A blocked bathroom drain is one of the most common household plumbing issues our team faces every week. There are several reasons that could lead to bathroom drain blockage. You should know about the core reasons and how you can prevent them in the first place.

Knowing how to keep the bathroom drains clean and preventing drain blockages can go a long way in maintaining your home’s plumbing system. In case you are not able to do it on your own, you can always hire professional services from a blocked drain specialist and licenced plumber (wink, wink).

TYPES OF BATHROOM DRAINS

A typical bathroom has an abundance of water inflow and outflow. There are different types of plumbing and drainage systems supporting the same. Bathtubs, sink drains, toilets, and shower drains – all basic components in the bathroom are about plumbing and drainage. 

The drainage system of the bathroom or the drain-waste-vent system is responsible for collecting wastewater from the typical bathroom fixtures and toilets while delivering the same to the respective sewer or septic system. 

Some of the common spots for bathroom drains are:

• Toilets
• Sinks
• Laundry
• Shower
• Bathtub

WARNING SIGNS YOUR BATHROOM DRAIN IS BLOCKED

Time is known to heal. However, in the case of a bathroom drainage blockage, the passage of time only leads to additional problems and havoc. Therefore, it is important to keep looking for signs of a potential blockage. Once you come across potential signs, you should act upon the same as soon as possible.

Here are some tell-tale signs of a blocked bathroom drain to look out for:

• Water slow to drain from the bath, sink or shower
• Water backing up to the sink, shower, commode, or bathtub
• Formation of puddles of water on the floor near bathtub or sink
• Hearing or seeing your toilet bubbling
• Gurgling sounds indicate air is getting trapped in the pipes, potentially working its way around a blockage. 
• Bad odour coming out from drains

OBJECTS BLOCKING THE BATHROOM DRAIN

There are several reasons that could lead to a blocked bathroom drain. Our bathroom drains have to deal with a lot of debris and waste materials during our day-to-day processes. 

If you are experiencing signs of a blocked drain in your bathroom, here are some objects that could be the root cause of the blockage:

• Hair – Human, pet, doll, any hair – keep it out of your drains.
• “Flushable” wipes, baby wipes, napkins, paper towels – Never ever to be put down any drain.
• Tampons, maxi pads, other feminine hygiene products – Yep, these are not to be forced or flushed down any drain.
• Soap – Soap can clog drains faster than you might think — mostly when the residue builds up and catches other things.
• Cotton balls, cotton swabs, fabric softener/dryer sheets, or similar fibrous materials — All of these are not easily dissolved and should not be in any drain.
• Razors, blades, syringes, needles — Not only can these can cause serious injury to municipal sewage workers and to wildlife if they find their way out of your drains and into the public system. Be safe and dispose of these dangerous items in the correct manner (check with your local pharmacy). 

WHAT CAN GO DOWN A BATHROOM SINK OR DRAIN?

Water. That’s pretty much it. Water from washing your hands or body, cleaning water, water from your washing machine. 

You should always avoid putting food and grease into any drain, let alone a bathroom drain.

WHAT TO DO IN A BATHROOM BLOCKED DRAIN EMERGENCY?

If you have a blocked drain emergency on your hands (think major blockage, overflowing water, toilet won’t stop running) we suggest turning off your main water supply immediately then calling a local, licenced plumber to attend to your plumbing emergency. If you call VIP Drains we will be able to provide you with over the phone support and guidance until our expert team arrive at your home. 

Bathroom blocked drains are quite common in every household. However, with a few preventative steps, you can either be better prepared for any type of drainage emergency or avoid them from happening in the first place.

HOW TO AVOID A BLOCKED BATHROOM DRAIN

Here are some ways to deal with a bathroom blocked drain emergency:

Routine Drain Cleaning 

Your bathroom drains get quite the work out every day but how routinely do they get a clean? Check here for a list of safe and economical ways to routinely clean your bathroom drains to keep them squeaky clean.

Scheduling Seasonal Plumbing Checklists

Every season comes with its own set of varying challenges as well as issues for the plumbing system of your house. Summers call for increased water consumption. On the other hand, winter requires hot water heater maintenance. You should note that at least twice a year, you are creating a checklist of important items that you should implement for seasonal plumbing maintenance.

Knowing When Inspections are Required

Irrespective of how skilled DIYer you might be, still there are some specific tasks that only a professional plumber in your area should take care of. Research properly to come across a reliable plumber in your area to ensure in-depth inspections of the drainage and plumbing system of your house. Through regular inspections, professional plumbers can easily diagnose common plumbing problems before their occurrence.

At VIP Drains we would be happy to help you regularly clear and inspect your home’s plumbing system. Please call our friendly team today on 0480 024 323 to organise one of our trained blocked drain experts to attend to your property. 

Diligently Checking for Leaks Regularly

When you ignore a simple, non-complicated leak in your bathroom area, it could result in wasting quite a good amount of water and money. Therefore, make it a point to keep checking faucet handles, taps, looking below bathroom sinks, checking faucets and pipes, and keeping an eye on outdoor valves and hoses. In an ideal situation, you should preferably do it once a month. Moreover, you should also make it a part of the seasonal plumbing inspection.

Call A Professional

When you put anything down the toilet, bathroom drains, or sinks, it could lead to the formation of a clog somewhere along your pipe network. In case of a blocked bathroom drain, always reach out to a professional plumber in your area. A blocked drain is considered a plumbing emergency, so if you’re renting a house and it’s after-hours and you can’t get a hold of your landlord or agency, we suggest calling an after-hours plumber and getting your blocked drain assessed.