Emergency Plumber Northern Beaches | North Shore | North Sydney

Many things can cause blockages, and often when a sewer or drain is cleared, there is no sign of what caused the problem. Common causes include the build up of soap and grease deposits, tree roots, and disposable nappies. Sewers and drains also block when 'foreign' objects are put into them. Less common causes have included: fish, a plastic dinosaur, an oil filter, a plastic box and even someone else's drain rods! Most of these were the result of people trying to clear their own blockage and making the situation worse.

Early detection of a blocked drain can drastically reduce the work involved for a plumber to unblock and clear it, saving you money. Signs to look and listen for include:

A gurgling or gulping sound (often accompanied by a smelly drain grate) coming from the floor waste or toilet when water is in use.

The water level in the toilet rising above or falling below normal levels, and/or the drain outside the house overflowing, especially after a high water usage appliance has been in operation such as the dish washing machine.

The floor waste overflowing during a shower may also indicate a blockage. If you suspect that you have a partially blocked drain it is best to call Plumbing Patrol to inspect and clear the blockage as soon as possible.

As a general rule refrain from disposing anything that does not belong in the sewer line and water pipes as most likely it will get caught down your water pipes or sewer line costing you a great deal of inconvenience and money to get them repaired. Tree roots are a very common cause of blocked drains, especially in the hotter months when trees get thirsty and in search of a drop of water from inside the water pipes. These roots will eventually break through and gradually cause a storm water or sewer blockage. At Plumbing Patrol we recommend that trees and plants are planted as far away as possible from sewer and storm water drainage lines. For existing trees please check with your local Council or Sydney Water for more info. It is also very important to clean the gutters regularly, fit a leaf guard system to prevent leaves blocking the downpipe system.

At Plumbing Patrol an electric eel is commonly used to clear a blocked sewer or storm water line. A steel cable with a cutter on the end is inserted in the sewer or storm water line, it will then spin at controlled speed to chew through the blockage. A plumbing electric eel is most effective over approximately 30-40 metres down the line from the point of entry, even though further distances can be successfully cleared depending of the location. The further the electric eel has to travel inside the pipe the less powerful it will be. The electric eel will only clear what is inside the pipes, if the problem persists a camera inspection of the line may be required to determine the exact location of the problem.