Experiencing blocked drains can be a frustrating and unpleasant situation for homeowners in Hemel Hempstead. To facilitate hassle-free drainage and maintain a hygienic environment, it’s essential to take preventative measures to avoid blockages. As experts in drainage and plumbing, we have curated some simple, effective, and cost-efficient ways to avoid drainage issues in your home or office.
1. Dispose Of Grease Correctly
One common cause of blocked drains is grease buildup. When hot grease goes down the drain, it cools, solidifies, and adheres to the pipe’s sides, creating a bottleneck in your drains. To avoid this, allow grease to cool down, then dispose of it in the trash can instead of washing it down the sink. Alternatively, you can freeze it in a disposable container before disposing of it.
2. Use Drain Strainers
Drain strainers are beneficial for preventing solid waste from entering your drainage system. Install them on all your drains, be it in your kitchen, bathroom, or basement. A strainer catches hair, food particles, soap residue, and other small items that can cause blockage, which can be emptied regularly.
3. Limit Food Waste Down the Drain
Avoid clogging your kitchen sink by limiting food waste that goes down the drain. Dispose of a majority of your food waste in the compost bin or trash can rather than your garbage disposal. Significantly, fibrous or hard materials such as corn husks, peelings, and eggshells should never go down the garbage disposal as they are more challenging to break down.
4. Regular Drain Cleaning
Regular drain cleaning is a preventative measure to avoid blocked drains. Use non-chemical methods of cleaning to avoid damaging your pipes. For instance, you can pour a mixture of hot water and vinegar down the drain, a natural way of loosening built-up grit. Repeat this process monthly to keep your drains running smoothly.
5. Avoid Flushing Non-Dissolvable Items
The only items that should be flushed in your toilet are human waste and toilet paper. Items like wet wipes, sanitary items, and cotton balls don’t dissolve in water and can swiftly cause blockages in your toilets. A good rule of thumb is if it doesn’t blocked drains hemelhempstead dissolve quickly in a glass of water, don’t flush it down the toilet.
6. Tree Root Maintenance
One lesser-known cause of blocked drains is tree roots growing into the pipes. We recommend regularly maintaining any large trees or shrubs near your outdoor pipes. This can be done by a professional arborist or a plumber who specialises in unblocking drains.
7. Professional Maintenance
If preventative measures are not enough or you’re dealing with recurring blocked drains, it might be time to call in the professionals. Routine professional maintenance, such as CCTV drain surveys and high-pressure water jetting, can spot potential problems before they develop into significant blockages. They can clean and clear your drainage system in a way that household methods can’t achieve.
In conclusion, avoiding blocked drains in Hemel Hempstead doesn’t demand unusual efforts. Regular pipe maintenance combined with mindful waste disposal can reduce or eliminate frequent blockages. However, if you do encounter a blocked drain, it is recommended to seek help from a professional drainage and plumbing company to avoid exacerbating the issue. It is always better to fix small problems before they turn into more significant, more costly ones.