How To Unblock Sewer Drains

When sewer lines become clogged or backed up, they can be a real problem for your home or business. There is the inconvenience of not being able to use your plumbing, including your toilets, plus the mess and smell that comes with backed up sewerage. 

TJM Plumbing is here to help. We have put together this guide so that you can understand the cause of sewers becoming clogged or blocked, plus the many solutions that we offer to help rectify the problem fast.

Understanding what causes blockages in sewer drains can prevent you from having to deal with the smell and the mess of backflow into your property. One of the major factors is tree roots that will try and infiltrate pipes and drains to get to the water inside.

That is why annual inspections of your plumbing are essential, to discover any roots that have made their way into your pipes and drains before they fully block them, or break them completely. Other things that can cause blockages include:

Grease, oils and food: If you continuously tip these items down the sink in the kitchen, they are going to build up in your pipes and drains and become a major problem. These should always be disposed of properly and only soapy water should go down the kitchen drain.



Bathroom items: Only toilet paper and human waste should go down the toilet. Paper towels, toiletries, hygiene products and any other items should never be flushed down the toilet.

Stormwater backflow: If there has been a severe storm and/or flooding then debris and sediments can flow back into your pipes and drains.

Damage to the pipes: Sewer lines do not last forever and pipes can corrode and cave in, causing blockages over time.

It is illegal to try and carry out your own plumbing work in Australia, as it always needs to be carried out by licensed and insured professionals. Trying to repair blocked sewer lines yourself can lead to more damage that can impact your home and your safety.

Many of the products that you can purchase from supermarkets and hardware stores are caustic and can lead to damage as well, not to mention what will happen if they get on your skin. Commercial plumbing equipment should always be left in the hands of the professionals like our team of plumbers at TJM Plumbing.

Our team of plumbers use the latest technologies to repair sewer pipes and drains. This includes using CCTV cameras and acoustic devices to discover the location and cause of the problem.

In many cases, high-pressure water jetting tools can be used to blast blockages clear, so there will be no need for any excavation or damage to your yard. If there is damage to your pipes, re-lining can repair them as good as new. 

This method involves a plastic material being inserted into the pipe and then inflated until it bonds to the pipe. It then hardens, creating a new pipe that is even stronger and long-lasting than the old one.

If the pipe itself needs to be replaced, water jetting technology can be used to minimise the damage to your yard, creating precise channels beside the impacted section of pipe, so a new section can be installed.

If you are experiencing issues with your sewer drainage, don’t hesitate to contact TJM Plumbing. We have around-the-clock, 24/7 emergency services available, so our team can mobilise and fix your sewer issues at any time. Contact us on 0402 311 821.