Is your drain clogged?
If you have called a plumber in the past, the chances are that you would have been calling to fix a clogged drain.
This is one of the most common problems that we are called to attend for residential and commercial premises (especially hairdressers!)
There are plenty of reasons why a drain can become clogged, but there are some simple tips that can minimise the chance of this occurring:
If you have called a plumber in the past, the chances are that you would have been calling to fix a clogged drain.
This is one of the most common problems that we are called to attend for residential and commercial premises (especially hairdressers!)
There are plenty of reasons why a drain can become clogged, but there are some simple tips that can minimise the chance of this occurring:
1.Hair: The average person loses 100-200 hairs per day, now when you take into account all the people in your house that is a lot of hair that gets around, it wont all fall out in the shower but a portion will, all that hair going down the drain can build up and cause your drains to become clogged.
Ways to avoid this build up are as simple as installing hair catchers in your shower and bath, cost effective and a great way to reduce the amount of hair slipping down the drain. Also brushing your hair before and after showering will remove some of the loose hairs.
2.Grease and oil: Grease and oil being placed down your sink can stick to your pipes, when the oil sticks it can then catch any other debris that may go down your sink and cause a build up.
If you have been cooking with oil or grease the best way to dispose of any left overs is to place into a sealed container and dispose of it in the waste bin. Pouring it down the sink might be a more convenient option at the time but could be a quite costly and unpleasant event for the future!
3.Food waste: Washing dishes in your sink and left over little pieces of food are in your water? Purchase a sink trap to place in your sink, as the water drains the leftovers are caught and can easily be removed to put the waste in the bin.
4.Items not meant for the toilet: The only thing that you should ever place in your toilet is toilet paper! Sanitary items, tissues, baby wipes and nappies are not made to be disposed down the toilet! This seems like something that should be common sense, yet we are still attending jobs where all of the above have been placed down the toilet. If you work in a commercial premises then the placement of appropriate bins is advised and well displayed notices advising people of the proper ways to dispose of these items.
In addition to the above quick fixes routine cleaning of your pipes will minimise any possibility of build-up.
How to remove a clog.
1. Plunge! : An effective way to remove small clogs is by using a plunger, just beware sink plungers and toilet plungers are different.
A sink plunger is referred to as a cup plunger and has the appearance of a ball cut in half, this is the plunger everyone thinks of when they require a plunger. A toilet plunger is referred to as a flange plunger and is specifically designed to unblock your toilet.
2. Clean your S trap: Getting under your sink and unscrewing the pipes to give them a clean out, just make sure that there is a bucket handy to catch any waste or water as you unscrew the pipes! Once you have placed the pipes back together and tightened the slip nuts make sure they are threaded correctly, you don't want water leaking into your cabinets.
3. Regular cleaning: Prevention is always better than a cure!
Ways to avoid this build up are as simple as installing hair catchers in your shower and bath, cost effective and a great way to reduce the amount of hair slipping down the drain. Also brushing your hair before and after showering will remove some of the loose hairs.
2.Grease and oil: Grease and oil being placed down your sink can stick to your pipes, when the oil sticks it can then catch any other debris that may go down your sink and cause a build up.
If you have been cooking with oil or grease the best way to dispose of any left overs is to place into a sealed container and dispose of it in the waste bin. Pouring it down the sink might be a more convenient option at the time but could be a quite costly and unpleasant event for the future!
3.Food waste: Washing dishes in your sink and left over little pieces of food are in your water? Purchase a sink trap to place in your sink, as the water drains the leftovers are caught and can easily be removed to put the waste in the bin.
4.Items not meant for the toilet: The only thing that you should ever place in your toilet is toilet paper! Sanitary items, tissues, baby wipes and nappies are not made to be disposed down the toilet! This seems like something that should be common sense, yet we are still attending jobs where all of the above have been placed down the toilet. If you work in a commercial premises then the placement of appropriate bins is advised and well displayed notices advising people of the proper ways to dispose of these items.
In addition to the above quick fixes routine cleaning of your pipes will minimise any possibility of build-up.
How to remove a clog.
1. Plunge! : An effective way to remove small clogs is by using a plunger, just beware sink plungers and toilet plungers are different.
A sink plunger is referred to as a cup plunger and has the appearance of a ball cut in half, this is the plunger everyone thinks of when they require a plunger. A toilet plunger is referred to as a flange plunger and is specifically designed to unblock your toilet.
2. Clean your S trap: Getting under your sink and unscrewing the pipes to give them a clean out, just make sure that there is a bucket handy to catch any waste or water as you unscrew the pipes! Once you have placed the pipes back together and tightened the slip nuts make sure they are threaded correctly, you don't want water leaking into your cabinets.
3. Regular cleaning: Prevention is always better than a cure!
- Ensure items not meant for the drain are not flushed or pushed down the drain
- Wash the kitchen/bathroom sink with hot water after use, this will reduce residue from sticking to the inside of the pipes
- Regular cleaning of pipes with Bi Carb Soda and Vinegar, everyone would have someone in their family with this handy little tip! Pour hot water down your drain and place a cup of white vinegar and a cup of bi carb soda down the drain, place the plug in the sink and let it sit for 5 minutes, after the time has elapsed flush down with hot water.
