5 Common Causes of Blocked Drains and How to Prevent Them

Posted by Melbourne Blocked Drains Plumber on 9 Aug 2026

Blocked drains are a hassle which can cause a disruption in your daily life. They can result in flooding, bad smells and even health risks. If they are not addressed promptly, blocked drains can cause serious issues in your plumbing system, which could lead to costly maintenance or repairs.

Key Takeaways

  • Drains that are blocked can interrupt your routine and can cause problems with water, bad smells, and even health risks.
  • Grease, oil and fat accumulation can build up on the walls of pipes causing obstructions; try not to pour grease down the drain. Alternatively, use soap and hot water to wash dishes.
  • The roots of trees naturally expand into the earth to seek nutrients. This can cause massive damage to pipes and even completely block them leading to flooding; regularly keep trees in the vicinity of drainage systems by trimming them.
  • Wet wipes, sanitary towels etc. can cause unpleasant smells emanating from toilets or bins. be sure to flush toilet paper down the toilet.
  • Hair

In this article, we will explore five causes of blocked drains and the best way to prevent them from happening.

Cause 1. Grease, Oil and Fat Buildup

Oil, grease, and fat could appear as harmless substances to drain down the toilet, but they can build up over the insides of the pipes, causing the pipes to become blocked. As a result the water can’t move freely through the drainpipes. It is best to avoid the practice of pouring grease in the drain, or use hot water and soap to wash your hands when cleaning dishes, as this helps remove greasy substances.

Cause 2: Tree Roots

In time, the tree roots naturally extend themselves into the ground looking for nutrients. This implies that they expand toward underground pipes. Once inside the pipes, trees roots can cause a lot of damage and could completely block them leading to flooding. It’s crucial, therefore, if you have trees in the vicinity to regularly monitor the growth of your trees around drainage systems, by trimming the trees regularly.

Cause 3: Item that has been thrown away

It’s not difficult to conclude that flushing biodegradable products such as the wet wipes, sanitary towel and so on. aren’t likely to cause major issues over the long haul, However, if a large amount of these products are flushed in toilets, they’ll in the accumulation of other items, thereby that block pipes. This can cause a bad smell to be released around the toilets and bins too! Be aware of what needs to be flushed away and what should not (i. it is only toilet paper should have to be flushed).

Cause 4 Cause 4: Hair

Additional Information

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