A slow sink or a shower that won't drain is one of the most common plumbing problems in any home. Some blockages can be cleared safely yourself. Others are a sign of a deeper problem in the drain line that needs professional equipment. This guide explains how to tell the difference and how to unblock a drain without making things worse.
What causes blocked drains?
Knowing the cause helps you choose the right fix and stop it from happening again.
- Kitchen sinks: fat, oil and grease that set as they cool, plus food scraps and coffee grounds.
- Bathroom basins, baths and showers: hair combined with soap residue, toothpaste and cosmetic products.
- Toilets: wet wipes, sanitary products, cotton buds and too much toilet paper. "Flushable" wipes don't break down like toilet paper.
- Outside drains and gullies: leaves, soil, sand and debris washed in by Highveld storms, and grease from the kitchen line building up over time.
- Underground drain lines: tree roots entering through joints, ground movement, or old pipes that have cracked or collapsed.
Safe first steps to unblock a drain
Start with the gentlest method and work up. Wear rubber gloves, and stop if anything feels like it's being forced.
1. Clear what you can see
Remove the plug or drain cover and pull out any visible hair or debris. For outside gullies, clear leaves and sludge from the grid and the top of the trap.
2. Use a plunger
A cup plunger works well on sinks, basins and showers. Fill the basin with enough water to cover the plunger cup, block the overflow hole with a damp cloth, then plunge firmly a few times. Use a separate flanged plunger for toilets.
3. Hot (not boiling) water for kitchen grease
Hot water from the tap can help shift soft grease in a kitchen sink. Avoid pouring boiling water into plastic pipes or toilet bowls. Extreme heat can damage PVC joints and crack porcelain.
4. Clean the trap under the sink
Many basins and sinks have a removable trap (the U-bend or bottle trap). Put a bucket underneath, unscrew it by hand, clean it out and refit it, making sure the seals are seated properly so it doesn't leak.
5. Use a drain snake for nearby blockages
A simple hand drain snake can reach hair clogs a short way into a shower or basin waste. Feed it in gently. If you meet firm resistance further down, stop. That's a job for a plumber.
What not to do
- Never mix drain chemicals, or use a chemical cleaner after another product. Some combinations react dangerously and give off harmful fumes.
- Be cautious with strong chemical drain cleaners. They can harm skin and eyes, may damage older pipes, and leave caustic water in the pipe for whoever works on it next. If you've already used one, tell your plumber.
- Don't keep flushing a blocked toilet. It can overflow.
- Don't force rods or wires into pipes you can't see. You can damage joints or push the blockage further in.
When to call a drain unblocking plumber
Call a professional if you notice any of the following:
- More than one fixture is blocked or slow at the same time. This usually means the blockage is in the main drain line, not a single trap.
- The outside gully or drain chamber is overflowing, or sewage is backing up.
- Toilets gurgle when you run a basin or shower.
- There are persistent sewage smells inside or outside the house.
- The same drain keeps blocking, even after you've cleared it.
- DIY methods haven't worked, or you can't reach the blockage.
Plumbers use drain-cleaning machines with long, rotating cables that cut through grease, debris and roots deep in the line. You can see this in our drain unblocking project in Edenvale, where the drain went from completely blocked to flowing freely. In Randburg, we used the same approach on a blocked bathroom waste outlet.
Early signs a drain is starting to block
Blockages usually build up gradually. Catching them early is easier and cheaper than dealing with an overflow:
- Water drains more slowly than usual, or pools around your feet in the shower.
- Bubbling or gurgling sounds as water drains away.
- Unpleasant smells coming from plugholes or outside gullies.
- Water level in the toilet bowl rising higher than normal before it drains.
If you notice these signs in more than one place, the problem is probably further down the line, and it's worth having it checked before it blocks completely.
How to prevent blocked drains
- Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing them, and never pour fat down the sink.
- Use a strainer in the kitchen sink and a hair catcher in the shower.
- Only flush toilet paper. Bin wipes and sanitary products.
- Keep outside gullies clear of leaves, especially before the summer rains.
- If a drain blocks repeatedly, have it checked before it becomes an emergency.
Blocked drain help in Johannesburg
If your drains are still blocked, our professional drain cleaning services in Johannesburg can help. Badge Plumbers clears blocked drains for homes and businesses across Randburg, Midrand, Fourways and Sandton and surrounding areas. Contact us with a description of the problem. A photo of the drain or gully helps.
