{"id":519,"date":"2026-04-15T11:05:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T23:05:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geckogullydemos.com\/mjr\/?post_type=mjr-faq&p=519"},"modified":"2026-05-21T14:06:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T02:06:11","slug":"slow-draining-sink-christchurch","status":"publish","type":"mjr-faq","link":"https:\/\/geckogullydemos.com\/mjr\/mjr-faq\/slow-draining-sink-christchurch\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is my shower or sink not draining properly?"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Slow draining sink or shower in Christchurch? Common causes & when to call a maintenance specialist before it becomes a full blockage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":227,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[17,34,21,35,33,32],"class_list":["post-519","mjr-faq","type-mjr-faq","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blocked-drains","tag-blocked-drains-christchurch","tag-blocked-sink-christchurch","tag-plumbing-maintenance-christchurch","tag-sink-not-draining-christchurch","tag-slow-drain-christchurch","tag-slow-shower-drain-christchurch","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"yoast_head":"\nWhy is my shower or sink not draining properly? - MJ Robertson Plumbing and Gas<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Slow draining sink or shower in Christchurch? Common causes & when to call a maintenance specialist before it becomes a full blockage.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why is my shower or sink not draining properly? - MJ Robertson Plumbing and Gas\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Slow draining sink or shower in Christchurch? Common causes & when to call a maintenance specialist before it becomes a full blockage.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/geckogullydemos.com\/mjr\/mjr-faq\/slow-draining-sink-christchurch\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"MJ Robertson Plumbing and Gas\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-21T02:06:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/geckogullydemos.com\\\/mjr\\\/mjr-faq\\\/slow-draining-sink-christchurch\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/geckogullydemos.com\\\/mjr\\\/mjr-faq\\\/slow-draining-sink-christchurch\\\/\",\"name\":\"Why is my shower or sink not draining properly? - MJ Robertson Plumbing and Gas\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/geckogullydemos.com\\\/mjr\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/geckogullydemos.com\\\/mjr\\\/mjr-faq\\\/slow-draining-sink-christchurch\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/geckogullydemos.com\\\/mjr\\\/mjr-faq\\\/slow-draining-sink-christchurch\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/geckogullydemos.com\\\/mjr\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/MJ.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-14T23:05:50+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-21T02:06:11+00:00\",\"description\":\"Slow draining sink or shower in Christchurch? 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If left untreated, this can lead to a full blockage that requires professional clearing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>What causes slow drains in Christchurch homes<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>Slow drains are one of the most common plumbing maintenance issues across Christchurch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In most cases, the problem develops gradually as material builds up inside the pipe. This restricts water flow and eventually leads to a blockage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Common causes include:<\/h3>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n <li>Hair collecting in shower drains<\/li>\r\n <li>Soap residue sticking to the inside of pipes<\/li>\r\n <li>Grease and food waste in kitchen sinks<\/li>\r\n <li>Dirt and debris washed down outdoor drains<\/li>\r\n <li>Tree roots entering underground pipes in older Christchurch properties<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>Even a small build-up can slow drainage noticeably.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Why it tends to get worse over time<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>A slow drain is usually the first stage of a blocked drain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Once the inside of a pipe starts to collect residue, it becomes easier for more material to stick. Over time, the restriction grows until water can no longer pass through properly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Many Christchurch homeowners first notice the issue as slow drainage, then suddenly find the sink or shower no longer drains at all.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>What you can try first<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>If the problem has only just started, there are a few simple steps you can take.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Basic checks:<\/h3>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n <li>Remove and clean the drain cover<\/li>\r\n <li>Pull out visible hair or debris<\/li>\r\n <li>Flush the drain with hot water<\/li>\r\n <li>Use a plunger to loosen the blockage<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>These can help if the build-up is close to the surface.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Signs the blockage is deeper<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>If the drain is still slow after basic cleaning, the issue is likely further down the pipe.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>This is more likely if:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n <li>Multiple drains in the property are slow<\/li>\r\n <li>The problem keeps returning<\/li>\r\n <li>Water backs up when using another tap<\/li>\r\n <li>You hear gurgling sounds in the pipes<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>In these cases, the blockage is usually out of reach of DIY methods.<\/p>\r\n","ptb_mjr_ask_mj":"<p><strong>\u201cA slow drain is an early warning, not just an inconvenience.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>If it is ignored, it often turns into a full blockage at the worst possible time. Sorting it early is usually quicker and far less disruptive.<\/p>\r\n","ptb_mjr_service_text_2":"<h2>How MJ Robertson approaches slow drains<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>MJ Robertson is a maintenance company specialising in plumbing, working across Christchurch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Instead of just restoring flow temporarily, the focus is on:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n <li>Locating the cause of the restriction<\/li>\r\n <li>Clearing the pipe properly, not just partially<\/li>\r\n <li>Reducing the chance of the problem returning<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>This approach is especially useful for homeowners, rental properties, and commercial buildings where ongoing issues can become a hassle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>When to call a maintenance specialist<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>It\u2019s a good idea to get help if:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n <li>The drain is getting slower over time<\/li>\r\n <li>DIY methods have not worked<\/li>\r\n <li>The issue keeps coming back<\/li>\r\n <li>There are signs of a larger blockage<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>Dealing with it early can prevent a full blockage and avoid unnecessary damage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Final thought<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>A slow drain in a Christchurch property is rarely just a minor issue.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>It is usually the first sign of a blockage forming inside the pipes. Taking care of it early can save time, cost, and inconvenience later.<\/p>\r\n"},"ptb_taxonomy":{"category":[{"term_id":8,"name":"Blocked Drains","slug":"blocked-drains","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":8,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Blocked drains are a common issue in Christchurch homes. 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