A slow sink or gurgling toilet is easy to ignore, until it overflows. Here are the usual causes, what you can try yourself and when it's time to call a plumber.
The usual suspects
- Tree roots find their way into cracked or ageing pipes and grow until they block them.
- Grease and fat poured down the sink cool and harden inside the pipe.
- Wipes, even “flushable” ones, don't break down like toilet paper.
- Hair and soap build up in shower and basin drains.
- Damaged pipes that have shifted, cracked or collapsed.
What you can try
For a single slow drain, try a plunger or clean out the trap under the sink. Avoid harsh chemical drain cleaners. They can damage pipes and rarely fix the underlying cause.
When to call a plumber
- Several drains are slow at once.
- Water backs up into the shower or overflows from a gully.
- You can smell sewage.
- The same drain keeps blocking.
How we fix it
We use a CCTV drain camera to find the cause, clear it with high-pressure jetting and repair the damage so it doesn't come back next month. You'll get a fixed price before we start, with no call-out fee.
Blocked drain? Call us 24/7 on 0418 504 884.
