Having a blocked drain can be a frustrating experience and a hassle to fix – not to mention expensive! 3,000 homes are flooded annually due to blockages in our drains. You’ll be pleased to know that avoiding this isn’t so challenging. In fact, it all comes down to the actions we take every day, Actions that are easy to do adopt into our lifestyle and are also eco-friendly.
Even if your drains haven’t been blocked or overflowed, you might still have played a part with blockages in your community. With a few simple changes in habits, you can prevent clogs before they happen. From food scraps blocking the kitchen sink, to a bundle of hair blocking the shower drain, lets see how we can keep your drains flowing smoothy.
Let’s Identify The Cause
Kitchen Drains
Did you know that in the UK 20,000 blocked drains are caused by fats and oils, which solidify within the pipes obstruct water flow. These blockages can cause disruption and cost a lot of money to fix; just because a food item fits through the drain doesn’t mean it can’t get stuck in the pipe. Pasta and potatoes can expand in water, which causes obstructions. Coffee grounds clump together and form blockages in the drainpipes. It’s important to prevent the waste going down our sinks, as well as doing regular checks and ensuring proper disposal of these all waste.
Bathroom Drains
Sanitary products are your toilets worst nightmare. Flushing sanitary towels and tampons can cause major issue in your drains because they expand, which then lead them to clog up our pipes. That’s not what we want!
We know what you’re thinking… “These wipes are flushable, so I can surely flush these go down the drain?” Nope. Although being advertised as ‘flushable’, those wet wipes cause significant problems for our drains and can lead to blocked pipes and ‘fatbergs’. They don’t disintegrate fast enough the same way our toilet paper does – which is designed to be flushed. We should only flush human waste and toilet paper to avoid issues occurring. So, stick to traditional toilet paper, even the bamboo stuff can be troublesome for sewers!
How To Fix A Blocked Drain
Blocked drains can lead to costly repairs, unpleasant odours, and environmental damage. As we’ve discussed, common household habits contribute to this issue. The good news? Drain blockages are completely preventable with a few simple changes. So, we’re providing some simple tips to help you get started today. Follow these easy steps to keep your drains clear and protect our plumbing systems.
Bin it – 4.5 million period products are found in our sewers, let’s stop that and bin those products. Invest in a bathroom bin to help reduce this, stop using your toilets as BINS.
Clear it – Make sure to clear your plate before washing up, soak up those liquids as well.
Wipe it – Don’t leave excess grease or oil on plates, pots or pans, as it will turn solid in your pipes.
Contain it – Let’s start collecting our excess oil and taking it to your nearest recycling centre.
Compost it – Keep your uncooked fruit and vegetable peels and reuse them as compost. Even coffee can be used for compost, so get creative!
Strain it – You can prevent your drains from blockages, simply by using a strainer for your plug hole. Is hair blocking up your shower drain? Drain protectors have got you covered.
