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What are the most common types of blocked drains

February 22, 2023

Blocked drains can be a major inconvenience, causing water to back up into your home and creating unpleasant odours. They can also lead to more serious health and safety issues if not addressed promptly. In this blog post, we’ll explore the most common types of blocked drains and what you can do to prevent and resolve them.

Fat, Oil, and Grease (FOG)

One of the most common causes of blocked drains is the buildup of fat, oil, and grease (FOG). When FOG is poured down the drain, it solidifies and sticks to the inside of pipes, creating a blockage that can reduce the flow of water and cause water to back up into your home. To prevent FOG-related blockages, avoid pouring grease down the drain and always properly dispose of cooking oils and fats.

Hair and Soap Scum

Another common cause of blocked drains is the buildup of hair and soap scum. Hair can easily get tangled around pipes, causing blockages that can reduce the flow of water. Soap scum can also buildup in pipes, reducing the flow of water and contributing to blockages. To prevent hair and soap scum blockages, use drain covers to prevent hair from entering the pipes and always rinse your drain thoroughly after each use.

Foreign Objects

Foreign objects, such as wipes, sanitary products, and small toys, can also cause blockages in pipes. To prevent foreign object-related blockages, avoid flushing anything other than toilet paper down the toilet and always properly dispose of wipes, sanitary products, and other foreign objects.

Tree Roots

Tree roots can also cause blockages in pipes, especially in older homes with pipes made of clay or other porous materials. Tree roots can grow into pipes, causing blockages that can reduce the flow of water and cause water to back up into your home. To prevent tree root-related blockages, avoid planting trees near pipes and regularly inspect pipes for signs of tree root growth.

Debris and Leaves

Finally, debris and leaves can also cause blockages in pipes, especially during the fall months when leaves are falling from trees. Debris and leaves can clog gutters, causing water to back up into pipes and contributing to blockages. To prevent debris and leaf-related blockages, regularly clean your gutters and remove any leaves or debris that may have fallen into your pipes.

What Can You Do to Prevent and Resolve Blocked Drains?

The best way to prevent and resolve blocked drains is to take proactive measures to keep your drains clear and functioning properly. Here are a few steps you can take:

  • Regular Maintenance: Regular cleaning and maintenance of your drains can help to prevent blockages and keep water flowing freely.
  • Proper Disposal of Waste: Don’t flush foreign objects such as wipes, sanitary products, and grease down the drain, as they can contribute to blockages in pipes.
  • Use Drain Covers: Installing drain covers can help to prevent debris, leaves, and foreign objects from entering your drains and causing blockages.
  • Call a Professional: If you suspect that your drain is blocked, it’s important to call a professional plumber who can diagnose the problem and provide a permanent solution.

In conclusion, blocked drains can cause major inconvenience and damage to your home and property. By understanding the most common types of blocked drains and taking proactive measures to prevent and resolve them, you can keep your drains functioning properly and avoid costly repairs. If you suspect that your drain is blocked, don’t hesitate to call a professional plumber who can help you diagnose and resolve the problem. The team at Pinnacle Plumbing are on hand and ready to help when you need us.

Testimonials

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

  • Joel

    5 stars
    Fixed the bathroom drain, the plumber is a top bloke. Great service!
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    5 stars
    Great experience from booking to actual service. Job was done quick and efficient. Big thank you to Damon and Blake. Polite, friendly and professio...
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    Damon is professional and had my heating valve fixed. Appreciate it!
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    Damon was fantastic, very quick and super respectful. Thank you
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    Efficient and professional
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    Wonderful advice and customer service from Brent, an absolute hero. Give this man a raise
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    5 stars
    Good service done by blake today at urgent basis. Blake replaced hot water system today. Reliable and efficient lad. Thanks blake.
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    We had an excellent experience with Pinnacle Plumbing. We had a fairly urgent situation and they were straight onto it and figured out the problem ...
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    Prompt attention to problem.Very happy with result.
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    Nick and the team really know there stuff! Very professional Company that I have had the pleasure of working with. Highly recommend!
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    Quick, professional and highly skilled tradesman. Cannot speak highly enough of Nick and the team
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    I am from India. I am a paid plumber. I have a certified plumbing trade. I have cleared only 12th education. I have 8 years experience certificate ...
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    5 stars
    Can’t rate this company any higher or I would!! Toilet flushing issue on a Saturday morning was fixed within a 2 hour maintenance request! The gent...
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    Nick came the same day to clean some blocked drains I had. Same day call out as well as left the job super clean
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    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...
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    The guys came and fixed my blocked drains. Did a great job. Would recommend.
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    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...
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    Pinnacle Plumbing Group came straight away and fixed my plumbing issue which could have been distarrous if left any longer they were efficient frie...
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    Pinnacle Plumbing fixed my urgent blocked drain pipe, Brent was here in an hour and fixed it. Super professional with excellent communication, serv...
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    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 ...
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    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...
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    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...
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    Great job done, by great bunch of guys… highly recommend
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    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...
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    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...
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    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...
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    This plumbing service was great at communication, understanding immediately what the issue seemed to be. They asked if it was an emergency - no, we...
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    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...