CALL US ON 073 858 0067
No Job too Dark, too Deep or too Dirty
No Job too Dark, too Deep or too Dirty
WE HAVE ALL THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY AND BEEN CLEARING BLOCKED SEWER AND STORMWATER DRAINS SINCE 1979
Do you have a blocked or a clogged drain? Our blocked drain plumber is experienced and always equipped to clear out any blockages within no time. Whether it’s a shower, toilet or blocked sewer or storm water drain, our team of licensed plumbers will unblock it. Our expert Plumbers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days. We will reach you in any part of Durban at any time of the day. We even work on public holidays because we know a blocked drain emergency can turn up at any time of the day.
DRAIN SERVICE PLUMBING
We'll repair leaking or burst pipes, toilets and taps, fix broken radiators and most domestic plumbing problems. If you need an emergency plumber - then we're here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
SIGNS OF A BLOCKED DRAIN
- If you suspect your drains may be blocked, then you should look out for the following warning signs:
Noises
Noises coming from your drains – gurgling noises can indicate that there is air trapped within your pipes.
OVERFLOW
Sinks / Showers / Toilets becoming slower to drain – a blockage will prevent water from draining away quickly and in some cases may even overflow.
ODD SMELLS
Suspicious smells – bad odours emanating from your bath, sink, shower, toilet and even taps can indicate that something is stuck and decomposing within your drainage system.
- A blocked drain can cause undue stress and create unwanted costs. However, by keeping an eye on the early warning signs, can prevent further damage to pipes, drains and general areas from occurring.
Causes Of A Blocked Drain
It is important that we think about what we put down our pipes as many everyday substances and household items can cause damage to your drains. These include:
Fat and Oil
Grease may look like liquid when poured away, but it soon starts to congeal when it cools in your drain, causing it to stick to the sides of your pipes. Top tip – If you must insist on pouring grease away, invest in a fat / grease trap catcher.
Food
Left over remnants of breakfast, lunch and tea all get swept down the sink. If trapped by other items these crumbs start to decompose and smell. Foods such as pasta, rice and coffee grounds can also cause blockages as they affix themselves to your pipes. Top tip – install a mesh cover over your plug holes as this will limit the amount of hair and food that falls down.
Hair
The main culprit for clogging up drains is human hair, especially in shower and bath drains. As it swirls down the plug it gets wrapped into one large hair ball.
Fibrous materials
Items including wet wipes, nappies and feminine hygiene products should always be placed in the bin as they can easily catch on the connecting parts of your pipes.
Chemicals
Paints and solvents should never be poured away, but safely disposed of as per the instructions. Failure to do so can cause harm to our water and be dangerous to plants and wildlife.
Tree roots
Condensation on the outside of a pipe can attract nearby thirsty tree roots. Once inside the pipe, they spread out to create little cracks causing chaos for items freely flowing down.
So, think carefully about what you put down your pipes in order to preserve them in the long term.
DRAIN SERVICE PLUMBING
We Have All The Latest Technology And Been Clearing Blocked Toilets, Sewers And Stormwater Drains Since 1979
Do you have a blocked toilet or a clogged drain? Our blocked drain plumbers are experienced and always equipped to clear out any blockages within no time.
Whether it’s a shower, toilet or blocked sewer or storm water drain, our team of licensed plumbers will unblock it. Our expert Plumbers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days. We will reach you in any part of Durban at any time of the day. We even work on public holidays because we know a blocked drain emergency can turn up at any time of the day.
Signs of a Blocked Drain
If you suspect your drains may be blocked, then you should look out for the following warning signs:
NOISES
Noises coming from your drains – gurgling noises can indicate that there is air trapped within your pipes.
OVERFLOW
Sinks / Showers / Toilets becoming slower to drain – a blockage will prevent water from draining away quickly and in some cases may even overflow.
ODD SMELLS
Suspicious smells – bad odours emanating from your bath, sink, shower, toilet and even taps can indicate that something is stuck and decomposing within your drainage system.
A blocked drain can cause undue stress and create unwanted costs. However, by keeping an eye on the early warning signs, can prevent further damage to pipes, drains and general areas from occurring.
Causes Of A Blocked Drain
It is important that we think about what we put down our pipes as many everyday substances and household items can cause damage to your drains. These include:
Fat and Oil
Grease may look like liquid when poured away, but it soon starts to congeal when it cools in your drain, causing it to stick to the sides of your pipes. Top tip – If you must insist on pouring grease away, invest in a fat / grease trap catcher.
Food
Left over remnants of breakfast, lunch and tea all get swept down the sink. If trapped by other items these crumbs start to decompose and smell. Foods such as pasta, rice and coffee grounds can also cause blockages as they affix themselves to your pipes. Top tip – install a mesh cover over your plug holes as this will limit the amount of hair and food that falls down.
Hair
The main culprit for clogging up drains is human hair, especially in shower and bath drains. As it swirls down the plug it gets wrapped into one large hair ball.
Fibrous materials
Items including wet wipes, nappies and feminine hygiene products should always be placed in the bin as they can easily catch on the connecting parts of your pipes.
Chemicals
Paints and solvents should never be poured away, but safely disposed of as per the instructions. Failure to do so can cause harm to our water and be dangerous to plants and wildlife.
Tree roots
Condensation on the outside of a pipe can attract nearby thirsty tree roots. Once inside the pipe, they spread out to create little cracks causing chaos for items freely flowing down.
So, think carefully about what you put down your pipes in order to preserve them in the long term.
STORM WATER DRAINS
A blocked stormwater drain can cause damage to your home and potentially severe damage when it has been raining for prolonged periods of time. The spouting on your house and the connected stormwater drainage outlets around the front and rear of your section are all crucial in the efficient operation of your local stormwater management system. Blocked stormwater drains happen all the time, particularly after a heavy downpour of rain.
Storm water drains are susceptible to blocking due to mud, dirt, leaves, tree roots, silt, sand and whatever is carried into the drain from the rain. Each of these flow into your pipe work and disrupt the water flow. Some stormwater systems consist of a complex network of pipes and because of this, unblocking stormwater drains more often than not a quick, simple DIY. It is a project that should be undertaken by an experienced, qualified professional.
SEWER DRAINS
If you are experiencing problems with your sewer system such as gurgling noises, sinks and toilets are slow to drain or effluent is overflowing from your internal floor wastes (in your bathroom/toilet or laundry area) or from your external gully, then you need a plumber fast.
Grease, oil, and fatty substances can accumulate inside the sewer line and cause blockage. Even most household soaps fit into this category. Those substances are most likely introduced from the kitchen sink where you routinely toss away foods, etc. It is impossible to find out how much grease is in the line unless you use a sewer camera or remove a section of the drain pipe.
Some foods are not oily, but the size also counts. Large pieces of food, such as a piece of meat, or a clump of potato peels, can easily block the sewer line. Although these objects do flow down into the kitchen sink itself, remember that they may not fit through the drain of the sink’s trap, no matter how much water is flowing. Even if the sewer line is a reasonably large diameter, there still may not be enough pressure to push an object such as a chunk of meat.
Sewer lines take all the dirt and debris not only from the kitchen sink, but also from the garden drain areas as well. Water from the garden enters the drain area carrying dust, leaves, and debris, creating a muddy sludge. Similar to anything else, the mud can accumulate causing blockages, and sometimes flooding the affected area. than not a quick, simple DIY. It is a project that should be undertaken by an experienced, qualified professional.
Sanitary sewer lines are designed to accept human waste, and other closely associated items. It can tolerate toilet paper of course, but only when disposed of properly. For example do not throw a pile of toilet paper clumped together at the same time. If you throw anything else such as female hygiene products, or accidentally flush a hard object, the sewer line will struggle to accept them, and get them through the entire drain system. Some baby wipes and diapers are marketed as flushable, but history have proven that to be not quite so.
If you notice slow drainage, it can be a symptom of a collapsed sewer line because of settling of the ground, or the sub-base under the pipe itself. In some rare cases the building itself may have settled. Slow drainage is an early symptom, which means the damage is mild or easily repairable. Sewer lines can collapse for a variety of other reasons as well.
Don’t Waste Your Time Or Money
Many of our clients when they call us in a panic have had a general plumber attend and unsuccessfully clear their blocked drain which leaves them out pocket and hours wasted with no solution. Sometimes even more damage has been caused.
Using chemical drain cleaners is not recommended for a blockage that doesn’t show any sign of flow. Don’t resort to those nasty, dangerous chemical drain cleaners especially if you have a septic tank or soak away pit. These strong chemicals can kill all the good bacteria in your septic tank. With the chemicals and cleaners, you kill the bacteria that feed on the waste in your septic tank. In some cases, even septic tank bacteria packets can upset the balance in your tank. Remember, the tank’s bacteria is a naturally occurring process. You may add more bacteria to the tank, but you could do more harm than good.
If your sewer or stormwater pipes are blocked you don’t need a general plumber, you need a blockage specialist, you need The Drain Surgeon Durban!
Rodding and Plunging
A blocked drain is a drainage problem that requires an immediate fix to avoid having backup into the inside drains. While there are many procedures that can be used to try unblock a drain, using a drain rod and plunger is definitely the most common and oftentimes, the easier method for unblocking a drain.
A typical set of drain rods usually consist of around a dozen or so rods, which can be attached together to form a rod, long enough to reach the blockage. These rods are very durable and hardwearing, as they are usually made from either steel, sprung steel or polypropylene. Despite being sturdy enough to get the job done, these rods also have a certain degree of flexibility in them. Flexible drain rods are necessary to allow the rods to get round most drain bends.
The drain rod set will also come with two important attachments – a double worn screw and a rubber plunger. The double worn screw is used to break up or retrieve the obstruction, whilst the rubber plunger’s function is to create the necessary pressure required to force out the obstruction.
Once the rods are fed through the drain, they can then be pushed back and forth in a steady motion to attempt to dislodge the blockage. Care needs to be taken as with too much force can result in broken rods. Whilst pushing the drain rods in and out, it is important to ensure that you keep turning the rods in a clockwise position to prevent them from becoming unscrewed. The last thing you want to do is for rods to get stuck and creating a further blockage.
Spring Machine
Use of the spring machine would be in the case of a more stubborn blockage or a blockage that is further down the pipe. Flexible coil springs are interlinked and are electrically powered, the powerful motor rotates the spring coil down the drain. There are different adaptors that can be attached to the front of the spring that leads down the drain. Some adaptors are suited to dislodging larger solid objects, others better suited for root removal.
Sectional cables are joined one at a time to a power auger and rotated in the pipe. The power auger unit is kept separate from the cables until the pipe is cleaned. Because the two components of sectional machines are separate, sectional machines are usually considered lighter to transport.
High Pressure Jetting
An efficient form of clearing drains is high-pressure water jetting. This method of cleaning drains and sewers is more comprehensive than conventional drain cleaning of years ago. High-Pressure water jetters are equipped with a specialized nozzle that sprays your pipelines and sewer lines clean. We will clear and remove any grime build-up or blockage with the high-pressure water jetting. The grime build-up or blockages will be removed by a sewer nozzle, which is attached to the end of the high-pressure hose. Using specialized heads and water pressure the pipes will be cleaned and serviced in an efficient manner.
Our industrial water jetting units are mobile diesel machines making accessibility much easier when working. The large motors pump and spray water into the drainpipes at 200 bar of pressure ensuring the dirt and grime is thoroughly removed. The 60m length of the high-pressure hoses on our machines ensure that we clean from the drainpipe from start to finish.
Drain & Storm Water Drainpipe Installations
Storm Water Drains
A storm drain, storm sewer, surface water drain/sewer, or stormwater drain is infrastructure designed to drain excess rain and ground water from impervious surfaces such as paved streets, car parks, parking lots, footpaths, sidewalks, and roofs.
The storm water drainage systems consist of inlets, outlets and pipes. The inlets are all covered by protective grates to ensure nothing large falls into the water, while the water can still enter freely. Once the water has entered the storm drain, it flows to a catch basin. From there, it goes into the pipes. These systems often drain into rivers or reservoirs, in some cases even the ocean.
Storm water can have a significant impact on the environment. As the water travels towards a storm water drain, it picks up all kinds of contaminants. Unfortunately, less desirable substances like lawn fertilizers, cigarette stumps, motor oil, pesticides, rubbish and other harmful chemicals make their way into the storm water drains, polluting our rivers, dams and oceans.
Sewer Drains
A sewer pipe is a conduit for the elimination of waste materials. Sewer pipes come in a wide variety of sizes and are made of various materials. The primary purpose of a sewer pipe is to transport wastewater or sewage from homes or commercial buildings through the sewer system for treatment or disposal. Your shower, toilet, kitchen sink, laundry tub, etc. all drain to the sanitary sewer, which takes the wastewater to a water treatment plant.
Manholes
The manhole is a working chamber, which is installed at intervals along a pipeline in order to provide technical access to the pipeline. These are mainly for inspections and maintenance.
STORM WATER DRAINS
A blocked stormwater drain can cause damage to your home and potentially severe damage when it has been raining for prolonged periods of time. The spouting on your house and the connected stormwater drainage outlets around the front and rear of your section are all crucial in the efficient operation of your local stormwater management system. Blocked stormwater drains happen all the time, particularly after a heavy downpour of rain.
Storm water drains are susceptible to blocking due to mud, dirt, leaves, tree roots, silt, sand and whatever is carried into the drain from the rain. Each of these flow into your pipe work and disrupt the water flow. Some stormwater systems consist of a complex network of pipes and because of this, unblocking stormwater drains more often than not a quick, simple DIY. It is a project that should be undertaken by an experienced, qualified professional.
SEWER DRAINS
If you are experiencing problems with your sewer system such as gurgling noises, sinks and toilets are slow to drain or effluent is overflowing from your internal floor wastes (in your bathroom/toilet or laundry area) or from your external gully, then you need a plumber fast.
Grease, oil, and fatty substances can accumulate inside the sewer line and cause blockage. Even most household soaps fit into this category. Those substances are most likely introduced from the kitchen sink where you routinely toss away foods, etc. It is impossible to find out how much grease is in the line unless you use a sewer camera or remove a section of the drain pipe.
Some foods are not oily, but the size also counts. Large pieces of food, such as a piece of meat, or a clump of potato peels, can easily block the sewer line. Although these objects do flow down into the kitchen sink itself, remember that they may not fit through the drain of the sink’s trap, no matter how much water is flowing. Even if the sewer line is a reasonably large diameter, there still may not be enough pressure to push an object such as a chunk of meat.
Sewer lines take all the dirt and debris not only from the kitchen sink, but also from the garden drain areas as well. Water from the garden enters the drain area carrying dust, leaves, and debris, creating a muddy sludge. Similar to anything else, the mud can accumulate causing blockages, and sometimes flooding the affected area. than not a quick, simple DIY. It is a project that should be undertaken by an experienced, qualified professional.
Sanitary sewer lines are designed to accept human waste, and other closely associated items. It can tolerate toilet paper of course, but only when disposed of properly. For example do not throw a pile of toilet paper clumped together at the same time. If you throw anything else such as female hygiene products, or accidentally flush a hard object, the sewer line will struggle to accept them, and get them through the entire drain system. Some baby wipes and diapers are marketed as flushable, but history have proven that to be not quite so.
If you notice slow drainage, it can be a symptom of a collapsed sewer line because of settling of the ground, or the sub-base under the pipe itself. In some rare cases the building itself may have settled. Slow drainage is an early symptom, which means the damage is mild or easily repairable. Sewer lines can collapse for a variety of other reasons as well.
Don’t Waste Your Time Or Money
Many of our clients when they call us in a panic have had a general plumber attend and unsuccessfully clear their blocked drain which leaves them out pocket and hours wasted with no solution. Sometimes even more damage has been caused.
Using chemical drain cleaners is not recommended for a blockage that doesn’t show any sign of flow. Don’t resort to those nasty, dangerous chemical drain cleaners especially if you have a septic tank or soak away pit. These strong chemicals can kill all the good bacteria in your septic tank. With the chemicals and cleaners, you kill the bacteria that feed on the waste in your septic tank. In some cases, even septic tank bacteria packets can upset the balance in your tank. Remember, the tank’s bacteria is a naturally occurring process. You may add more bacteria to the tank, but you could do more harm than good.
If your sewer or stormwater pipes are blocked you don’t need a general plumber, you need a blockage specialist, you need The Drain Surgeon Durban!
RODDING & PLUNGING
A blocked drain is a drainage problem that requires an immediate fix to avoid having backup into the inside drains. While there are many procedures that can be used to try unblock a drain, using a drain rod and plunger is definitely the most common and oftentimes, the easier method for unblocking a drain.
A typical set of drain rods usually consist of around a dozen or so rods, which can be attached together to form a rod, long enough to reach the blockage. These rods are very durable and hardwearing, as they are usually made from either steel, sprung steel or polypropylene. Despite being sturdy enough to get the job done, these rods also have a certain degree of flexibility in them. Flexible drain rods are necessary to allow the rods to get round most drain bends.
The drain rod set will also come with two important attachments – a double worn screw and a rubber plunger. The double worn screw is used to break up or retrieve the obstruction, whilst the rubber plunger’s function is to create the necessary pressure required to force out the obstruction.
Once the rods are fed through the drain, they can then be pushed back and forth in a steady motion to attempt to dislodge the blockage. Care needs to be taken as with too much force can result in broken rods. Whilst pushing the drain rods in and out, it is important to ensure that you keep turning the rods in a clockwise position to prevent them from becoming unscrewed. The last thing you want to do is for rods to get stuck and creating a further blockage.
Spring Machine
Use of the spring machine would be in the case of a more stubborn blockage or a blockage that is further down the pipe. Flexible coil springs are interlinked and are electrically powered, the powerful motor rotates the spring coil down the drain. There are different adaptors that can be attached to the front of the spring that leads down the drain. Some adaptors are suited to dislodging larger solid objects, others better suited for root removal. Sectional cables are joined one at a time to a power auger and rotated in the pipe. The power auger unit is kept separate from the cables until the pipe is cleaned. Because the two components of sectional machines are separate, sectional machines are usually considered lighter to transport.
High Pressure Jetting
An efficient form of clearing drains is high-pressure water jetting. This method of cleaning drains and sewers is more comprehensive than conventional drain cleaning of years ago. High-Pressure water jetters are equipped with a specialized nozzle that sprays your pipelines and sewer lines clean. We will clear and remove any grime build-up or blockage with the high-pressure water jetting. The grime build-up or blockages will be removed by a sewer nozzle, which is attached to the end of the high-pressure hose. Using specialized heads and water pressure the pipes will be cleaned and serviced in an efficient manner. Our industrial water jetting units are mobile diesel machines making accessibility much easier when working. The large motors pump and spray water into the drainpipes at 200 bar of pressure ensuring the dirt and grime is thoroughly removed. The 60m length of the high-pressure hoses on our machines ensure that we clean from the drainpipe from start to finish.
Drain & Storm Water Drainpipe Installations
Storm Water Drains
A storm drain, storm sewer, surface water drain/sewer, or stormwater drain is infrastructure designed to drain excess rain and ground water from impervious surfaces such as paved streets, car parks, parking lots, footpaths, sidewalks, and roofs.
The storm water drainage systems consist of inlets, outlets and pipes. The inlets are all covered by protective grates to ensure nothing large falls into the water, while the water can still enter freely. Once the water has entered the storm drain, it flows to a catch basin. From there, it goes into the pipes. These systems often drain into rivers or reservoirs, in some cases even the ocean.
Storm water can have a significant impact on the environment. As the water travels towards a storm water drain, it picks up all kinds of contaminants. Unfortunately, less desirable substances like lawn fertilizers, cigarette stumps, motor oil, pesticides, rubbish and other harmful chemicals make their way into the storm water drains, polluting our rivers, dams and oceans.
Sewer Drains
A sewer pipe is a conduit for the elimination of waste materials. Sewer pipes come in a wide variety of sizes and are made of various materials. The primary purpose of a sewer pipe is to transport wastewater or sewage from homes or commercial buildings through the sewer system for treatment or disposal. Your shower, toilet, kitchen sink, laundry tub, etc. all drain to the sanitary sewer, which takes the wastewater to a water treatment plant.
Manholes
The manhole is a working chamber, which is installed at intervals along a pipeline in order to provide technical access to the pipeline. These are mainly for inspections and maintenance.