa Wingard

    5 stars
    I would not hesitate to recommend Nick and his team at Pinnacle Plumbing. The hot water in our shower was getting increasingly colder (Melbourne wi...
  • Lindsay Mann

    5 stars
    Isaak provided great service. He fixed the problem that was the reason for the call plus advised on some improvements to the plumbing setup that ...
  • 아트하트

    5 stars
    Our plumber, Isaak from Pinnacle, was very friendly and did a great job. He even wiped the dirty remaining parts when he changed the kitchen waste....
  • Kerrie Setiawan

    5 stars
  • T M

    5 stars
    On behalf of Anne Goyne:- They did an amazing job on in a very difficult location and got everything done within the quote and on time before the r...
  • Stephen Anderson

    5 stars
    Tradesman (Basil) turned up on time and was very polite. He was very professional keeping us updated with progress and after completion cleaned the...
  • Frank McCulloch

    5 stars
    Seamless experience - onsite within the hour and work completed professionally. Well done
  • Jack McCarthy

    5 stars
    Jack and Basil provided a high level of professional service and workmanship, which made what was a stressful situation, all the easier. Keep up th...
  • christian

    5 stars
    Sewer was blocked for an investment property. Pinnacle were quick to respond and resolved the issue promptly. Tenants were very happy.
  • Judy Daniels

    5 stars
    We had a roof leak that was detected and fixed very professionally. We recommend this Plumbing Company to anyone requiring a plumber. 👍👍
  • Phillip Calcagno Australianhairdresser

    5 stars
    These guys were great! I had a Hot water service that needed to be repaired b4 l had to open my business to the public. Jack who to my call organis...
  • Judy Rigg

    5 stars
    Jay did a great job replacing our down pipe - he was friendly, courteous and professional and went above and beyond the call.
  • CDP

    5 stars
    I can’t speak highly enough of the professionalism and quality of service from Ben from Pinnacle Plumbing. He quickly identified and fixed my leaki...
  • Fiona Hall

    5 stars
    Pinnacle plumbing have done quite a bit of work for me over the last couple of years - most recently was an emergency leaking pipe. Nick and his g...
  • Sam Pappas

    5 stars
    Nick and the team at Pinnacle Plumbing have been brilliant in providing a thorough and detailed service with our kitchen plumbing needs. Nick cond...
  • Michelle Hanning

    5 stars
    trying to find a gas plumber to be able to carry out the works on a gas fireplace, I was wanting to do became very hard, lots of phone calls but no...