How to address a blocked sewer
How to address a blocked sewer
One of the most difficult kinds of household emergencies is a blocked drain. They can occur in the most unexpected way. However, the most unpleasant aspects of a blocked drain are that it can cause nasty odours, flooding and loss of power in the home. In case of a business, a drain problem will have a greater effect since customers and staff may lose confidence, the result of which will be decreased sales and profitability.
The drains get blocked mostly due to foreign objects or some structural problems, so you can always take certain measures to ensure their proper functioning.
Regularly remove any hairs that get trapped in the waste plug hole.
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.
Do not put away baby’s nappies, commercial wrappings, sanitary towels or similar large items down the drainpipe; they may clog it.
Do not use the kitchen sink for disposing of plant cuttings or food waste material; it is more appropriate to compost them.
Suppose any food wastes fall into the basin unintentionally, pull them out of the hole instead of trying to flush them away, or this may clog along with many other materials and finally pose you a greater issue in removing the blockage later.
Cooking fats congeal and solidify when they mix with cold water, so never pour them down the kitchen sink. In case you have no other choice make sure to dilute fats using emulsifiers ,hot water and detergents, before disposing down the drain. After flushing the drain, run the tap for sometime, at least a minute, to ensure that there are no more blocked materials.
There are also a set of regular maintenance activities which can reduce the likelihood of a drains problem.
Inspect the rain downpipes and house roof gutters for any blocks at least twice annually.
Be careful while you are working at a height and use a trowel to remove the waste products from the pipes.
Lift the inspection covers on a regular basis to ensure that your drains are freely flowing, and check that these are easily accessible.
Make sure that garden matter, such as leaves or moss, are kept out of the outside drainage grids.
Rinsing off the external drains using hot water and disinfectant should be a regular maintenance activity.
For business purposes, you can use a CCTV monitored drain inspection service which performs checks on a regular basis. This enables you to take regular measures of the drainage pipework’s structural condition and it may provide an early warning of potential blockages.