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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 Andrews

    5 stars
    Nick came the same day to clean some blocked drains I had. Same day call out as well as left the job super clean
  • Simon Zelinka

    5 stars
    Had Pinnacle plumbing group attend for a sewer blockage. On time efficient, and cleaned there mess up. Repaired drains would highly recommend this...
  • Emerald Evelyn

    5 stars
    Nick and the team are beyond helpful. Quick to respond, quote and repair. Highly recommend.
  • Tawanda Whata

    5 stars
    Thanks Ben for organising a quick response. Had a blocked drain but thanks to Pinnacle Plumbing, we didn’t get to feel the pain for much longer. Th...
  • David Boyle

    5 stars
    The guys came and fixed my blocked drains. Did a great job. Would recommend.
  • Jo Schafer

    5 stars
    Pinnacle Plumbing were great to deal with when I had a blocked pipe at home. They were efficient and easy to communicate with. I highly recommend t...
  • James Sheehan

    5 stars
    Pinnacle Plumbing Group came straight away and fixed my plumbing issue which could have been distarrous if left any longer they were efficient frie...
  • Kate G

    5 stars
    Pinnacle Plumbing fixed my urgent blocked drain pipe, Brent was here in an hour and fixed it. Super professional with excellent communication, serv...
  • Jimmy S

    5 stars
    Had a backed up toilet that would not go down, Tom came out from Pinnacle within the hour, unblocked the pipe and while he was there swapped out a ...
  • Wade Milverton

    5 stars
    Big thanks to nick and his team from pinnacle plumbing group for an outstanding job on our sewer. We have had problems for many years and struggled...
  • Alex Hogg

    5 stars
    Would definitely recommend these guys. Had two blocked drains and am sick of tradies giving me the run around. Great communication and show up when...
  • Dennis Zilberman

    5 stars
    Great job done, by great bunch of guys… highly recommend
  • Ben I

    5 stars
    I recently needed to find a plumber to fix an issue with my blocked drains. Pinnacle responded almost immediately to my request and turned up on si...
  • Simon Younis

    5 stars
    Great service had a badly blocked drain. When I called they asked what the problem was and said they would send someone out they then gave me an ET...
  • Robin Wupper

    5 stars
    Well done Pinnacle Plumbing on a timely and professional service resolving my blocked drain. Highly recommend
  • jure velic

    5 stars
    Nick and his team from Pinnacle unblocked my drains at my house,they were efficient fast and very reliable and reasonably priced. I'd recommend the...
  • BMX Life

    5 stars
    After being quoted way too much by a competitor (and had I followed through, they weren't solving it) I contacted Pinnacle Plumbing Group for a lea...
  • Cath Beynon

    5 stars
    I highly recommend these guys. They were so respectful to have around. As a single middle aged woman, unfortunately I’ve had some very dodgy trades...
  • Ash Rahman

    5 stars
    Nick and the rest of the team has been very prompt to action on all the maintenance request being sent. Really love their service, their report is...
  • Adam Johnstone

    5 stars
    Brent really got us out of a spot-of-bother with a blocked toilet. He cleared the blockage and sent a camera down so we could get a proper diagnosi...
  • Virginia Dods

    5 stars
    This plumbing service was great at communication, understanding immediately what the issue seemed to be. They asked if it was an emergency - no, we...
  • Colin Smith

    5 stars
    All staff were friendly, helpful and professional. Great service and I will definitely use them again in the future.
  • Jessica Mom

    5 stars
    Nick and his team are the best! Super quick, professional and the staff are awesome and friendly 11/10!
  • Anthony Wall

    5 stars
    We have used Pinnacle Plumbing Group for more than 10 years for many jobs, large and small - clearing drains, leaking roof repairs, new hot water s...
  • Yanisa Yodsaeng

    5 stars
    Andrew is very professional, on time, and reliable. I had a leak but didn't know the cause. He managed to find out that it was from the balcony and...
  • Nick

    5 stars
    Great experience with this business. Needed a tempering valve replaced at my apartment. Nick R was really responsive on emails, and costing was pr...
  • Parham Faraid

    5 stars
    Excellent work. Nice and effective.
  • Andrew Noble

    5 stars
    No nonsense friendly service from Andrew and Nick. Unblocked our dunny quickly and gave some great advice. Would definitely recommend.
  • Marg Campbell

    5 stars
    Fantastic service from Pinnacle Plumbing when we had to have the gas pipe running from the meter under our house replaced. I called Harry on the T...
  • Chin Ho

    5 stars
    Good service! Very responsive! Highly recommend for reliable and professional plumbing work!
  • Sarah Bardwell

    5 stars
    Nick and the team are great. They're very professional, responsible, and do a great job. We've used Pinnacle a number of times for both business an...
  • Geoff Reany

    5 stars
    I highly recommend Pinnacle. Nick and Ash were prompt and responsive with quoting and scheduling installation of our new hot water unit. And plumbe...
  • Justine Sharman

    5 stars
    A great team, very reliable, great communication and good quality work
  • Mike B

    5 stars
    Conclusion: We strongly recommend Pinnacle Plumbing and will most certainly request them to do work for us in the future. The job: Around 10 perso...
  • Brendan Hughes

    5 stars
    We used Pinnacle Plumbing to undertake plumbing works as part of a home renovation. Not only were they reliable, professional and had great communi...
  • Cat Woods

    5 stars
    Such a great experience with Pinnacle Plumbing. I rang Nick on a Wednesday and by Friday noon, my toilet seat had been replaced efficiently and by ...
  • Chris Friday

    5 stars
    This company is very reliable and offers prompt service.
  • Charlotte Fletcher

    5 stars
    Andrew and Lee came out to fix our bath which was leaking into the ceiling below. They were super easy to deal with, explained everything well, and...
  • 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...
  • 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...