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The team at Service Fox are drain clearing specialists. We’ve been helping Sydney and Central Coast residents with blocked drains for years, and we guarantee you’ll have quality service from a team you can trust.
The most common cause of a blocked drain is hair. Every day we lose up to 100 strands of hair, and let’s face it, the majority of that comes out when we wash out hair in the shower or bath. Those hairs have to go somewhere and it’s usually down the drains. Drains, however, aren’t designed straight, so often hair gets caught up in the bends, then more hair, and more until it causes a blockage. Nappies, sanitary products and baby wipes are also common causes for blocked toilet drains, and in the kitchen or if you’re running an industrial property, you’ll find grease and oil can build up in the drains. If you then wash food or other items down the drain, they stick together and you’ll end up with blocks.
It’s important that you take care of your pipes, and even if you haven’t washed anything down the drains that you shouldn’t – you could still be dealing with normal wear and tear that can create problems over time. It’s best that if your drains aren’t emptying as fast as they usually do, you get in touch with our team to come and take a look. Blocks can quickly create a mess in the home with overflowing water, so don’t take the risk.
A blocked shower or bath drain is one of the most common problems residents face when it comes to plumbing. While you might not have an outright blocked drain, a slow-draining bath is just as much of a concern. If you are dealing with water that is slow to drain, it could be a result of dirt, soap scum, or hair build-up. It isn’t just an unsightly problem, it can be dangerous.
As Inner City plumbing experts, we can advise you on what steps to take to unlock a bath drain. There are several ways you can do this – you can do so by hand, use a plunger, snake it, opt for baking soda and vinegar, or use a drain cleaner.
To unblock your drain by hand, remove the stopper and strainer and fish out any debris within your reach. Pour hot water down the drain to clear the rest. If this works, there is nothing else left for you to do. If it doesn’t, however, you should move on to the next option.
You can also use a coat hanger if you can see the blockage but you can’t reach it by hand.
If you are dealing with blocked drains in Cronulla, then you can try to unblock your drain with a plunger. A cup-style plunger is necessary and at this point, there shouldn’t be any chemicals in use because the plunger will cause a spatter. There should be enough water in the basin to cover the cup of the plunger. Keep the handle straight as you plunge up and down for around 20 seconds and check the results. Repeat the process as many times as necessary, but if it isn’t clearing, you may need to call an emergency plumber in the Sydney Eastern Suburbs.
A handheld snake is excellent to unblock a drain, they come in varying lengths and can pull or push a blockage through. They are straightforward to use – it’s essentially a long-reaching coat hanger.
If you have a slow-draining bath drain, then this might be the ideal method to help you avoid calling a plumber in Cronulla. Start by pouring boiling water down your drain and then add around half a cup of baking soda to the drain and give it a couple of minutes. Add a cup of white vinegar to the mix and more hot water. Allow the mix to sit for up to 10 minutes and then flush it with boiling water. If the concoction is a success, you will hear it bubbling as it breaks the debris down.
A drain cleaner can be dangerous so be sure you choose one you can use safely and one that is suitable for the type of pipes and drains you have. If you choose the wrong item it can cause bigger issues that will leave you in need of emergency plumbing services in the Eastern Suburbs. Simply follow the instructions on the packaging.
Whether you are dealing with a particularly stubborn drain or you don’t feel confident dealing with a blocked drain yourself, then you can call a 24 hour plumber in the Sutherland Shire area. A Manly plumbing service can handle your blocked drains, trace leaks, or handle any plumbing emergency you might have.
Now that you are armed with a variety of DIY options to unblock your bath drains. This knowledge might just help you from the cost of hiring a plumber in the Sutherland Shire, but if none of these DIY options is successful you will need the professional services of an expert plumber in Sydney’s Inner West. If you need an emergency plumber in the Eastern Suburbs, call Service Fox! We offer affordable plumbing in Sydney and beyond.
Your outdoor drainpipe is responsible for transferring wastewater away from your property and into the storm drain or local sewer system. If your outdoor drainpipe ever has a clog or blockage, it can cause major problems in your yard as well as inside your home. Not only could wastewater overflow from the sewer and contaminate your property, but you’d be unable to use your internal drains and toilets.
Is your outdoor drain pipe blocked and causing you nothing but headaches and pain? Don’t be like Milli-Vanilli and just blame it on the rain. Not only did that not work out too well for them, but excess rainwater is the result of blocked drains, not what causes them in the first place. Simply call an emergency plumber like Service Fox and we’ll take care of it for you. But first…
Like all plumbing fixtures in and around your property, outside drain pipes can be just as vulnerable to clogs and blockages. Here are the most common causes of blockages seen by plumbers in outside pipes.
Muddy Debris
That being said, the most common cause of blockages in outside drain pipes is the build-up of soil, branches, leaves, moss, silt, litter, and other debris. Whether all of this muck is accumulated over time or within only a short period, heavy storms and rainwater quickly turns them into a muddy clog which becomes too much for the drainpipes to handle. It all hardens into a blockage until you have to call out 24 hour plumbers.
Tree Roots
The next most common reason for outside drain pipes to become clogged or blocked is because of tree roots. Whenever there is even the smallest crack or breakage in the underground pipeline, tree roots will instinctively seek out the nutrients from the continuous water supply. The tree roots will then continue growing thicker and larger inside the drainpipe until it eventually blocks it completely.
Foreign Matter
Another common reason for blockages in outdoor drain pipes is foreign matter and other items from inside the property which shouldn’t be washed down the drain. This includes grease and food in the kitchen, hair and soap scum in the bathroom, and excess paper and sanitary products that cause a blocked toilet. In fact, anything that can possibly clog up your kitchen and bathroom drains can always get dislodged and cause a blockage in your exterior drain pipes as well. After all, every one of those pipes is interconnected anyway.
If you don’t notice a blockage problem early enough, it can escalate into major flooding and structural damage to your property. That’s why it’s a good idea to do whatever you can to prevent clogs and blockages whenever you possibly can.
Start by regularly clearing the leaves and branches from your roof and guttering, and reducing the accumulation of dirt and other debris from around the outside stormwater drains and pipes. By trimming the trees, cutting back bushes, and generally keeping your garden maintenance up-to-date, you’ll be able to reduce the number of leaves and branches that end up in your gutters and drains.
If your sinks are gurgling, draining slowly, or smelling bad, there’s a good chance of a blockage somewhere. So make sure you get the clogging problem dealt with before it gets dislodged and creates an even bigger problem in your external drain pipes. Call the team from Service Fox today and we’ll get it sorted for you! We can also take care of any Hot Water Repair you need.
Another way to avoid future blockages in your drain pipes regularly is using a hose to flush out debris from downpipes, stormwater drains, and outdoor drain pipes. You should also install some good quality outside drain and guttering covers to stop leaves, branches, and other debris from ending up in your drains and causing clogs.
If you’ve had problems with tree roots in your sewer or drain pipes in the past, it’s a good idea to do something proactive about it. Either book an annual inspection with the professional Service Fox team, or get the problem tree removed from that area completely. Ultimately, either of these options is the only possible method of preventing future blockages from tree roots.
If your outdoor drainpipe is currently clogged or blocked, give Service Fox a call. We’ll take care of all your emergency plumbing needs in no time at all.
A blocked bathroom sink is not only inconvenient but also a hazard. Whether it’s entirely blocked, water is overflowing from the sink, or the pipes are slow to drain, it’s important you have any problems fixed as soon as possible to prevent the overflow of murky water, which can damage not only your cabinets but also your floors. Fortunately, a blocked bathroom sink is usually an easy fix, provided you know what you’re doing.
Here are five reasons your bathroom sink may be blocked and what you can do about it.
Drains easily become clogged by soap when the chemicals in the soap react with the magnesium and calcium in the water. This is called soap scum; over time, it builds up on the sides of the pipes, catching hair and other materials.
This is one of the most common causes of drain blockages, particularly in the bathroom. Whether someone has been shaving their head over the sink or you brush your hair there, when hair gets wet, it creates clumps. Combined with possible soap and other residues in the sink, it can quickly cause problems with your drainage.
The P-Trap is located directly under the sink, and due to the design, it can easily catch any foreign objects that are washed down the sink. From jewellery to toys, if you have an idea of what could be causing the blockage, you can check the P-trap.
All the taps and pipes in the home lead to an outdoor system; if that system is blocked, it can impact every sink in the house. If you hear gurgles or smell something strange with your pipes, it’s best to have a professional look at your outdoor drains.
Over time, pipes can deteriorate naturally, and rust in the pipe interiors can slow water flow, while dents on the pipes can restrict or stop water flow if the damage is severe. Even pipe connectors can wear out and create sagging and water blockage. While you can’t avoid pipe damage as a natural occurrence, you can invest in new pipes if the problem is severe.
Try a plunger. This is one of the first things you should try, particularly if the pipes are fully blocked. Make sure the plunger is sealed to the sink tightly, use the handle to move it side to side, and then remove the plunger. Finally, pour some water down the pipe to see if it worked.
Heat up about 2 litres of water (don’t boil it) and pour it down the sink. This should help melt any soap scum holding onto other materials, causing the blockage.
Vinegar and baking soda is a magic potion to clean up many messes, including a blocked sink or drain. Pour half a cup of baking soda near the drain stopper, then add one cup of vinegar. It’ll start to bubble so have some towels handy if there’s a chance it may overflow. This chemical reaction helps to break down clogs.
Open the P-trap. You can usually remove these quite easily under the sink, be sure to have towels and an old toothbrush handy. Towels will capture any excess water and you can use the brush to give it a good scrub.
Drain cleaner. Many chemical-based products are designed to unclog drains; you’ll find these at your local hardware store. If you are concerned about the environment, read the label and choose one that won’t cause harm.
A drain snake. This specialised tool has a handle on one end and a long wire on the other. You can easily use it, turning the handle as you push it into the drain. It’s designed to loosen any debris so you can run the tap freely.
If you have problems with your bathroom sink that you can’t fix with the tips mentioned above, it’s time to call in the professionals!
Service Fox hires certified technicians who are fast, have a lot of experience, are licensed, and offer affordable plumbing in Sydney, whether it’s blocked drains in Cronulla or a 24 hour plumber in the Sutherland Shire. Our trained and experienced plumbers have seen everything: the wrong way plumbing fixtures can be put in, corroded or missing parts that most people wouldn’t think to look for, and clogs in places you wouldn’t expect them to be.
Call Service Fox immediately if you need an emergency plumber in the Sydney eastern suburbs. Or contact us to arrange for a plumber in the Sutherland Shire, a plumber in Cronulla, inner city plumbing or if you want to book our Manly plumbing service. Our friendly and experienced team are on hand to discuss everything you need, and we’ll be out as soon as possible to fix your blocked drains.
Thanks to the wonders of indoor plumbing, we’re able to filter debris while flushing water down the drain and away from our homes. However, drains can, unfortunately, get themselves clogged during this process.
While it usually only starts out as a fairly minor issue, blocked drains and clogged pipes can very easily and quickly escalate into some pretty major problems which require costly repairs, such as pipe corrosion, flooding water, and sewage backing up.
What Does It Mean If Your Drain Becomes Clogged?
Whenever your drain becomes clogged, blocked, or is only draining water slowly, it will usually be caused by some kind of obstruction in the pipes, which will usually depend on which room the drain is located.
For example, the main cause of clogged drains in the bathroom is when soap scum builds up inside the pipes and binds with foreign particles of dirt, skin flakes, and especially hair. This accumulation of gunk continues building up over time as it reduces water flow and eventually blocks it off completely.
On the other hand, clogged drains in the kitchen are usually caused by the build-up of food particles, detergent soap scum, and cooking grease or oil. When food and other substances that are unable to quickly dissolve are washed down the drain, it doesn’t take too long before they create a significantly gunky and stubborn blockage.
While slow drains and blockages are a fairly common problem, they can sometimes be an early indicator of a much more serious plumbing problem such as gurgling drains, bad smells, broken pipes, or a tree root infiltration. These are significant situations that call for professional repair work before they end up causing broken water pipes, extensive interior damage, or raw sewage starts backing up inside your home or business.
6 Easy Tricks To Keep Your Drains Clear
While clogged drains in your home or business are always annoying, even more so when they happen regularly, they’re usually a preventable issue. And it’s much easier to prevent clogged drains by eliminating the problems that cause them than it is to unclog them. So, here’s the best ways to keep your drains clear and avoid clogging them altogether:
By taking these simple proactive measures, you’ll be able to limit how often your drain will clog by noticing any drainage issues before they cause more severe problems that are irreversible and costly.
What You Shouldn’t Do If You Drains Block Up
While something needs to be done if you have a clogged drain in your home or business, there are some things you shouldn’t do. For example:
DON’T keep running water down a completely blocked drain
DON’T use any other drains until you know the problem is with only the one drain
DON’T try pouring boiling water down a blocked drain
DON’T use acid drain cleaners or other dangerous chemicals
How Can Service Fox Help?
Attempting to fix basic issues with clogged drains by yourself is sometimes possible, but can be difficult without the right plumbing tools and knowledge. That’s why you should contact your expert local plumbers from Service Fox when you first notice any issues with slow drainage or clogging. Our professional experts offer a complete range of plumbing services to both residential and commercial properties, allowing us to locate the cause, deal with the issue, and provide your drains with a thorough deep clean.
One of the worst things that can befall your drainage system is a blockage! It happens to us all eventually, but there are several things you can do to prevent it from occurring in the first place and this article will hopefully help you to avoid it altogether. However, if you have small children, you may want to brace yourself for this eventuality and make sure you know the number of your emergency plumber in the Eastern Suburbs.
Your emergency plumber in the Sydney Eastern Suburbs will be able to unblock your drain, but here are a few of the items that can cause the blockage in the first place.
First thing’s first – don’t panic! Blocked drains are a part of life. If you’re sure that the drain is either partially or completely blocked – as in, the water won’t drain as it should, your first call should be to a plumber in Cronulla, if you live in Cronulla. Alternatively, if you are a resident of the Sutherland Shire, then call a plumber in the Sutherland Shire. If your blockage happens outside of regular business hours (for residents of the Sutherland Shire), then call a 24 hour plumber.
Professional help should be sought for a blocked drain if you’ve tried to unplug it yourself. Usually, this involves a few tries with the plunger – if that doesn’t work, then you’re likely not going to be able to do this yourself. Service Fox can be of assistance! Emergency plumbers in the Eastern Suburbs will show up with all of the necessary tools.
Our affordable plumbing services in Sydney will mean that you won’t go broke over this visit. Our plumber will show up with a pipe camera – to give them a better idea of what is causing the blockage. If it’s a small enough item that can be retrieved using a manual snake, that’s what they’ll use. However, if that doesn’t work, then they’ll move onto a mechanised snake, offering slightly more pressure and pull.
Outside of those options, things get a bit messier – using a hydro jet forces water down the drain with a huge amount of pressure and force behind it, to unclog the drain. The first two steps of the snake usually fixes the problem. The last thing a plumber wants to do is start taking apart your pipes.
We dispatch our plumbers in all parts of New South Wales to help on an emergency basis with blocked drains. No matter what it is that blocked your drain, you can be sure that an inner city plumbing service like Service Fox will be able to help. Give us a call if you’re in need and we’ll be right there to unclog your blockage.
Are you holding your breath every time you walk into the bathroom? Strange smells seeping through the kitchen? Does your laundry smell like you’ve left eggs rotting behind the washing machine?
Smelly drains aren’t just bad for your nose, they can be bad for your health as well. And unfortunately, the cause can be hard to find. Here are some of the reasons your drains might be stinky – and what you can do about them.
Gunk and bacteria: Whether it’s food scraps in the kitchen or hair in the bathroom, your drains end up with a whole lot of gunk in them and the more they build up, the more they stick to the drains. Toothpaste acts as a glue for hair, grease and oil catches discarded meat – and it all sticks to your drain pipes. Over time, it gets rotten or mouldy and starts to smell. It can also lead to clogged drains and cracked pipes, so it’s important you get it checked.
Sewer Gas: Sewer gas is the breakdown of human waste, including ammonia, hydrogen sulphide and so on. If you’ve noticed a rotten egg smell coming from your drains, this is generally the cause. It’s not generally toxic in small doses, but if you have high levels of exposure you can get sewer gas poisoning, which can lead to headaches, dizziness and vomiting. It’s generally caused by leaks in plumbing, cracked pipes, blocked air vents, clogged drains, and dry plumbing from unused toilets and drains.
Drain Flies: They’re not your average pest, which could be why you have never heard of them, but drain flies are extremely common, particularly in Australian homes. If you’ve ever noticed little flies hanging around the sink, that’s them – and they’re having a great time feasting on all that build up of gunk in your drains. They won’t cause damage to your drains, but they will get annoying, and the more there are, the worse the smell.
Plumbing Mistakes: If you’ve completed a DIY project or had a plumber in recently and your drains are starting to smell, it could be an error with the plumbing itself. This could be missing traps or vents, or it could be that you have a leak or rotting drain tubes that were overlooked.
If you want to tackle a smelly drain yourself, there are a few things you can try. Firstly, remove the drain covers and get any muck out that might be in there. This takes time, and it’s a messy job, so you might prefer to get someone else to do it. Another option you can try is bicarb soda and vinegar. Mix it together and pour it down the drains. This helps to soften any muck that’s in the drains, hopefully washing it away.
You could pour some boiling water down as well, however, this isn’t recommended if you have PVC pipe joints. If it’s your bath or shower that’s causing the smells, you might try using a plunger, and the same goes for your toilet. Try to avoid using harsh chemicals – these can damage your pipes and plumbing.
For plumbing in the home, you don’t want to take any risks – particularly when it comes to bad smells. It’s much more efficient, and often more cost effective, to call in an affordable plumbing Sydney company, rather than attempting to DIY.
At ServiceFox we provide inner city plumbing, plumbing services in the Eastern Suburbs, and Manly plumbing service options, we’re also your local plumber in the Sutherland Shire and plumber in Sydney’s inner west, one of the most recommenced plumber Cronulla providers and we’re the go-to for an emergency plumber in the Sydney Eastern Suburbs.
That small hole just below the tap, about three quarters of the way from the drain in the sink? That’s your overflow hole. It’ll be found in almost every sink – either on the tap side, or the opposite side and its singular purpose is to prevent overflow and save your bathroom floor and/or house from significant flood damage.
Basin overflows are all about flow, hence the name. The small hole allows the basin to drain faster by introducing air into the flow system. The small hole allows the water to drain faster, as it has another outlet.
From time to time, your overflow hole may become blocked, as build up may occur in the pipes of various items that shouldn’t have been put in the sink to begin with. This will cause the overflow to malfunction, and your water to not drain as quickly as it needs to. In order to rectify this problem, you’ll want to use a vinegar and baking soda solution to create an explosive force to clear out the blockage in the overflow pipe.
You will want to use a 1:2 ratio of baking soda to vinegar, mixing them independently and then use a funnel to pour each part into the overflow hole. This will create a violent effect that will clear most blockages in the overflow, without having to call in a plumber!
However, if you do have an urgent plumbing issue, be sure to call a 24 hour emergency plumber in the Sutherland Shire. Or, one of the Inner West plumbing services, or even one of the Manly plumbing services. No matter what your locale, Service Fox in Sydney is your solution for inner city emergency plumbing.
If there isn’t a blockage in the pipe itself, the overflow hole can be simply cleaned with a wire brush – this cleaning should be done once every few months. You can either call in affordable plumbing Sydney services or give it a shot yourself.
One of the best parts of a bathroom renovation is the plumbing. Some plumbers will tell you to never move a sink unless you absolutely have to – and while it can be a lot of work, Service Fox is up to the task. Whether you’re completely replacing your sink, or are adding a second one, Service Fox plumbing services Eastern Suburbs will send out our expert plumbers to give you an assessment, quoting and answering all your questions about your install before it takes place.
Overflow pipe installs are our bread and butter, so if you’re thinking of installing an overflow (definitely a good idea once you have children, who tend to be less attentive to things like sinks), give us a call! We can help you find the right sink for your bathroom and the right overflow type for your pre-existing plumbing.
One of the less talked about environmental aspects of an overflow is that by virtue of its existence, it decreases overall water consumption by creating a feedback loop between your water pipes. Now, having an overflow in your sink is still a matter of personal choice, but it’s better safe than sorry.
No matter your bathroom renovation or repair needs, whether that’s a sink retrofit with an overflow, or installing a second sink to act as the overflow for your primary sink. Also, it’s important to note that overflows aren’t just for bathroom sinks. Though that is where they are most commonly found – you can certainly install an overflow on almost any home sink.
If you’re considering an install of an overflow or need help with any problems with your current water system, give Service Fox inner city plumbing a call today.
Depending on how your drains got blocked in the first place, clearing them could be a simple task or a mammoth one. Essentially, the sooner you get a professional in to find the problem, the less you’ll need to stress about the size of the project. A slow draining kitchen sink could soon become a flooded floor, if you don’t deal with it as soon as you notice the problem. That’s why we recommend getting in touch with our team as soon as possible if anything isn’t going right. Here are some of the signs you should watch for:
Give us a call today and our helpful team will provide you with the right advice and a quote for our services. We can come to your home or business, diagnose the problem and have it fixed right away.
Blocked drains present a range of hazards so if your toilet or sink is backing up, or your yard is flooding, we’re here to assist.
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From flooding toilets to cracked pipes, we can take care of all your emergency plumbing services – 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
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We have experience with repairs and installation of all types of hot water systems, including gas, electric, heat pump, solar, and continuous.
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Got a leaky tap? Don’t wait for it to become a much bigger problem. Get in touch with our team today to assist and repair.
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If your flush isn’t flushing, or your drain isn’t draining, we can help. From blocked toilets to slow fillers, we can fix it all.
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At Service Fox, our team is experienced in dealing with clients throughout the Sydney region, from emergency repairs to ongoing maintenance.
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We provide a full range of plumbing services across the Central Coast region of New South Wales for commercial and residential customers.
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You’ve found one! Get in touch with our team today and we can assist with a range of services, including blocked drains, hot water repairs, tap repairs and toilet repairs, as well as providing a range of emergency plumbing services.
This depends on two things – how bad is the existing roof? And how much money do you have to spend? Obviously replacing your roof is going to cost a lot more, but if you simply repair the roof and the damage increases over time, you could be facing a much larger financial burden in future. Your best bet is to talk to our team, have a consultant come out to take a look at it, and we’ll provide you with the right advice based on our evaluation.
We have a number of easy payment plan options. To find out more, simply get in touch with the team today to discuss.
Yes! You certainly can. We offer emergency plumbing services, including blocked drains, hot water repairs, dishwasher installation, cistern plumbing, pipe relining and shower plumbing, as well as gas fitting. We’re available for emergency repairs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
We’ll complete your project when we say we will. We’re dependable and provide high quality services you can trust.
We’ll take care of your home and property as if it were our own. We’ll work tidy and clean up before we leave.
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