8 Drain Maintenance Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

Your drains – aren’t they amazing? In fact, most people hardly think about their drains at all … until they’ve got a problem, that is. You’re all too often only annoyed at yourself for totally neglecting regular drain maintenance once:

• The water won’t go down anymore
• Foul smells are rising from the sink
• Unhealthy and rank sewage is backing up (ew!).

The best way to avoid all of these headaches is simple – make drain maintenance part of your routine before blockages ever happen.

And here in Brisbane, drains are under even more pressure than that. Our endless wet seasons dump debris into stormwater pipes, old clay sewers crack under tree roots, and kitchen and bathroom waste quickly adds up. That means even if everything seems fine right now, maintenance is the key to keeping things flowing smoothly.

Why drain maintenance matters

Learning how to clean drains safely and regularly is about prevention. You don’t need harsh chemicals or complicated drain cleaning tools – just some consistent habits that keep your pipes healthy.

Because a well-looked-after drainage system:

• Lasts longer before needing major repairs.
• Handles storms and heavy use without backups.
• Costs less over time, because emergencies are expensive.

8 Essential drain maintenance steps

You’ll probably be surprised just how basic, easy-to-do and effective some of these are! Let’s get straight into it.

1. Flush with hot water weekly

One of the simplest habits is boiling the kettle once a week and pouring it slowly down your sink. This helps keep a clean drain by melting away grease and soap scum before it hardens.

It’s cheap, safe, and surprisingly effective.

2. Use strainers & catchers

Prevention starts at the surface. A simple sink strainer stops food scraps and coffee grounds in the kitchen, while hair catchers in the shower prevent tangles deeper down.

These little gadgets make it much easier to clean drains because they keep most of the mess out in the first place.

3. Bicarb & vinegar monthly flush

Every few weeks, give your drains a reset:

• Pour half a cup of bicarb soda into the pipe
• Follow with a cup of vinegar
• Let it fizz
• Flush with boiling water.

This mild method shows you how to clean drain lines without using chemicals that can damage pipes. It helps reduce odours too!

4. Keep bathrooms hair-free

If you’re wondering how to clean bathroom drains, the answer is often as simple as pulling out built-up hair before it slides further down. Do this regularly when you clean the bathroom.

A quick rinse with boiling water afterwards helps prevent soap residue from sticking.

5. Check traps every few months

Under every sink is a U-shaped pipe called a trap. It’s designed to hold water and block smells from coming back into the house, but it also catches heavier debris:

• Unscrew it every few months
• Rinse it out
• Reattach.

It’s a fairly straightforward bit of cleaning drains most people can manage with a bucket and gloves.

6. Inspect outdoor drains

Stormwater pits and outdoor grates collect leaves, mud, and rubbish. Clearing them out before the rainy season is essential. Think of it as a regular drainage clean for your yard.

A few minutes with a garden trowel now can save you from water pooling or flooding later.

7. Keep bathroom fixtures ventilated

Moisture breeds mould, which can add to residue inside drains. Good ventilation in bathrooms, combined with a fortnightly rinse of hot water, is the easiest way to clean bathroom drain pipes and keep them odour-free.

8. Schedule professional inspections

Even with good habits, some issues build up out of sight. Getting a drainage plumber to run a drain camera inspection every couple of years gives you peace of mind. They can spot:

• Cracks
• Root intrusion
• Corrosion.

Catch them early, and you’ll prevent a crisis.

What happens if you skip maintenance

Ignoring drains until they block is a risky strategy!:

• Build-up becomes harder to remove
• Blockages get deeper
• Repairs get more expensive.

While a plunger might clear a quick clog, it won’t undo years of neglect. By taking maintenance seriously, you avoid the stress and cost of emergency call-outs.

Keep your drains healthy

Looking after your drains doesn’t take long – and it saves you from the hassle of sudden floods, smells, or costly repairs. Follow the steps above and you’ll have fewer problems, smoother flow, and healthier plumbing overall.

If you ever run into a problem bigger than DIY can handle, call the friendly team at Brisbane Drain Cleaning. We use professional gear to inspect, clear, and restore your drains with guaranteed results – so your home keeps flowing the way it should. Give us a shout!