Plumbing Tips
Preventative Drain Maintenance: How to Keep Blockages at Bay
21 Feb 2025
Preventative Drain Maintenance: How to Keep Blockages at Bay
Clogged drains don’t just happen overnight. In most cases, blocked drains start as minor build-ups of hair, grease, soap scum, or debris—and gradually grow into a full-blown blockage. The good news is that a little regular maintenance can go a long way toward keeping your pipes flowing smoothly. Below, we’ll cover practical tips and insights you can use to prevent blockages before they start. If a stubborn clog does sneak through, don’t hesitate to Call Now for professional help.
1. Get Into a Routine of Flushing With Hot Water
Why it helps:
Hot water flushes away small amounts of grease, soap residue, and oils before they solidify in the pipes.
Regularly doing this reduces the chance of sticky buildup turning into a blockage.
How to do it:
Once a week, boil a kettle of water (or run the tap at its hottest) and carefully pour it down each drain—bathroom sinks, kitchen sinks, and showers.
If you’ve been cooking with oil, follow up by pouring a little dish soap into the drain, then the hot water.
2. Use Strainers and Catchers to Stop Debris
Why it helps:
Simple mesh strainers or drain covers catch hair, food scraps, and other debris before they enter your plumbing system.
Captured waste is easier to toss in the bin than dealing with a major clog later.
How to do it:
Place a drain strainer in all sinks, showers, and tubs—especially if you have family members with long hair or if you do a lot of cooking with food scraps.
Empty the strainer regularly. A quick rinse under hot water plus a tap into the trash keeps it clean and ready for use.
3. Be Smart About What Goes Down the Drain
Why it helps:
Many blocked drain Gold Coast emergencies happen when people flush or rinse items that don’t dissolve—like wipes, paper towels, or cooking grease.
How to do it:
Kitchen drains: Avoid washing large amounts of cooking oil or fatty scraps into the sink. Wipe pans with a paper towel to remove excess grease and discard in the trash.
Bathrooms: Only flush toilet paper. Keep wipes, cotton buds, or sanitary products out of the toilet. Dispose of them in a waste bin.
4. Try Natural Cleaners Instead of Harsh Chemicals
Why it helps:
Commercial drain cleaners can corrode pipes over time and may not clear deep blockages.
Natural alternatives help maintain healthy drainage without damaging pipes or the environment.
How to do it:
Baking soda and vinegar: Pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by half a cup of white vinegar. Let it fizz for 5–10 minutes, then rinse with hot water. This helps dissolve grease and soap scum.
Enzyme-based cleaners: These use bacteria to break down organic matter like hair or food particles. They’re gentler on your plumbing and safer to use regularly.
5. Inspect Outdoor Drains and Gutters
Why it helps:
Leaves, dirt, and debris can clog outdoor drains and stormwater channels, leading to backups that affect indoor plumbing as well.
Gold Coast homes often face heavy rainfall, which can wash yard debris into outdoor drains quickly.
How to do it:
Clear fallen leaves and twigs from driveways, patios, and gutters—especially in storm season.
Use a garden hose to test outdoor drains. If water doesn’t flow freely, remove any visible blockage. If it persists, call a drainage Gold Coast specialist.
6. Monitor for Early Warning Signs
Why it helps:
Problems like slow-draining sinks or gurgling noises often start small. Spotting them early means you can tackle clogs before they get serious.
What to look out for:
Slow drains: Water pooling longer than usual in sinks, showers, or tubs.
Unpleasant smells: Rotting food or sewage odors can indicate trapped debris.
Strange sounds: Gurgling or bubbling in one drain might point to a partial blockage affecting multiple fixtures.
Want to learn more? Check out our blog on Common Signs of a Blocked Drain You Should Never Ignore.
7. Schedule Professional CCTV Inspections
Why it helps:
Hidden tree roots or pipe damage can cause recurring clogs. A CCTV drain inspection identifies these issues before they become major.
Licensed plumbers can pinpoint cracks, intruding roots, or collapsed sections to fix them early.
How it works:
A qualified Plumber Gold Coast expert inserts a small camera into your drains, streaming real-time footage of the pipe’s interior.
If they detect any issues—like narrowing from buildup, root invasion, or structural damage—they’ll recommend targeted repairs or cleaning.
8. Book Routine Professional Drain Cleaning
Why it helps:
Even with diligent at-home maintenance, grime and buildup can accumulate over time.
Annual or bi-annual drain cleaning keeps pipes flowing freely and prevents unexpected blockages.
What professionals do:
Hydro-jetting uses high-pressure water to blast away grease, scale, and debris, restoring full pipe diameter.
Mechanical augers or snakes break through any stubborn blockages that natural cleaners can’t handle.
9. Maintain Appliances That Connect to Drains
Why it helps:
Dishwashers, washing machines, and garbage disposals feed into your home’s drainage system. A malfunction in these appliances can increase the risk of clogs.
How to do it:
Clean your dishwasher filter regularly—food bits can clog its drain line.
Check washing machine hoses for kinks or damage and remove lint from the drain filter if applicable.
If you have a garbage disposal, run cold water before, during, and after grinding food to help flush waste away.
10. Know When to Call In the Experts
Why it matters:
Prevention is key, but if you notice persistent slow drains, gurgling toilets, or repeated clogs, it’s time for professional help.
Delaying a repair can lead to more expensive fixes later.
What to do:
Call Now for a thorough inspection and professional drain cleaning. Expert plumbers have the tools and experience to handle tough clogs, tree root invasions, and pipe repairs efficiently.
Ask about preventive maintenance plans. Regular checkups can save you money and frustration down the road.
