How to Prevent Blocked Drains

A blocked drain is one of those problems that's far easier to prevent than to fix. Once a drain backs up, you're dealing with mess, smell, and often a call-out. The good news is that the vast majority of blockages come from a handful of everyday habits, and changing those habits keeps your drains running freely.

Here's a room-by-room guide to preventing blocked drains, plus how to manage the bigger causes like tree roots in older Perth pipes.

The kitchen: fats, oils and food scraps

The kitchen sink is the number one source of preventable blockages, and grease is the main villain. Fats, oils and grease pour down as a liquid, then cool and congeal on the inside of the pipe. Over time they build into a solid layer that traps food scraps and eventually chokes the drain.

• Never pour fats, oils or grease down the sink. Let them cool, then scrape them into the bin. Wipe greasy pans with paper towel before washing.
• Scrape plates into the bin before rinsing, so food scraps don't wash down.
• Use a sink strainer to catch scraps, coffee grounds and other debris.
• Be careful with the garbage disposal if you have one. Avoid fibrous foods, coffee grounds, and starchy items like rice and pasta that swell.
• Flush with hot water after washing up to help carry any residual grease through.

The bathroom: hair and soap

In the bathroom, the culprits are hair and soap scum. Hair washes off in the shower, tangles together, and combines with soap and product residue to form a stubborn mat in the drain.

• Fit a drain guard or hair catcher over shower and basin plugholes. This one cheap item prevents a huge share of bathroom blockages.
• Clean the guard regularly and bin the hair, rather than pushing it down the drain.
• Brush hair before showering to reduce how much sheds down the drain.
• Flush drains with hot water periodically to help clear soap build-up.

The toilet: only the three Ps

Toilets block when they're used as a bin. The rule is simple: only flush pee, poo and toilet paper. Everything else belongs in the bin.

• Never flush wet wipes, even ones labelled "flushable", as they don't break down and are a leading cause of blockages.
• Keep sanitary products, nappies, cotton buds and dental floss out of the toilet.
• Don't flush paper towel or tissues, which are much stronger than toilet paper.

Outdoor drains, gutters and stormwater

Your outdoor drainage matters too, especially with Perth's seasonal downpours. Leaves, dirt and debris clog stormwater drains and gutters, causing overflows and water pooling where you don't want it.

• Clear leaves and debris from outdoor drains and grates regularly.
• Keep gutters clean so stormwater flows away properly. Our roof plumbing and gutters service can help if gutters are a recurring headache.
• Fit leaf guards over outdoor grates where debris is a constant problem.

Managing tree roots in older pipes

Habits handle most blockages, but in established Perth suburbs there's a bigger structural cause: tree roots invading older clay or earthenware sewer pipes. Roots seek out the moisture inside pipes and grow in through cracks and joints, forming dense masses that trap everything flowing past.

You can't fully prevent this with habits alone, but you can manage it:

If you're in an older home and your drains block repeatedly, roots are a likely cause worth investigating. Our guide on the signs of a blocked drain explains the warning signs to watch for.

A simple maintenance routine

A few minutes of upkeep now and then keeps drains healthy without any special products:

• Weekly: empty and clean sink strainers and shower hair catchers, and bin the contents.
• Monthly: flush each drain with a kettle or two of hot water to help shift soap and grease residue before it sets.
• Seasonally: clear leaves from outdoor grates and gutters, especially ahead of Perth's wetter months, so stormwater flows away cleanly.
• Every year or two: if you're in an older home with clay pipes, consider a camera check on the main sewer line to catch early root intrusion.

None of this takes long, and it heads off the far bigger job of clearing a fully blocked drain or cleaning up an overflow.

A word on chemical drain cleaners

It's tempting to reach for a bottle of chemical drain cleaner at the first sign of a slow drain, but go easy. Harsh chemicals can damage older pipes and seals, they don't clear the underlying build-up, and they make it hazardous for a plumber to work on the drain later. For maintenance, hot water is safer, and a slow drain that keeps returning is better diagnosed than repeatedly doused in chemicals.

When prevention isn't enough

Even with great habits, drains sometimes block, particularly older sewer lines with structural issues. If you've got a recurring blockage, multiple slow drains, gurgling, or bad smells, it's time to have the drain inspected properly. A camera inspection finds the exact cause, and professional clearing sorts it for good rather than temporarily. Our blocked drains service covers everything from a one-off clear to diagnosing a persistent problem.

Drains slowing down despite your best efforts? Call our licensed Canning Vale plumbers to inspect, clear and keep your drains flowing freely.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best way to prevent kitchen drain blockages?

Never pour fats, oils or grease down the sink, since they congeal and choke the pipe. Scrape plates into the bin before rinsing, use a sink strainer to catch scraps, and flush with hot water after washing up.

Do drain guards really work?

Yes. A simple hair catcher over shower and basin plugholes prevents a large share of bathroom blockages by stopping hair from tangling in the drain. Just clean the guard regularly and bin the hair rather than pushing it down.

Should I use chemical drain cleaner to keep drains clear?

It's best used sparingly, if at all. Harsh chemicals can damage older pipes and seals, don't clear the underlying build-up, and make it hazardous for a plumber to work on later. Hot water is a safer routine maintenance option.

How do I prevent tree roots blocking my drains?

You can't fully prevent it with habits, but you can manage it by avoiding water-hungry plantings near the sewer line, repairing or relining cracked pipes, and scheduling periodic CCTV checks and maintenance jetting on older lines.