Blocked sewer tips and faq
Blocked sewer tips and faq
Amongst the worst kinds of household emergencies are the ones related to blocked drains and a blocked sewer. Choked drainage can take you by surprise, just as most household emergencies often do. Nevertheless, the awful feature of blocked drains is that they can give out foul smells and lead to overflow of waste water into your home. If you are a business that is impacted by a blocked sewer the disruption can result in loss of customer and staff goodwill with the associated lost productivity and sales revenue.
The following include some of the simple defensive measures you can take for lowering the chances of a drain problem, owing to either structural defects or small objects creating a blockage.
The hair trapped in the waste plug hole should be regularly removed.
Certain objects like combs, toilet rolls and medicine bottles can also block the drains so you need to keep them away from the toilet.
Using a disinfectant and hot water to clear the soap residues and regularly flushing the wash basin and shower pipework will prevent accumulation over time.
One should never flush disposable items that are large in size such as sanitary towels, nappies and product wrappings in the toilet as they can get trapped in the drainage lines.
It is a good idea to compost food waste rather than discarding it in the kitchen sink.
You should not try too hard to pull out any vegetable material that might have fallen into the plug hole for it can worsen the blockage.
Cooking fats have a tendency to solidify when contacting cold water and should not be disposed of in the drainage system. However in case cooking fats are stuck into the drain, you can try to emulsify and dilute them by using detergent with warm water. After you have diluted the fat, turn on the tap and let the water flow freely for some time.
Carrying out regular maintenance considerably reduces the possibilities of drainage blocks and unexpectedly getting a blocked sewer.
Make sure that the gutters and drainpipes of your roof are cleared twice a year.
Use a trowel to remove unwanted debris and leaves when working at a height.
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.
Rinsing off the external drains using hot water and disinfectant should be a regular maintenance activity.
Technology like a CCTV drain inspection service can be implemented, especially if you are running a business, to monitor the drainage systems on a regular basis ensuring complete freedom from worries and early warning of something that might cause a blocked sewer. The CCTV will inform you of any impending blockage and you can also check the condition of the drainage system regularly by using this service.