Blocked drains are almost inevitable if you own a house. There are many different reasons why they can happen and it can be difficult to know when an issue is building up. But, what may surprise you is that hair can be one of the biggest issues.

You’ve probably been told that you shouldn’t put wet wipes or sanitary products down your drains. The reason is they are heavier, bulkier, and don’t degrade easily. This causes them to bind together and catch on to the smallest thing inside your pipe. The result is a clog that can cause you serious issues, including wastewater flowing back into your home.

But, hair can do the same!

Hair binds with soap, it’s especially good at binding with the soap particles from a bar of soap. This then starts a clog in your pipes, usually sticking in the ‘P’ trap under an appliance. It can take time for this clog to build but it will eventually block the pipe. In the process, the draining of the system will slow and eventually stop.

Your first reaction will probably be to call a reputable plumber Sydney, this is a good idea as they’ll be able to effectively solve the issue. However, while you’re waiting or even before you call, there are a few things you can try:

Baking Soda

Baking soda and vinegar have a volatile relationship. Put the two together and they will react quickly. You can use this reaction to eat through clogs in your pipes. Simply pour a cup of baking soda into your blocked drain. Wait a few minutes for it to settle on the clog. Then, slowly pour a cup of vinegar down the same drain. Leave the chemicals to react for 20-30 minutes. You can then rinse the drain with hot water to shift the blockage.

If you still experience slow draining then the blockage has not been completely destroyed, you’ll want to repeat the exercise. 

Drain Snake

The drain snake is a thin metal tube that slides around the curves of your pipes and finds the blockage. It can then punch through the clog or bring it back up the pipe, allowing you to remove it. 

Boiling Water

Sometimes, boiling water can be enough to dislodge the hair and soap clog in your pipes. After all, the soap will melt with the heat of the boiling water.

Simply boil the kettle and pour the contents down the drain, it should work almost instantly. However, you should note that boiling water can damage the inside of your pipes, it’s best not to adopt this approach too often.

Chemicals

There are plenty of effective drain cleaners on the market, just choose your preferred one in your local store. You can follow the instructions on the container, which tell you how much to add to your drains and what to expect.

But, these drain cleaners do use caustic chemicals. That means they’ll destroy the clog but they’ll also potentially damage the inside of your pipes. Again, this should be seen as an occasional or last-resort.

Don’t forget, if none of the above work, you can still call the plumber.