The insiders guidebook to comprehending blocked sewers
The insiders guidebook to comprehending blocked sewers
Blocked drains can be one of the worst type of household emergencies. It is obvious that most drains emergencies occur without prior warning. However, the most unpleasant aspects of a blocked drain are that it can cause nasty odours, flooding and loss of power in the home. Drainage problems can loose customers for a business and demotivate employees thereby severely affecting business output, sales and income.
The drains get blocked mostly due to foreign objects or some structural problems, so you can always take certain measures to ensure their proper functioning.
One of the commonest thing to get stuck in the plug hole are the hair, so make it a point to remove them regularly.
Store toiletries like combs, rolls and bottles in secure shelves as they can accidentally fall into a toilet if carelessly placed.
To avoid build-up of soap matter and other material over time, put disinfectant and hot water through the pipes of the washbasin and bath or shower every so often.
Large and disposable items such as towels, nappies or product wrappings can clog your drainage pipe and thus should not be flushed down the toilet.
Food leftovers and chopping waste should be composted, not pushed down the kitchen sink drain.
In the event of such material falling into the sink, do not push the matter through the plughole as this may impact and worsen the blockage; instead, try to extract the matter.
Disposing of cooking fats down the kitchen sink should never be done as the fats can solidify when they come in contact with cold water. In case there is no other way out you should dilute the fats by mixing them with hot water and detergent. It is a good practice to keep water running into sinks for a minute or so after flushing fats as it helps to maintain a smooth flow of water and prevent the fats solidifying.
There are also a set of regular maintenance activities which can reduce the likelihood of a drains problem.
Check the house roof gutters and rain downpipes twice a year.
Whilst taking care when working in places at elevation, use a gardening implement to clear any debris or leaves that collect.
Regularly check that your drains are free-flowing by periodically lifting the inspection covers and make sure that these can easily be accessed.
Make sure that garden matter, such as leaves or moss, are kept out of the outside drainage grids.
External drains, like internal drains, should be cleaned on a regular basis with disinfectant and hot water.
A business house should ideally get a CCTV drain inspection service to survey and check the drainage system periodically. 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.