Know the cause
Why drains block
- Fat and oil poured down the kitchen sink cools and hardens inside the pipe.
- Wet wipes and sanitary products don't break down like toilet paper, even when labelled “flushable”.
- Hair and soap build up in shower and basin drains.
- Tree roots find their way into older clay pipes, common in leafy suburbs like Newlands, Rondebosch and Constantia.
- Collapsed or sagging pipes let waste settle and build up.
What to try first
- Use a plungerA few firm strokes often clears a single sink, basin or toilet.
- Clean the trapUnscrew the U-bend under a basin and clear it (bucket underneath).
- Hot water for fatVery hot, not boiling, water can shift a light grease blockage in a kitchen sink.
Avoid: mixing drain chemicals, or using them on a fully blocked drain. They can damage pipes and burn skin when a plumber opens the line.
When to call a plumber
Call us if more than one fixture is slow, the outside gully is overflowing, you hear gurgling, or the same drain keeps blocking. That points to a problem further down the line. A drain camera inspection shows the cause, and water jetting clears fat, silt and roots properly. Blocked drain services →
Need a hand? Blocked Drains · Emergency Plumber & Electrician · Plumbing services · or call +27 67 151 2255
