When you stop for a moment to think about it, drains really are amazing – and no, we’re not kidding. They’re basically the heart and soul of your home’s plumbing system, and much more than just a network of pipes designed to drain away waste. Actually, they keep your entire system flowing, free of clogs and blockages and health risks associated with bacteria and other nasties. How they work is also ingeniously simple, relying mainly on gravity as all that waste is hurried away to a safe place. But it can all come to a screeching halt if a build-up of gunk causes a clog – or a large object, or a tree root incursion, or pipe scaling or damage. That’s why you should know a little about the most effective drain cleaning tools.
If a drain blockage takes command of your plumbing system, it’s not just disruptive – it could cause a lot of damage, inspire massive bills, and even endanger your family’ health. Luckily, there’s a range of very useful drain blockage tools that can restore your system to good working order – in many cases, without ever needing to call your specialist drain plumber.
- Noticed water or waste where it shouldn’t be?
- Toilet water unusually high?
- Drains not ‘draining’?
- Smell a foul drain stench?
- Hear gurgling or spot a sinkhole?
When those minor symptoms strike, it’s not quite time to reach for the really heavy-duty stuff, but instead, a simple tool used to unblock sink drains each and every day by the householder just like you.
We’re talking about:
- Gloves: Anything water-proof will do, because all you’re going to do is reach in and yank out an object, or as much debris and general gunk as you can.
- A plunger: Use a flange plunger for the toilet, and a standard cup plunger for the sinks. Make sure it’s the right size for a thorough seal, and pump away.
- A coat hanger: While an unfurled coat hanger always does the trick, any wire fashioned into a hook is great for a bit of fishing!
- A plumber’s snake: These hand-held drain snakes are perfect for stepping it up from the coat hanger and getting a lot deeper into that clogged up drain.
- Chemicals: Whether it’s boiling water, baking soda, vinegar or commercial chemical drain cleaners, there are plenty of drain unblocking tools and products in this category.
But although a simple household drain cleaning tool can prove to be mightily effective for shallow or minor blockages, there’s a very good list of reasons why the sort of professional-grade drain blockage tools used by plumbers exist:
- Because many blockages are compact, complex and located deep within your plumbing system
- Because many blockages are caused by tree root incursions or long-term pipe scaling or deterioration
- Because your blockage could be because of system overload, pipe sloping, installation issues and physical pipe damage.
And in many other cases, some stubborn blockages can be difficult to locate, harder to rectify, and caused by a series of complex and compound factors. And when that’s what you’re dealing with, your experienced Brisbane blocked drain plumber will need to pay you a visit with one or more of their heavy-duty drain blockage tools, including:
1. Water jetters
We call them water or hydro jetters, but the full description is more apt: because it’s actually an ultra high pressure water jetter. Think of a garden hose, and now imagine it with the power to totally scour rather than merely clean your pipes and drains.
2. Motorised augers
We told you about the hand-held, non-motorised versions you can buy for a few bucks at the hardware store. Now imagine one on wheels, powered by an engine, and operated by a skilful professional to guide that long and hungry ‘snake’ deep into your plumbing network.
3. CCTV cameras
While not technically a drain cleaning tool (because it doesn’t actually do the cleaning), state of the art CCTV drain inspection cameras are getting better and better as our technological age races on, to ‘see’ into every otherwise dark and hidden nook and cranny of every millimetre of pipe.
4. Pipe relining
Sometimes, even the most powerful drain cleaning tools simply can’t do the job – because the remedy is actually a replacement of a section of pipe. In the past, your plumber may have needed to turn an excavator to dig up your driveway or garden, but innovative no-dig pipe relining technology means your new section of repaired pipe can be put in place without ever needing to put a single shovel into the ground.
Local expertise, professional tools: Serving Greater Brisbane
Brisbane’s subtropical climate, characterised by hot, humid summers and frequent storms, is loved by locals and cherished by tourists and travellers. For your drains, though, it also means plenty of debris and aggressive tree root intrusions in your critical drainage systems – making regular, thorough and often professional drain cleaning a crucial necessity for maintaining smooth-running pipes both today and tomorrow.
Masters of Brisbane & beyond: Tackling your local plumbing
In the bustling heart of Brisbane and throughout its picturesque surrounds, Drain Masters Plumbing really are the masters in employing the industry’s top-notch tools to keep your daily lives – and your drains! – running smoothly and reliably. We take pride in navigating the unique and area-specific plumbing challenges posed in Brisbane and far beyond, providing fast and efficient solutions to keep those drains flowing.
In serene Ashgrove, for instance, our drain cleaning weapons effortlessly navigate those intricate pipe networks negotiating varied topography and infrastructure that some other drain professionals struggle with. On the other side of the CBD in Camp Hill, on the other hand, our state-of-the-art water jetters are super-reliable for both historic homes and new developments. But some of the older plumbing systems in Taringa, in the Inner West, are particularly prone to tree root intrusions, often requiring the mechanical muscle of the augers essential for those stubborn obstructions.
From Kangaroo Point to Kingscliff: Addressing your needs
On the coast in Wynnumm, meanwhile, our CCTV drain inspection tools are no less than crucial for the maintenance of all those modern housing estates – although just as effective for the older, tree-lined streets as well. In places like Coolangatta, expect unwanted corrosion leading to drainage system blockages, but our tools will peer deep into the depths, fixing problems before they become plumbing disasters.
From the bustling, heritage-rich streets of Wakerley to suburban Calamvale, just a rock’s throw from the city, there are older homes and leafy surroundings that can unfortunately lead to frequent drain blockages – but our range of tools here at Drain Masters Plumbing ensures we’re equipped to handle whatever challenges arise.
Trust the masters: Wherever you are!
So whether you’re in the vibrant heart of South Brisbane, the picturesque coastal suburb of Wellington Point, or the ever-growing region of Jindalee and far beyond, our professional-grade drain cleaning tools and expertise are delivered right to your doorstep. We’re the greater region’s true drain-clearing connoisseurs who recognise that every region, suburb, street and home is unique – and you can always trust our experience right here at Drain Masters Plumbing.
So if natural drain cleaners or a few minutes of elbow grease on the plunger just won’t cut it, rest assured you can always turn to a Brisbane plumbing company specialising in professional drain clearing services – Drain Masters Plumbing. Our fully-stocked vans, driven by our fully licensed and highly experienced Drain Masters, are always chock-full of the most effective professional drain unblocking tools. All you need to do is give us a shout!
