If you want to prevent expensive call-outs, plumbing and drainage emergencies, and other problems, drain maintenance is essential. When it comes to blocked drains, leaking or burst pipes, and any other drainage concerns, prevention is the best remedy. It is always more unpleasant and costly to try to address an issue after it has arisen than to take preventative measures to keep a healthy drainage system in the first place.
As a result, Herts Plumbing has put up our top 10 tips for drain maintenance, allowing you to extend the life of your drainage system and prevent any costly accidents.
Are you experiencing drainage problems? Contact our helpful team to find out how we can assist if you’re having any issues with your drains right now.
10 Essential Tips On How To Maintain A Healthy Drainage System
1. Find Out What Not to Pour Down the Drain
Finding out what can harm your drains is crucial. One of the most frequently clogged drains is the kitchen drain in particular. Even if your dishwashing product claims to remove oil, it is ineffective when it comes to fat. Fat that is poured down the kitchen sink will stick to the pipes’ sides and create a grease trap that gathers food particles and other trash. This ultimately results in clogged drains.
2. Steer clear of chemical drain cleaning products.
Choosing the best drain cleaner might be challenging at times. Products that claim to have excellent results for chemical drain cleaning frequently don’t tell the whole story. Because of their harsh ingredients, many of these products are actually very corrosive. They are destroying not just the obstruction in your pipes but also the lining of your pipes with their flames. Pipe damage can lead to leaks or, worse, bursts. To avoid this occurring to you, find out which drain unblockers work best for different types of obstructions.
3. Regularly Rinse Your Drains
Boiling water can harm less sturdy pipes, so it’s better to avoid using it for drain cleaning. Instead, use warm, soapy water. Regular rinsing paired with avoiding pouring anything but non-fatty beverages down your drains will go a long way to prevent blockages and preserve healthy drains.
4. Take Caution When Flushing Anything Down the Toilet
Never, ever flush sanitary items or nappies down the toilet! You may believe that the item has flushed, but it is still clogging a pipe in your plumbing system somewhere along the way. Maintain a container for these items in your lavatory. Additionally, be cautious when flushing too much toilet paper, since this can also accumulate and result in a problematic clog.
5. Learn How to Adequately Unclog Your Drains
Selecting the appropriate drain unblockers or cleaning techniques is crucial, much like with strong chemical cleansers. It is not recommended for solid obstructions, but the well-known baking soda and vinegar combo works well for minor blockages and odour removal from your sink. Don’t use this procedure too frequently though, as the soda’s acidic nature can be harmful to pipes if used excessively.
6. Make Sure You Know Where Your Stopcock is
The stopcock is the device that cuts off the mains water supply to your home. In terms of drain maintenance, it’s critical to be aware of this location so that, in the event of a burst or leak, you can quickly halt the water flow and limit further damage. In order to avoid frozen pipes, it’s also a good idea to turn off your water at the stopcock if you plan to be away from home during the winter.
7. Put a Drain Guard in Place
Installing drain guards is an excellent technique to prevent foreign objects from falling down your drain. A drain guard is a little grate-like disc made of plastic or metal that is placed over a plughole to catch debris like food. Emptying it into the bin is simple and requires pulling out the drain guard. Since they might gather loose hair or other debris in the shower, drain guards are also effective there.
8. Remove Leaves or Debris
Make sure your gutters and grids are clear of leaves and other debris by checking them on a regular basis.
9. Pay attention
Often, problems with your drain don’t become fully noticeable until it’s too late and you require professional assistance. To quickly discover issues, you can visually inspect or smell drains. You can also search for indications of pipe leaks. Problems like moist patches that shouldn’t be there elsewhere on your property may also be seen. You should be mindful of your outdoor drains in addition to your indoor drainage systems. Garden detritus, such as leaves and twigs, can clog them, and obstructions may result in floods. To maintain clear outside drains, you can also add a grate.
10. Get a CCTV Drain Inspection
These helpful hints for maintaining your drains might help avoid blockages and drainage problems in your daily life. As knowledgeable specialists in all matters drainage, we would additionally advise obtaining a yearly drain survey. Since it finds issues before they become serious issues, this is the best drain care advice available.
Contact Herts Plumbing Today.
When all else fails, Herts Plumbing can assist you in getting your drains back to normal. With our vast array of tools, we are equipped to handle any situation and can handle a very wide range of challenges. To help you with any problem you may be having, we can provide a free, no-obligation quote and advice on the best durable and economical solution.
Simply fill in our Quote form here or for emergencies call out 24 Hour Emergency Service: 01727 305072.
