Healthy drains start with the prevention of problems. Being careful with what you put down drains is key to preventing blockages and regular cleaning will prevent clogging. The following 3 steps will help to prevent issues, particularly in the most problematic areas in bathrooms, showers and kitchens.
1. Use Drain Guards
Using guards on all sinks will stop unnecessary waste from being washed down your drains. You can get metal or plastic guards that sit on the plughole and catch waste materials. You can then lift up the guard and throw the waste away. There are guards available for all types of plugholes, including kitchen sink guards that prevent food debris from getting washed down and shower guards that can catch loose hair and other materials before they can cause clogging.
Drain guards won’t catch oils and fats, however, and it is also important to dispose of all such liquids and products appropriately. This includes cooking oil, fats and coffee grounds. You can read about the problems that can be caused by fats being put down drains on the National Geographic website.
2. Use Drain Cleaners
Using bacteriological drain cleaners regularly will help to maintain drains properly. You just need to pour the cleaning solution down the drains and leave for a minimum of 30 minutes, as per the instructions on the product you choose. You will then need to flush with hot water. You should do this at least every 2 to 3 months to prevent blockages from occurring. Where possible, try to choose as natural a cleaner as possible to prevent long-term pipe corrosion.
3. Use Boiling Water
This is one of the simplest ways to maintain a healthy drainage system. And if drain repairs should become necessary, then the simplest solution is drain lining Oldbury from experts such as https://www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/sewer-repairs-drain-lining-concrete-cutting/drain-repairs/oldbury/.
You should pour boiling water down your drains at least once a week. This will make sure that any oil that has accumulated is flushed away rather than gathering and causing sluggish water flow and future clogging.
What happens below the plughole
Prevention makes more sense once you know how the system works. Drains are the pipes that carry water away from sinks, showers, baths and toilets, while sewers take that waste on to the public network. Household drain pipes are usually PVC or cast iron and range from half an inch to ten inches across. Fixtures are designed to stop backflow, so dirty water should not come back up into them.
The sewer system is a network of underground pipes, manholes, catch basins and pumping stations that carries wastewater and solid organic waste to a treatment plant. Sewer pipes are typically clay or concrete and between six and 24 inches in diameter.
When a drain pipe clogs, sewage can back up and overflow, and a blocked sewer can leak, which is a genuine health risk. Without working drains a home is also open to water damage and mould. Regular inspection and cleaning keep the whole system working and the house healthy.
Five common causes of blocked drains
Guards and regular cleaning work best when you know what you are guarding against. Hair is the main culprit in bathrooms, building up over time and tangling with soap and other residue into stubborn clogs. Clearing drain covers often and fitting hair catchers makes a big difference.
In the kitchen, fats and grease from cooking set solid inside pipes and are hard to shift, so wipe pans with a paper towel and put it in the bin instead of rinsing them. Coffee grounds look harmless but clump together in pipes, and they are better off in the compost. Food scraps cause trouble too, so scrape plates into the bin before washing up and keep a strainer in the plughole.
Wet wipes are another notorious cause. Many do not break down in water the way toilet paper does, even when sold as flushable. Only wipes certified as fine to flush should go down the toilet, and the bin is the safer choice. Persistent or complex blockages are a job for a professional.