How Do I Stop My Drains From Blocking
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- Posted date:
- 07-09-2021
Blocked drains can be a stressful and expensive problem. It may seem very difficult to prevent as there are so many ways a drain could be blocked. Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to reduce the chances that your drains get blocked in the first place.
How to prevent blocked drain?
Use sink strainers
A sink strainer is a metal sieve or mesh strainer, which can be used to filter out substances in your drain system. They aim to catch any large debris whilst still letting water through so that your drains do not become clogged. They are most commonly found in kitchen and bathroom sinks. Sink strainers are also useful for showers as a lot of hair falling off your body during washing can end up in the drains and clump up, especially when mixed with soap. To keep your sink strainer working well, you should occasionally remove the strainer and clean it. As they come in a range of sizes, you should make sure you measure your plugs at your household first.
Don’t pour oil or grease down your drains
Oil and grease can lead to major problems for your drainage system. It may seem like they are going down your plughole with ease, but they quickly mix with other substances to create huge clumps, which can completely block off your drains. It can be hard to know which liquids are safe for your drain. Liquids such as milk and water will go through fine, whereas grease and cooking oil can create a disaster.
Be careful what you flush down the toilet
A lot of bathroom drain blockages are caused by flushing objects your toilet can't handle. Sanitary products, baby wipes, and non-flushable items can easily block your drains. Anything you dispose of down your toilet can cause a blockage if used in excess. Even using too much toilet paper can block your drains, so it is best to be careful. Make sure you aren't having random items flushed down the toilet by your child.
Common Reasons for Blocked Drains
Hair
We shed a lot of hair throughout the day without even noticing it. A lot of this hair ends up in the shower drains as when we use the shadow, lots of hair at once quickly accumulates and can find itself in your drains. If you regularly clean your sink strainer and make sure to clear any trapped hair, then this problem will not cause major blockages.
Plants and Dirt
A range of foreign objects and gunk can make it into your drains outside. The most common are dead leaves and tree roots. Throughout the autumn season, and especially during autumn, lots of leaves and plants can end up clogging your drains if not taken care of. Regularly using your hose on your drains and taking out anything you can with your hands (using gloves) are good prevention methods.
Grease Build-up
A lot of grease build-up comes from food. Make sure you always scrape your plate before putting it in the sink to reduce the amount of grease in your drains. Additionally, check if your soap products contain grease and fat as they can also damage your sewer drain system. Using high-quality detergents can break down fat and grease, which will allow it to freely flow through your drains.
Toiletries
Baby wipes and nappies are the biggest culprits when it comes to toilet blockages. Items like these can absorb moisture, which causes them to enlarge. If you are unsure whether you should flush something down the toilet or use the bathroom bin, use the bin if the waste isn't hazardous as you will be less likely to cause blockages in your drains. If you notice your toilet is blocked, you can use a plunger before calling a professional.
Heavy Rain and Storms
In areas with lots of bad weather, heavy rain and storms can overwhelm your drain system. Many drains aren't designed to handle a lot of bad weather as it is usually spontaneous. If you are dealing with overflow often, you can call a professional plumber to install better-suited pipes for your environment. They can also provide maintenance on existing infrastructure.
Broken Pipes
All pipes break eventually, and your drain pipes are no different. There are various reasons your pipes break, from general wear and tear to a construction accident. It can be difficult to tell if one of your pipes is broken as most of the time, it is covered by a wall or floor. Professional plumbing services can arrive in just hours and will feed a camera down your pipe to find out exactly where your emergency lies.
Poor Water Flow
If you turn on your tap and not a lot comes out, there is a high chance you have a water pressure problem. Occasionally, this won't be a drain related problem, but it is always good to fix sooner than later as it can cause more issues down the line. Using a cup or two of hot water, baking soda and vinegar solution, you can do drain cleaning/clog removal by yourself. Still, a professional will always offer to help you if you need more help with your unblocking. Be careful when testing water flow that you aren't using boiling water as it can suddenly burst out.
Bad Pipe Installation
Cheap and rushed pipe installations can cause a multitude of problems. They are much more likely to break or leak, and the repairs can be costly. You should never "cheap-out" on pipe installations as the potential risk far outweighs the initial price benefit.
Foreign Objects
We can't be expected to know all the items that we should and shouldn't flush or use in our kitchen sinks, so foreign object caused blockages are common and inevitable. Sometimes draining these items is accidental, like when we accidentally flush something down the toilet. Be considerate of what you're flushing and whether it would break down easily in your pipes.
Do you require emergency help with blocked drains in Redcar, Darlington, Hartlepool or East Cleveland? Our drain unblocking services can quickly and effectively deal with your drainage problems.