Your basement drain is usually the lowest drainage point in your home and that’s a good thing. If you develop a clog in your pipes the wastewater will come back up the pipes and into your home. A basement drain means that the wastewater will enter at basement level.

While wastewater offers hygiene risks, it’s still preferable to have it in your basement than your kitchen!

The basement drain is also particularly susceptible to clogs as all other waste products are drawn through or past it by gravity. If you have a clog you’ll probably want to get a reputable plumber Sydney to clear it and check the state of your pipes.

However, you can clear the clog yourself and simply get the plumber to check the pipes.

Common Causes of Clogs

The most common cause is items going down the drains that shouldn’t. This includes sanitary products, kids’ toys, and wet wipes. These items aren’t designed to go round the corners and will stick. Other debris will then stick against them, causing your clog.

You need to break up the debris to clear the clog and resume normal service.

The Drain Snake

This isn’t an actual snake! The drain snake or auger is a metal cable that is strong enough to punch through clogs but flexible enough to move through the pipes. You feed it into the drain and keep unwinding until it reaches the clog. You can then wriggle it to find a way through the clog. This should break the clog up and allow it to move down the pipes.

Plungers

Plungers work by creating a vacuum. This changes the pressure in the pipes and causes the blockage to move. All you have to do is get a plunger that fits over the entire drain. Then, slowly pump it up and down, ensuring the seal between it and the drain isn’t broken. The vacuum will take care of everything else for you.

Baking Soda & Vinegar

If the blockage is in the trap near the drain then baking soda and vinegar are extremely effective. It’s best to pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain first, this softens the clog. You then put half a cup of baking soda down the drain and leave it to sit for 5-10 minutes. Add a cup of vinegar and the two substances will react. They create pressure which effectively explodes the clog.

Wait for another 5-10 minutes and then test the drain.

You should note that there are chemical drain unblockers. These do work but they use caustic chemicals. That means they can also damage the inside of your pipes, potentially causing bigger issues in the future.

If the above techniques don’t work you’re going to need a drain camera and a professional to take sections of your plumbing apart. This is definitely a job best left to the professionals. Contact your plumber and get the issue resolved as soon as possible.