How to Detect a Blocked Drain in Your Home or Business

Name: Blocked Drain Sydney
Brand: Sydney Blocked Drains Plumbing
Rating: 5 (3 reviews)

Posted by Sydney Blocked Drains Plumbing on 4 Dec 2025

Dealing with a blocked drain can be frustrating, and it’s always best to catch the problem early. We have compiled a list with signs to watch for when you are dealing with blocked drains.

Slow draining

If your sink or bathtub takes longer than normal to drain, you may have a blockage. This is one of the most common signs of a blocked drain. It could be caused by something as simple as a buildup of hair, soap, or grease.

Foul Odors

A blockage in your pipes can cause foul odors from your drains. This could be due to rotting food in your sink or organic matter in your bathroom’s drain.

Strange Noises

A blocked drain can also be identified by gurgling sounds coming from your pipes. These noises are usually heard when water is draining from sinks or toilets. These noises are often caused by trapped air trying to escape from the blockage.

Water backing up

A blocked drain is when water backs up in other fixtures, such as sinks or toilets, or when you use appliances like washing machines or dishwashers. If left untreated, water backup can lead to further issues such as flooding.

How to Deal with a Blockage

Now that we’ve covered some of the signs of blocked drains let’s take a look at what you should do if you suspect there’s an issue with yours:

Use A Plunger To clear small blockages in your pipes, a plunger is a good choice.
Pour Boiling water: Pouring boiling hot water down the drain can break down soap scum, and help melt any grease or fats.
Use a store-bought Drain cleaner. These can cause damage to pipes over time. Alternatively, you can make your own homemade drain cleaner by mixing baking soda and vinegar.

If none of these solutions work it is time to call a professional plumber. They’ll have the expertise and tools to find and remove any blockages from your pipes.

Conclusion

Blocked drains are frustrating and can cost you money. However, catching them early will help prevent future damage. You’ll quickly be able to identify the signs that we have discussed and take appropriate action.

Key Takeaways

Slow draining is a common sign of a blocked drain caused by a buildup of hair, soap or grease.
Your drains may be leaking foul odors that could be indicative of blockage due to organic matter trapped in them.
Gurgling noises coming from your pipes are usually heard when water is draining from sinks or toilets – they may denote trapped air trying desperately to escape through the blockage.
Water backing up into other fixtures indicates that there might be an issue with your drainage system.
There are many solutions, starting with a plunger