Stop using the fixture and contain the water. Remove visible, accessible debris, then plunge a minor local blockage. Follow the safe way to unblock a sink, shower or bath if the obstruction is limited to one fixture. Test with a small amount of clean water. If water still leaks from a pipe, trap, joint, wall or ceiling, the plumbing needs repair because clearing the clog alone will not fix it.
Contain the Water and Find the Source
Move belongings away and collect accessible water with towels or a container. If sewage may be present, keep people and pets away, avoid contact and arrange professional plumbing and cleaning.
Without dismantling plumbing or opening walls, check where the water first appears:
- Water rises from the drain or spills over the fixture: the blockage is causing an overflow.
- The fixture drains but water appears beneath it: a trap, seal or connection may be leaking.
- Water appears through a wall, ceiling or floor: stop using the fixture; concealed pipework may be leaking. A plumber can determine whether a leaking pipe can be repaired without full replacement.
- Water escapes around a shower without the drain backing up: a seal or waterproofing fault may be involved.
- Several fixtures drain slowly, gurgle or back up: stop using them. This may indicate a deeper obstruction in shared drainage.
Turn off the fixture isolation valve or property water supply only if clean, pressurised water continues to escape. This can limit a supply leak but will not stop wastewater backing up. Do not open a drain cleanout, enter a confined space or dismantle concealed plumbing.
Clear a Minor Blockage Safely
Only attempt a blockage at one accessible fixture:
- Wear gloves and remove visible hair or soap build-up with a simple plastic drain tool. Remove a stopper or grate only as permitted by its manufacturer.
- Add enough water to cover the plunger rim, then seal the cup firmly over the drain.
- If there is an overflow opening, cover it only where the manufacturer permits. Plunge repeatedly while maintaining the seal.
- When flow improves, test with a small amount of clean water. Watch the drain and visible pipework for slow flow or renewed leakage.
Do not plunge if drain cleaner is present because it may splash. Never mix drain-cleaning products, and avoid boiling water because it may damage some fixtures or pipework.
Stop testing and call a licensed plumber if the blockage remains, the leak returns, sewage appears, multiple fixtures are affected, or water enters a wall, ceiling or floor. Repairs to leaking pipework, traps and connections are not homeowner clearing tasks. If this occurs in Sydney, contact our licensed blocked drain plumbers for assessment.