As 2020 draws to a close, the team at JAB Pluming Solutions would like to thank all of our customers for their ongoing support.
This year we have shared loads of handy tips about your homes plumbing and drainage systems. In this post we recap our most popular blogs of 2020. We wish everyone a safe and a happy new year free from drain blockages and plumbing disasters!
1. How to unblock a toilet at someone else’s house (without leaving the bathroom)
If you’re attending a house parties or dinner parties over the holiday break or planning to stay with family or friends, take heed of the advice in this article. Probably one of the most anxiety-inducing situations you can find yourself in is blocking the toilet at someone else’s house. Thankfully, we have compiled some inconspicuous tactics for unclogging toilets without having to the leave the bathroom and explain yourself to the host. By taking stock of the tools you have on hand in the bathroom (bath bombs, liquid soaps, plastic bags etc) you could get yourself out of this messy situation with your host being none the wiser.
2. The dangers of raw sewerage exposure
In extreme circumstances a blocked sewer is not only an inconvenience, it can have a serious impact on your health. Untreated sewage carries a plethora of germs, parasites and bacterias. The Australian Government Department of Health provides a list of illnesses caused by raw sewerage, including Giardia lamblia, e-coli and hepatitis. Blocked sewers can also result in a build-up of sewer gases. While sewer gases are not harmful in small quantities, chronic exposure can cause sewer gas poisoning.
JAB Plumbing Solutions responding to an overflowing blocked sewer in Sydney.
The best way to protect your family, guests or staff from raw sewage exposure is to call an emergency plumber as soon as you notice the signs of a blocked sewer. These signs can include a persistent foul smell, gurgling sounds in the pipes or multiple plumbing fixtures clogging up. If there is already raw sewage overflowing at your property avoid the contaminated area as much as possible. If it’s absolutely essential to be in the area, wear gloves, a mask and protective clothing.
3. The weirdest things plumbers find when unclogging drains
A pair of underpants fished out of a sewer.
When you think about what causes clogged drains things like tree roots, female hygiene products and hair come to mind. However, plumbers often discover much stranger items when they’re unclogging sewers. Some of the weirdest things pulled out of blocked drains include jewellery, watches, dentures, underwear, children's toys and even dead pets.
4. Victoria’s largest fatberg on record pulled out of a Melbourne drain
Fatbergs refer to large (often monstrous) accumulations of oil, wet-wipes and other refuse that has ended up inside sewer pipes. Until recently, the fatbergs found in Australian sewer pipes have paled in comparison to those found in English sewers. However, in April 2020, a 42-tonne fatberg was discovered in the public sewers of Wallan, north of Melbourne. The fatberg was larger than a petrol tanker and took eight people more than nine hours to remove using sewer jet blasters and high-velocity vacuums.
5. Plumbers score with royal flush
In July 2020 JAB Plumbing Solutions director, Jason Bonanno, was interviewed by The Daily Telegraph about the Covid-related toilet paper shortages and the impact it had on the plumbing industry. In response to the shortages, consumers were forced to purchase toilet paper alternatives such as kitchen roll, paper towels and wet-wipes. This resulted in an increase in clogged drains because these substitutes are much more durable than toilet paper and don’t break down easily. They can accumulate inside the drain pipes leading to clogged and overflowing toilets.
6. Is your expensive toilet paper blocking up your loo?
Do you buy thick and expensive toilet paper? Your well-intentioned efforts to provide your family and guests with the most comfortable toilet experience could come back to haunt you. Unfortunately, while thicker toilet paper is more luxurious to use, it also has a higher probability of getting stuck in the sewer pipes and causing a clog. Especially if too much paper is used in a single sitting. To protect your home’s sewerage system from clogs, JAB Plumbing Solutions recommends using low-ply toilet paper.
7. Are DIY blocked drain repairs legal?
I bet you never thought that attempting to unclog a blocked drain yourself could be unlawful! It is entirely lawful for your to use a plunger to unclog a toilet or to pour drain cleaner down the kitchen sink. However, there are some instances where meddling with your homes plumbing system could be against regulations.
The plumbing industry is governed by legislation that defines “plumbing and drainage” work and the types of persons who are authorised to perform such work. In summary, these statutes state that any construction, maintenance or alteration of any plumbing or drainage infrastructure (e.g. pipes, fittings, etc) must be carried out by a licensed, certified plumber. If you do not have the relevant qualifications any plumbing or drainage work performed will not be eligible for a compliance certificate nor will it be covered by insurance if something goes wrong. Our advice? Leave it to the professionals!
Need help with a blocked drain?
For all blocked drain emergencies and drainage issues call the leading drain plumbers at JAB Plumbing Solutions. You can reach us during normal business hours on 1800 225 552 or 24 hours a day for plumbing emergencies.
