Blocked drains are far from pleasant. Aside from their often nasty odours, blocked drains can also be costly to resolve. Here we discuss how to prevent blocked drains so you can avoid nasty sinks and bills.
How to prevent blocked drains
Cooking oils
Have you ever come to do the washing up only to find the sink won’t drain?
You could be experiencing one of the leading causes of blocked drains – fat poured down the sink.
It probably seems the simplest way to get rid of that unwanted oil or melted butter in the pan – but once it cools, fat solidifies.
You’ve probably heard of ‘fatbergs’, the sewer blocking giant masses made of kitchen grease and oil, tissues and other bathroom waste.
But before it even gets that far, congealed fat can cause havoc for your pipes – so be sure to dispose of it correctly.
After cooking, pour any melted fat into a heatproof container and – once cooled – simply scrape into the bin.
And if fats end up down the drain by accident, pour a mix of boiling water, vinegar and baking soda down to flush the pipes and prevent it sticking.
Hair shedding
Another common reason for blocked drains is hair shedding. However, it’s a common misconception that the problem is primarily caused by longer locks.
During or after washing and showering, hair of any length can mix with the oily deposits from our body, soap and other sources and get stuck.
There’s no completely failsafe way to prevent problems caused by this type of build-up – but there are tips to reduce the likelihood of a big blockage.
You can invest in a bath sieve – a type of strainer that sits in the plughole and prevents large amounts of hair going down the drain.
And you can also occasionally flush the drains with boiling water and salt, which can help prevent build-ups from happening.
Leaves
Stepping outside your house – a common cause of blockages (particularly during colder months) is leaves covering your drains.
While you can’t control where or when the trees shed their foliage, you can at least take precautions to prevent them from causing problems.
By purchasing a drain guard and keeping it relatively clean and free from leaf build-up, you can keep your pipes working properly.
Drains still blocked?
While the above issues are some of the most common, there are several reasons that your drains could become blocked. And, while we can try and prevent blocked drains sometimes it’s out of our control.
Assuming you’re following the golden rule – never flush anything other than toilet paper and human waste down a toilet – then you may need a professional.
To speak to a member of our helpful team or arrange a site survey visit, please get in touch today.