A blocked drain may seem like a small problem, but sometimes home remedies can end up either worsening the situation or even damaging your pipes. When you’re facing a blockage, especially if it’s a reoccurring one, it’s best to get a plumbing professional in to investigate and fix the situation in the most effective and harmless way, but what should you expect during a service call for drain problems?

Questions

To gauge the most appropriate steps, your pluming professional will usually want to get an idea of what might be blocking the drains and the frequency of the occurrence, and other such information. Sometimes, drain problems can be caused by other issues which are having a knock-on effect, so it’s always worth a brief conversation to work out if there may be underlying problems to look at.

Agenda

Once your plumbing professional has devised the root of the cause, they will usually give you a brief run-down of what they’re going to do and often some preventative methods (if applicable) which you can administer to help maintain their work and keep your drains clog-free.

Pricing

Usually you will have been given an idea of pricing if you asked for it upon booking your visit, but often this is a ballpark figure for the generic service, depending on any underlying issues or discrepancies that are discovered upon further inspection. After discussing the situation with you and looking at the pipes manually, they will be able to give an exact figure. Some companies give the option to submit an online quote.

Perform Diagnostics

A physical inspection of the pipes can help solidify a diagnosis and deduce the necessary tools for the job – different pipes and blockage materials require a variation of equipment.

Perform Drain Clearance

All being well, the procedure can be carried it out as normal. The steps during unblocking tend to depend on the company and the type of blockage. Some use special rods, known as drain snakes, to pry stubborn, stiff blockages out while others use pressurised machines to flush through less dense clogs. Some small blockages can be remedied using a traditional plunger, while others necessitate the use of machines with a suction function to draw out the clog.

Contrary to popular belief, plumbers will rarely use any harsh chemicals in your pipes in order to prevent damage. It may seem daunting to employ a plumber for what may seem such a simple job, but to prolong the wellbeing of your plumbing system and avoid damage later down the line or reoccurring blockages, it’s always best to start by speaking with a professional.