Do-it-yourself drain unblocking is highly unlikely to work and may even create further problems. That’s because homeowners lack the drainage expertise and powerful equipment required to locate, identify and overcome obstructions efficiently and effectively. If your DIY drain unblock didn’t work and you’re still struggling with poor drainage, you urgently need to book a professional drain unblocking appointment to get your wastewater flowing properly again.

The UK is a nation of DIY enthusiasts, with millions of people spending their spare time tackling everything from flat-pack furniture assembly to repainting the spare room. Indeed, almost a third of Brits surveyed by business directory Yell.com admit they’ve tried to unblock drains or other pipework themselves. DIY drain unblocking attempts commonly involve homeowners donning rubber gloves and using vinegar and baking soda, chemical drain cleaners or domestic pressure washers on pipework. However, DIY methods can’t be relied on to clear a mass of cooking fat, wet wipes, roots or other notorious drain blockers.

A DIY approach might work if there’s minor congestion in the U-bend pipe beneath your kitchen sink. But drainage systems are complex underground installations that need specialist help from a trusted drainage company such as Mega-Rod. We’ve been unblocking, maintaining and repairing drains in Bath, Bristol and beyond for many years and are ready to help you. All you need to do is contact us today.

How to Tell If Your Drains Are Blocked

If rogue matter builds up in your drains and prevents wastewater from passing through them, the performance of your system will suffer greatly. You’re likely to notice the following key symptoms of blocked drains:

• Strange sounds and sulphurous smells emanating from the pipework due to air getting trapped and waste decaying.
• Drainage slows down or stops altogether – wastewater may take longer to drain from the sink, shower, etc., refuse to drain at all (resulting in standing water) or resurface. Toilets may struggle to flush, too.
• Rising water levels – for example, running or emptying a bath may lead to excess water entering the toilet, as your drainage system is badly unbalanced and congested. Fixtures may even overflow.
• More than one area of your home is affected – if drainage issues are widespread, it’s more likely that your drainage system, rather than just a small section of above-ground pipework, is blocked.

DIY Drain Unblocking Attempts Often Fail

Homeowners’ DIY drain unblocking attempts are risky and may fail for all sorts of reasons:

• You can’t see inside your underground pipework, so you can’t tell what the drain blockage is or where it’s located. This makes it impossible for you to determine which part of the system to focus your efforts on. Plus, the blockage may be deeper inside than you can reach with your domestic pressure washer hose, for instance.
• You can’t check the condition of your drains before or after trying to unblock them. So you won’t know if the blockage has led to structural damage requiring drain repairs or if your unblocking attempt itself causes issues. You may even have a collapsed drain, in which case no amount of chemical drain cleaner will help.
• DIY drain unblocking methods typically aren’t powerful enough to eliminate obstructions. Vinegar and baking soda mixtures can decongest kitchen/bathroom pipes, but will ‘be ineffective’ by the time they reach drains, explains Homebuilding & Renovating magazine. Chemical drain cleaners and domestic pressure washers may make an impression on blockages but are extremely unlikely to be strong enough to eradicate them completely, particularly if roots are invading drains.

DIY Approaches Can Damage Drains – and Your Health

Trying to unblock your drains yourself can leave you with numerous additional problems.

Take chemical drain cleaners, for instance: many contain peroxides (which generate heat) or caustic soda (which is corrosive) and so can weaken pipes or kill the helpful bacteria that break down waste in septic tanks. Worse still, they ‘can cause severe skin burns and eye damage’, warns plumbing supplier Oatey.

Moreover, DIY drain unblocking attempts can expose you to the pathogens and hazardous gases that lurk in drains.

Expert Drain Unblocking Service for Bath, Bristol and Beyond

If your DIY drain unblock didn’t work, stay calm and bring in the experts. As a well-established drainage company offering a 24/7 Bristol and Bath drain unblocking service, Mega-Rod has the knowledge, skills and equipment to resolve your problems.

We use CCTV drain surveys to diagnose and locate blockages and check for damage before unblocking drains swiftly and thoroughly, often with ultra-powerful drain jetting equipment. Our root cutting equipment is also invaluable.

For expert drain unblocking, call Mega-Rod in Bath today on 01225 422980.