Many people have drains that are blocked but they do not realise it. Unfortunately, it becomes readily apparent when the debris have so blocked the drain…it no longer drains. And yes, this is when you call a local Melbourne plumber. Sure, we know, plumbers are an expense no one wants to have. We understand that, and we consider ourselves a necessary evil in that context. However, the fact is, if you could tell when a drain is getting clogged, you could probably handle it yourself. That is why we put together this handy guide to help you determine when your drains are starting to block.

The Vortex and Drain Blockage

Have you ever seen a whirlpool or paid attention to the water when the bathtub or sink drain? If you have, you will remember the little vortex the water forms as its going down the drain. When Service Today cleans blocked drains in Sydney, that is one of the little details we pay attention to.

When water goes down the drain of your tub or sink, it picks up speed and starts to swirl and ends up forming a little whirlpool, or vortex. As the water rushes down the drain, the vortex spins faster. If your sink or tub starts clogging, this may be the first place you will notice it. Your vortex will spin slower and slower and will be wide rather than tight. Eventually, it will simply stop rotating and you will have water standing in your sink or drain. This is the part where you call a plumber. When it was starting to slow down was the time when you could probably fix it yourself. Perhaps a little drain cleaner would have done the trick.

Toilet Flush ability

A toilet is a very simple mechanism and for the most part, and will typically continue to work properly with very little maintenance. However, there are times when your toilet will not behave the way it is expected to. In other words, sometimes it just won’t flush.

The question then is, do you have a drain blockage that requires attention or is it some little part of the toilet that caused the problem; a loose handle, an inadequate stopper in the water closet, or a true clog?

To differentiate between a clogged toilet that requires the drain unblocking and a problem with your toilet unrelated to the drain, here are a couple of tips. First off, blocked toilets tend to overflow. There is simply nowhere for the water to go. To test this out, fill a bucket with water and quickly dump it down the toilet. If the drain is clogged, the toilet will not flush but if the drain is clear, it will flush. That indicates a problem other than a clogged drain.

Backed Up Water – or Sludge

One problem that could cause you major headaches is a clog in the sewage drains or storm water pipes. Problems in these areas are bad, so if you even think you have a problem, you should seek professional help as soon as possible. A blockage in the main drain can cause plumbing problems all over your house. Here are some clues to look for.

If you have water backing up into your house after a hard rain, you could have a blockage in your stormwater drain. You will know the difference between a sewer line and a stormwater drain by the type of water that backs up. Water from a stormwater drain will be clearer and may have organic matter like dirt or twigs in it, but water from a sewer line contains whatever went into your toilet.

Your first clue that there is a clogged main sewage line is that you will have problems with multiple drains in your home simultaneously. The water is trying to find somewhere to go so it spreads through the system instead of going down the drain.

If you flush the toilet and the waters backs up into the tub or shower it is a good indication there is a drain blockage. But if you use your washing machine and it backs up into the laundry tubs or causes your toilet to overflow, that would be a good indication that a local plumber’s visit is on your horizon.