Simple Tips to Avoid Drain Blockage Problems

Here are some simple tips on drain blockage prevention:

Fat

Grease from fats and oils may be liquid on entering a drain, but it soon gets cold down there and will rapidly congeal, becoming a sticky solid mass that adheres to pipe walls and attracts further waste to it.

Use a fat trap (a lined, disposable container) to pour waste oils and fats into. Or add to your green recycling bin – keep a caddy in the kitchen for food waste – it’s healthy for your pipes as well as the planet!

Hair

Both human and pet hair are also major clog-factors. The simplest way to avoid drains becoming blocked by hair build-up is to install simple mesh screens over all your drains, particularly shower and bath drains.

A mesh screen in the kitchen sink will also trap food waste from washing up. They are easy to clean out – just make it a habit to empty them regularly.

Food Waste

Coffee grounds seem like a harmless, free-flowing item to wash down the sink. However, you may be surprised to learn that they are a high-risk factor for drain blockages.

Dispose of them – along with other food waste particles, like rice and pasta – in the food waste bin.

Fibrous Materials

Items such as wet wipes, dental floss, cotton balls and feminine hygiene items should be disposed of in a bin, not flushed down the toilet. They easily snag on rough parts inside drains and build up into potential drainage blockages.

Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals

Engine oil, paints and solvents should be safely disposed of according to local regulations; never introduced to the water supply where they can harm our groundwater and be toxic to plants and wildlife. Return unused medicines to a chemist for safe disposal.

Tips to Maintain Clean Drains

As well as teaching your family what is safe and not safe to dispose of down the drains, it’s a good idea to use some simple regular cleaning procedures.

A handful of baking soda in the drain, followed by a kettle of hot (not boiling) water, will help to dissolve and loosen any fats that have started to build up.

A cupful of vinegar will act in the same way. Buy yourself an auger – a long, flexible tool – to hook out build-ups and dislodge early build-up.

Blocked Drains Solutions by EDS

Remember – most drain blockages can be avoided. But if your drains do become blocked, call in expert help quickly for drain blockage solutions. Express Drainage Solutions are the leading providers of drain inspections, unblocking services and repairs across London and the South East.