Blocked Drains

• This job started as a simple Blocked Toilet
• The blockage was in the main line and it was concrete!
• Check out our jetter at work with the CCTV drain camera
• Watch more of our VLOGS here.

In the video, you’ll notice that our obedient Plumbdog Darius said that he already sorted out the toilet to get it working but when you have a nose for this type of job, he double checked the line for the toilet and found more problems. To the average person or even a less experienced plumber, they would have called it a day which would only cause more problems in the future.

The Plumbing Problem

Concrete in the drains! Now we are used to seeing tree roots, hair and all sorts of usual things creating the need for drain cleaning and drain clearing but concrete is an interesting find. Presumably the concrete entered the drain when the bathroom was renovated.

The Video

In the video, Darius shows us the drain through our CCTV drain camera and gives us a walk through with commentary of the discovery process where he determines where the drain is blocked and why it’s blocked. Then we get to see our water jetter at work clearing through the concrete and dirt.

A couple of interesting points to note which we are always proud to say. Apart from the skills and how easy Plumbdog Darius makes the job look through the camera, our water jetters are custom made locally with power. We’re often called in to take on jobs which others say can’t be done. Imagine being told you had to dig up all the pipes to get this problem solved when we were able to get this done with minimal fuss.

On top of that, notice how far down the inspection opening was for the toilet. We’ve raised it to ground level for easy access in the future which also helps to stop sand getting into the drain. We also found an illegal square junction rather than a Y junction in the drain.

Working With Maintenance Plumbing Specialists

How many times have you called out a plumber only to find that they need to be called back out for the same problem a few weeks later? This would have probably been the same case if someone else was called out to the job saving time and money in the long run and the inconvenience of having to arrange another day off to get the plumbing done at home.

This is why we say we have all the gear and every idea! We are able to sniff out and fix the problems rather than needing to call out other specialists, we are the specialists in our field.

You will need:

• 1 clogged toilet (works best when someone has been overzealous with the toilet paper)
• A generous amount of surfactant (anything that get sudsy, Like Dishwashing liquid, or shampoo)
• Hot (but not boiling as this will crack the toilet bowl) water
• A bucket or a basin to transport water to toilet

Steps:

1. Flush the toilet but not too much so it does not overflow, get your bottle of shampoo/ soap and squirt a generous amount into the bowl.
2. Follow that with a bucket of very hot water from the hot tap (not boiling).
   Fill the toilet full but not overflowing.
3. Leave the toilet for twenty minutes to soak.
4. Hopefully after a few minutes the water level will have lowered. (The hot water and Soap mix helps break down the paper) if this does not work the first time, flush it, and then add more hot water and soap.
5. Leave it soak for ten minutes, and then come back to it, and try flush it.
6. Flush it one or maybe two more time to make sure the blockage is clear.

If it does not go down after the second time, try and use a plunger. If not, give us a call!

We often get plumbing emergency calls for blocked toilets and while often it is highly advisable to use a qualified professional, there are some actions you can try. In some cases, it may be a good temporary solution before you can get a plumber out for an inspection.

Why does a toilet get blocked?

There are various reasons why a toilet gets blocked. Depending where you are located, there are different common blocked toilet and blocked drain issues. For example, if you are in Australia, tree roots prove to be a common problem damaging and blocking pipes and drains underground. Another common problem among young families is when a toddlers toy wants to discover where the water goes when a toilet is flushed.

If the toilet is completely blocked, don’t flush it again

It might seem obvious but it’s understandable why people might think hitting the flush button again might help push more water through to unblock the toilet. This almost never works and all it leaves is a great big mess which being a toilet is generally not a pleasant one.

Check For Obstructions

If you have kids or even puppies, there’s a chance that a quick search around might reveal a toy or even a bone lodged in the toilet bowl. It’s amazing what you can find in the toilet when it comes to little ones. If you have a pair of rubber gloves, get them on and have a quick search around and you might solve your blocked toilet problem nice and quick.

Use the Right Plunger

Most people have traditional sink plungers at home. While they can in a toilet, you will notice that they do not usually fit properly or it might take a fair bit of effort to generate the pressure needed. If you’re reading this article and you do not have a blocked toilet, it might be a good idea to invest in a good quality toilet plunger next time you’re at your local hardware store.

The right plunger can make a huge difference in whether you can unblock your toilet with this method. Remember, a plunger may not do the trick depending on the blockage and there could be a larger plumbing issue so don’t overdo it.

Plunging Tips

Make sure the plunger is fully submerged and there is no air inside the plunger cup. This will allow for the best plunging force from your plunger and may also save the embarrassment of toilet water being splashed all over you. If your plunger isn’t fully submerged, you can add more water but do not use the flush button, grab some water with a bucket and top up the toilet as needed. When plunging, go straight up and down to get the best seal with the plunger which generates the best plunging force.

Plumbing Snakes

Some people happen to have plumbing snakes in their toolbox. If you’re fortunate enough to have one or know someone that does, you can try the plumbing snake to see whether any blockages can be dislodged. If you do happen to find the blockage with a plumbing snake, remember to apply a reasonable amount of pressure but do not be too forceful as you may end up damaging the toilet. In some instances, the toilet may need to be removed in order to get rid of the culprit as the object causing the blockage might need to come out the way it went in.

Liquid Drain Cleaners

There are a range of drain cleaners available at your local hardware stores and supermarkets. It can be really hard to say which ones are the best and whether they will work for your blockage because if your toilet is blocked because of a hard object that has been lodged then they are not the right solution for you. They can be useful if your toilet has a buildup of soap scum, fats, oils and grease. In these types of situations a liquid drain cleaner can work.

Tips for Liquid Drain Cleaners

When selecting chemical drain cleaners, have a good look to see what options are available. There are some newer products made with enzymes rather than traditional harsh chemicals which may be a suitable alternative. Chemical drain cleaners can be toxic and harmful to humans, dogs and other pets and the environment while also causing damage to your pipes in the long run. If you are going to try this method of drain unblocking, then please read and adhere to the manufacturers instructions.

That’s our pointers on what to do with a blocked toilet. Remember while there are DIY solutions to unblocking a toilet, it is always advisable to work with a professional plumber to make sure the job is done correctly and to prevent future problems. Even if you have the right tools, if you are not trained or sure how to use them, you could damage your plumbing or even worse you could injure yourself.

• We have worked with local Perth manufacturers to develop our high pressure water jetters
  
• Our water jetters get through jobs which others say can’t be done
• Plumbdog are specialists when it comes to blocked drains
• Check out more of our VLOGs here

Many of our new and regular clients know Darius from Plumbdog Midland. He’s an all around top bloke and everyone knows him. He’s also a really good plumber with some amazing plumbing skills. in this blog, Darius introduces us to why we’re a leg above the rest when it comes to clearing blocked drains.

Our Equipment – High Pressure Water Jetters & CCTV

We have recently updated our vans and have been working with local Perth manufacturers to develop our high pressure water jetters. Our new Vanguard engines produces 31 horsepower delivering 27 litres per minute at 5000 PSI. For those that aren’t familiar with water jetters or understand what this all means, it simply means it’s really powerful and stronger than the usual jetters a normal plumber would use.

Watch the Video

Darius has put together this great clip for us to see the water jetter in action clearing one of the blocked drains on a job that he has done where other plumbers had said that it couldn’t be cleared.

What’s also great with this video is the viewing angle of the CCTV. In most jobs, once the jetter fires up you really can’t see much because the water is splashing everywhere while in action but in this video we get to see the jetter in action.

See if you can catch at the end where he says “aww I ran out of water!”

Using water jetters along with CCTV is a good clean way to clear your drains. Unlike other traditional methods, water jetters do not use harmful chemicals and do not simply just break up what causes the blockage which causes the same problem to reoccur. Along with the water jetter, having a CCTV inspection means the problem is identified and also reconfirms that the problem has been properly rectified.

If you’re in Perth and surrounding areas, give the team at Plumbdog a whistle. We pride ourselves in being the specialists people turn to for blocked drains and we look after the whole job. Our Plumbdogs need to be of a certain pedigree to qualify being called a Plumbdog Plumber.