A blocked drain rarely happens overnight. Before the water stops, it slows down. Before the smell gets strong, it comes and goes. And before the toilet backs up, it gurgles. Most blockages announce themselves days or weeks in advance, and catching them at that stage is cheap and simple.
Where blockages come from
- Kitchen sinks: grease and food scraps that harden inside the pipe.
- Bathroom basins and showers: hair and soap residue.
- Toilets: wipes and other things that should never be flushed, even when the packet says they are “flushable”.
- Floor traps: sand and dust, especially on balconies and in rooms near the outside.
The smell from the floor trap
Floor traps hold a little water that blocks the smell from the drain. In a room that is rarely used, or in summer heat, that water evaporates and the smell comes straight up. Often the fix is simply pouring a bucket of water into the trap every week or two. If the smell remains after that, the trap may be cracked or blocked and needs a look.
What not to do
- Don’t pour boiling oil or grease into the sink, even with hot water after it.
- Don’t keep pouring strong chemicals; they can damage old pipes and make the plumber’s job dangerous.
- Don’t push wire or sticks hard into a toilet; you may scratch it or push the blockage further.
- Don’t ignore a blockage that keeps coming back in the same place; it usually means a problem further down the line.
Preventive clearing
In older buildings, and in homes with large families, clearing the sinks and floor traps once or twice a year before they block saves a lot of inconvenience. It is part of Mawadda’s Comprehensive package, and can be ordered on its own from the shop, along with clearing a blocked toilet or the main drain line.