Correct drain maintenance is important if you want to avoid more costly repairs or replacements further down the line.
Your actions can help protect every aspect of your system, from your plugholes to your septic tank or sewage treatment plant.
Keep these five simple steps in mind in order to maintain a healthy drainage system.
Use a drain guard or waste
Your kitchen sink may already have a drain guard, sometimes known as a ‘waste’ or ‘trap’ – but it’s worth getting them fitted to all plugholes.
They work simply to catch any food waste, hair and other debris, for easy removal and placement in the bin.
For showers, bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms, this inexpensive item could help save on your drain maintenance costs.
Use hot water
Some drainage maintenance companies may recommend pouring boiling water down your pipes – but this is not always ideal.
While it will help to clear the build up of fats and oils that can accumulate, some plastic pipe connections may be weakened, causing leakages.
Instead, use hot or recently boiled water to melt any fat waste and reduce residues inside pipework – no more often than once a week.
Use the right type of drain cleaner
Several ‘tips to maintain your drain system’ lists might promote the regular use of chemical based drain cleaning liquids or foams.
But these can often contain substances harmful to health if handled incorrectly, so use protective equipment if instructed
A safer (and possibly environmentally kinder) alternative is the time-honoured combination of basic white vinegar and baking soda.
Be mindful of hair
Human and pet hairs are some of the most frequent causes of blockages and backing up of drainage systems.
Brushing long hair before bathing or showering can reduce these occurrences.
And using a disposable cloth to cover the plug before washing an animal can make it easy to collect and dispose of pet hair.
Arrange a survey or inspection
While there are several steps you can take at home, sometimes professional drain maintenance is the best course of action.
Regular drain inspections are a cost-effective way to identify potential problems before they become more expensive.
And a CCTV drainage survey can diagnose issues with pipework that you might otherwise miss.
Maintaining your drain system
As well as the above tips, remember that prevention is always better than cure when it comes to maintaining a drain system.
So be mindful of the things you should never flush into your septic tank or drainage system.
And if you want to discuss arranging a CCTV drainage survey or other type of drain inspection, please get in touch.