Blocked drains no more with this maintenence guide and fundamental plan
Blocked drains no more with this maintenence guide and fundamental plan
Household emergencies can create a havoc and blocked drains are probably one of the worst. As with most emergencies they happen without any 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. When this problem arises in business areas, customers are lost, workers are inconvenienced and your operations and turnover are badly hit.
Listed below are some easy steps you can take to minimize the chance of a drain becoming blocked, whether due to the introduction of foreign object or a structural fault.
The hair trapped in the waste plug hole should be regularly removed.
Maintain all other small things like medicine bottles, toilet rolls or combs at a distance from the toilet to avoid them falling into it by mistake.
Regularly flush the wash basin and bath or shower pipework with hot water and a disinfectant to clear soap residue and prevent build up over time.
Never try to flush large objects like nappies, sanitary towels, product wrappings, etc, even though they are disposable, since they often are the items which block drain pipes.
Instead of disposing the waste food scraps and cuttings down the drain they can rather be used as a compost.
If food matter does fall into the sink, try to carefully pull it from the drain hole as pushing it will only jam the pipe further.
You must remember that cooked fats, on exposure to cold water, can thicken and finally solidify, so never dispose them off in the sink. 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. Keep the water running for a minute after you have done this to keep a clear water flow.
Following a set of regular maintenance activities one can reduce the chances of having a drain blockage.
Rain downpipes and roof gutters are prone to getting blocked so they should be checked at least two times in a year.
Whilst taking care when working in places at elevation, use a gardening implement to clear any debris or leaves that collect.
Ensure easy access to the drain inspection covers and carry out timely checks by lifting them regularly to keep a smooth flow of water through the drains.
Make sure to brush off the external drains which often get filled up with autumn moss, fallen leaves and garden materials.
As with the internal drains you should regularly wash external drains with hot water and disinfectant.
A business house should ideally get a CCTV drain inspection service to survey and check the drainage system periodically. By doing all the above, you can easily keep a watch on the proper functioning of your drainage system, maintaining its structure, and you can identify the risks of unexpected blockages well before you face them.