Many households experience frustration due to blocked drains. When it happens, it gets in the way of your day.

Many homeowners wonder if DIY methods can handle this problem. For minor clogs, DIY can work. However, doing your own drain cleaning – especially stormwater drains – can be tricky.

In this blog, you will get clear answers to the questions you had in mind when you typed in “drain cleaning Sydney” in your internet search bar. You will also learn about when to attempt DIY (and different DIY drain cleaning methods), and when to call an expert for home and commercial drain cleaning services.

Drain Cleaning Sydney: Causes of Common Drain Problems and DIY Cleaning Methods

Blocked drains are the result of different materials getting trapped in a drain pipe and stopping wastewater from flowing. These materials include hair, grease, food bits, and other unwanted materials.

The ageing plumbing system in Sydney, combined with tree root intrusions and other underground debris, worsens the situation. Stormwater drains, especially, often get clogged because of this detritus and invading tree roots.

When they experience minor clogs, most homeowners will attempt to repair the issue themselves. They often use simple means that are readily available to save time and money. Some of the most popular do-it-yourself means include:

Boiling Water: Boiling water can loosen buildup. It works on grease, fat, and soap scum deposits in your pipes. It works well in kitchen sinks where food oils collect. Boiling water cannot deal with all clogs, however, especially the ones stuck deep inside your pipes, however.
Baking Soda and Vinegar: A mixture of these two creates a potent homemade drain cleaning agent that doesn’t contribute to pipe damage. The mixture is eco-friendly, too. However, it doesn’t deal with major blockages in your drain line.
Plungers: A plunger is a plumbing tool that uses pressure and suction to clear clogs near the drain opening. To use, close the drain opening tightly. Press it down hard on the drain surface, and pump it like a bicycle pump until you hear the wastewater flow out.
Drain Snakes (Augers): These plumbing tools are bendable and can go deep into the drain line. They break up tough clogs like hair and grease. They need to be used carefully by someone with experience, however, to avoid damaging pipes.

If the clogs keep returning, then it’s time to ditch the DIY skills for those of a pro. The blockage may be because of bigger issues, like a tree root intrusion, which might need CCTV drain inspections or commercial drain cleaning services.

Hazards of Do-It-Yourself Drain Cleaning Sydney

Although DIY drain cleaning methods are adequate to deal with small clogs, applying them to complex clogs with the wrong information or tools will result in the following risks and problems:

Pipe Damage: Chemical cleaners or tools like drain snakes are the most common DIY methods. But these can damage your pipes if not used in the right way. This may cause leaks or bursts and lead to more serious damage.
Inadequate Clearing of Obstructions: Getting rid of blockages might help for a while, but bigger problems might still be there, waiting. Things like tree root intrusion or sediment buildup are often undetected. This means the drain can get blocked again, causing more stress.
Health Hazards: You are exposing your health to risk when you clean the blocked drains yourself. Harmful germs and bacteria live in sewers, and cleaning your drains exposes you to them. Only professional plumbers have the appropriate gear for such a messy job. They can even do CCTV drain inspections to help them understand exactly what they need to do and make the job less messy.
Missing the Root Cause Without a Pipe Inspection: Not being able to fix hidden problems in your drains is the main risk of DIY drain cleaning. Issues like pipe damage or misalignment require professional diagnosis. You need a proper pipe inspection or holistic CCTV drain inspections to find the real problem. Without the right knowledge, you might make it worse or damage the pipes.

When to Call a Professional

You can save money and time when you leave your pipe inspection and your general plumbing problems to a pro. Also, it helps you prevent further damage to your plumbing.

DIY is great, but with experts who offer home and commercial cleaning services, you can avoid more damage and stay safe. These experts will perform CCTV drain inspections to see the extent of the blockage, then use methods like high-pressure water jetting (also known as high-pressure jet blasting) to clear the blockage.

Doing this ensures that you protect your stormwater drains and keep your entire drainage system working well for longer.

If you deal with any of the following issues after doing it yourself, then call a pro:

Constant Clogging Despite DIY

There is more to it if your blocked toilets or drains can’t be fixed by home remedies. If the clogs keep happening, it means something deeper is wrong. That’s when you need more than just quick fixes. Each time problems persist, it’s most likely to indicate a deeper issue in your drainage system that needs expert attention and probably requires tools like high-pressure water jetters.

Need for CCTV Drain Inspections

Effective diagnosis of new plumbing problems can’t be done without proper equipment. Sometimes, only a deeper look into the system using CCTV cameras can really reveal the problem, and only licensed plumbers can do this.

Clogs That Need High-Pressure Water Jetting

Some clogs, like tree roots, require more than the usual method to remove. High-pressure jet blasting uses high-pressure water jetters to break tough blockages and clear drain lines without causing damage. It is better than chemical cleaners.

High-Tech Systems like Stormwater Drains Requiring Commercial Drain Cleaning Services

These high-tech systems require technical expertise and special equipment to deal with. Highly trained plumbers have the training to handle such types of advanced systems efficiently. They work in accordance with local codes for commercial drain cleaning service or municipal drainage system maintenance.

Drain Cleaning Sydney: Blocked Drain Preventative Measures

Use as little toilet paper or non-degradable material as necessary.
Shower drains must be cleaned from time to time so as not to get clogged due to waste and hair.
Pipes should be checked regularly for early detection of blocked drains and blocked toilets.
Deep cleaning through high-pressure jet blasting or water jetting by professionals.
Clear stormwater drains of blockages so as not to lead to flooding.
Hire professionals like Plumber Sydney for frequent checks and consultancy.

Conclusion

DIY solutions are temporary in scope for small clog scenarios, but are pointless for fixing the root of blocked drains. Only experts who have the right tools for methods like high-pressure jet blasting and pipe inspections can actually solve this problem. Prevention is better than cure, but if you fail at preventative measures, the next best thing is timely detection.