The insiders guide to treating blocked sewers
The insiders guide to treating blocked sewers
Amongst the worst kinds of household emergencies are the ones related to blocked drains. Similar to other household emergencies, they just occur unexpectedly. However, the most unpleasant aspects of a blocked drain are that it can cause nasty odours, flooding and loss of power in the home. If you run a business, loss of productivity and sales revenue can lead to a loss in customer and staff goodwill especially if your business is impacted by this disruption.
Prevention is always better than cure and here are some steps you can take to prevent blocked drainage caused by structural kinks or foreign matter:.
Hairs that accumulate in the waste plug should be removed frequently.
Store toiletries like combs, rolls and bottles in secure shelves as they can accidentally fall into a toilet if carelessly placed.
Flush out the wash basin and bath areas with disinfectant and hot water regularly to prevent soap sludge from lining your pipes.
Dont flush away large and disposable items such as sanitary towels, nappies or product wrapping as they can become caught in the drainage pipe.
It is better to compost food wastes and cuttings as fertilizer rather than flushing them down the sink.
In case any vegetable material does fall into the sink try removing it out of the plug hole and do not poke it down the drain as this could hamper the blockage making it tougher to remove.
Never dispose of cooking fats down the drain system, as they hit cold water they will solidify. When there are no other options other than flushing fats into the sink, dilute and soften the fats or other foods using hot water and detergent, so that they go through easily without blocking. Run the water for a while after this, so that the the oil is completely flushed out and the pipes remain clear.
Now for some general maintenance tips to cut the risk of blocked drainage:.
Make sure that the gutters and drainpipes of your roof are cleared twice a year.
While trying to remove the gathered leaves and debris using a trowel, you should be careful that you do not fall off the ladder.
Lift the inspection covers on a regular basis to ensure that your drains are freely flowing, and check that these are easily accessible.
Keep external drain grids free of fallen leaves, autumn moss and other garden materials.
As with the internal drains you should regularly wash external drains with hot water and disinfectant.
For complete peace of mind, particularly if you are running a business you can request a regular drain surveys and get your drainage system checked regularly by a CCTV drain inspection service. This will give early warning of any potential blockages and also enables you to keep an eye on the structural condition of the drainage pipework.