It’s best never to pour oil and food fats down the sink. Pour them into an empty container instead and throw it away in the rubbish. Putting items like this into your kitchen drain is sure way to cause blockages. Once these items cool they solidify, creating a very solid, and hard to remove barrier in your drain. Just think about the fat sticking to the insides of your sink pipes. Then consider the food scraps that swirl away after washing up. Food scraps will get trapped and create a worse blockage.

These blockages can sometimes be removed with store bought drain cleaners, or if you’re handy enough, by removing the drainage under the sink and clearing it out. But to be safe, and to know the problem has been rectified properly, you should get a professional plumber in to review and repair the problem thoroughly.

Having a blocked basin sink can be frustrating but it can also be an indication of a more serious blockage. While it might just be a blockage of hair and soap scum which can be removed with drain cleaner and a bit of persistent plunging, it could also indicate a blockage further down the line which may eventually affect your shower, toilet and other fixtures in your house.

If you are unable to clear the blockage yourself, have a plumber attend to ensure that everything is running smoothly in your drains, and that there are no hidden surprises waiting for you.

Blocked shower drains are quite common. The usual culprit is a build-up of hair. When mixed with soap scum, it gradually begins to congeal and stick in the pipes, causing a blockage. The first indication is when water drains away slower, until finally it stops draining all together and instead sits on the floor.These blockages can be plunged away, and you can always try clearing the blockage yourself. Items such as 'Draino' can be bought to get rid of the problem. But sometimes blocked shower drains take a bit more effort and professional help to clear (especially if the grate doesn’t come away easily from the floor). In some instances a plumber may need to use acid to help clear the problem. After plunging, the plumber will pour drain acid down the drain and let it sit for a while. The acid eats away at the remaining hair and soap scum caught in the pipes, clearing away the last of the blockage. Once it’s been left to sit for a while, the acid is washed away, to clear the last of the mess for you.

Remember to always advise the plumber if you have applied drain cleaning products for his personal safety.

A floorwaste is the small drain in your bathroom and toilet floor, to catch any overflow from your shower or bath. Occasionally these drains block, as internally the bath and shower will connect to it. Blockages of scum and hair are quite common in these drains. This causes water to rise up out of the grate in the floor and flood the room. Plunging can be an effective way of clearing it, but if the blockage persists, it’s time to call in a professional plumber to deal with the problem.

Here’s a handy tip!

If your floorwaste starts to smell or is dry, pour a bucket of water down it to flush it out! If the smell persists after you’ve done this, then you should call a plumber to investigate.

If the water in your toilet rises when you flush and drains away slowly, it means you have a blockage. Toilet blockages are quite common, and usually they can be plunged away quite easily, especially if it’s just a paper blockage. If plunging doesn’t work, the issue may be greater, and you should think about calling in a plumber to have a look. Other causes of more serious blockages are tree roots, collapsed sewer lines, and objects like toilet fresheners or even children’s toys can block up the pipe.

If plunging doesn’t clear the line, you can call in a plumber to use a High Pressure Water Jetter. A Jetter is similar to an Electric Eel in that it is run down the pipes to clear the drain of any tree roots or blockages. However, a Jetter uses water to clear out the blockages. It will clear through tree roots more efficiently, is gentler on the internals of your pipes, and results in less mess while the Plumber is working! If the pipe is still blocked after this, there may be a more serious issue.

With the aid of a sewer camera, the Plumber is able to visually inspect the line. He will be able to locate the point where the tree roots are worst, or where the blockage is. The sewer camera is also incredibly useful to pinpoint any damage in the line, and see if the pipe has cracked or collapsed. If the pipe is damaged, the Jetter won’t be of much use as the blockage will constantly recur until the damaged section is replaced. If your pipe is damaged, the plumber can provide you with a quote to repair the problem.

Stormwater drains are the drains which funnel away rainwater from your downpipes and grates. They are just as susceptible to tree roots and being dislocated by earth movement as sewer lines, though blockages in them aren’t as noticeable.

Unlike sewer lines, you don’t have blocked toilets and drains in your house to signal a serious blockage. Instead, the only give away may be in a heavy rain storm when your drains struggle to cope, amounting in a pool of water that could run back into your home.

Stormwater drains need maintenance too. Having a high pressure water Jetter or a sewer camera run down your stormwater line is a common service that most plumbers can provide for you. This will allow you to see if there are any problems (was the pipe crushed when your house was renovated a couple months ago? Did that big tree in your front yard get into the subterranean pipes again?) and allow the plumber to provide you with his best recommendations.

Peace of mind is never a bad thing, especially when you can curl up inside and watch the rain, knowing that none of it will be flooding back into your home.

At Maintenance King Plumbing we are the industry leaders in maintenance and we believe that prevention is better than the cure, as a courtesy we will happily provide you with a comprehensive plumbing inspection (free with any service) giving you piece of mind that your all your plumbing in your home or business is fault free. We leave you with a detailed report.

We understand how a plumbing emergency can impact your life and disrupt your home. That is why we are available on 1800 799 963 day or night.

Unlike other plumbers, we are always here for you. Call us and have an emergency plumber organised to come to your property straight away. After your details are recorded, our qualified plumber will call you with an estimated arrival time so there is no need to worry – The king IS ON THE WAY!

Our trained technician will be able to guide you, to isolate most problems, step-by-step so you can limit and prevent any additional damage. Burst pipes and gas leaks can cause great damage. Isolating the supply will minimise the devastating effects and possibly eliminate the need for costly refurbishments.

As a local company, we are in touch with the local community. Our well stocked trucks also carry specialised plumbing equipment so we can begin work immediately.