They say that prevention is better than cure, but what can you do to prevent drains blocking? Let’s take a look at some common problems and their solutions.
If you spot a problem with the main drainage system for your local area, there may be little you can do to prevent the problem; however, you can stop it getting worse by contacting your local council or the Environment Agency.
For problems that can occur within the household, there are a few things you can do to prevent them. There are three main issues when it comes to household drainage: coffee grains, hair and soap scum, and cooking grease. Let’s take a look at how to prevent your drains blocking due to these issues.
Coffee grains
Coffee grains don’t dissolve properly, so they can build up in the drain. Instead of tipping these down the sink, put them in a container and throw them in the bin.
Cooking grease
Cooking grease should never be put down the sink, as it causes blockage problems very quickly. Running the tap afterwards won’t help, as oil and water don’t mix and the grease won’t be pushed down. Instead, pour it into a container and throw in the bin.
Hair and soap scum
You can buy a filter from most DIY shops that you put over your plug to collect all the hair and soap scum. It therefore doesn’t go down the plughole but is collected in the filter and can be thrown in the bin.
After the event
If you have already put any of these things down the sink, don’t despair. Add vinegar or baking soda to boiling water and pour this down the plughole. This will break up the material in the drain and you should not get a blockage.
If you have tried this and it didn’t work, you should call a local drainage expert rather than trying to get to the root of the problem yourself. For blocked drains London, for example, contact an expert such as https://www.3flowdrainage.co.uk/. For drainage problems elsewhere in the country, a search engine or the local Yellow Pages will furnish you with a company name and phone number.
Now that you know what to do, follow the advice above and you should never suffer from blocked drains again.