Keeping Your Drains Functional This Summer

As Summer comes around and we get ready to sit back and watch the World Cup, fire up the barbecues, and prepare for our trips abroad, it is a fantastic time to carry out some quick checks and take some precautions to ensure a drain disaster does not ruin your fun in the sun.

However, keep in mind that regardless of how vigilant you are, drain problems can still strike at any time. If something goes awry this Summer, you can be sure that Clark Drainage will be ready to respond at any minute of any day and can be there within an hour or two. If you require an emergency drain service, give us a call on 0808 164 0776.

Here is a list of five things to keep in mind over the coming months:

1. Keep an Eye of What Is Going down Your Drains

The worst thing you can do in regards to keeping your drains fully functional is letting harmful substances enter and clog up your pipes. By being vigilant, you can significantly reduce the amount of waste which will combine into a problem.

But here are the most problematic substances which can lead to critical clogs and issues:

• Fats and Oils: If you are going to follow one rule, by far the most important one is making sure that no fats, grease, or oils enter your drainage system. Naturally, do not be pouring any greasy kitchen waste down the drain. However, you really should take this a step further. Any oils left on pots, pans, or plates should be soaked up with kitchen towel and placed in the bin.
• Hair: No one likes to see that little hairy monster at the bottom of the bath or shower when you step in after someone with particularly long hair. However, it is much better than having it go down the drain; trust us! We have a guide on our blog which shows how to address this issue, but by far the easiest way is to make a small investment in a collector which sits over your plughole; it could save you hundreds in the long run!

2. Carry out Regular Maintenance

Summer is the best time to keep on top of household chores. It is sunny, we tend to have some extra time off, and let’s be honest; we are all in a good mood!

One of the simplest things you can do is to pour a kettle full of boiling water down all of your plug holes every week or so. This will help to break down and dislodge anything building up in your drains, addressing the problem before it becomes critical. This will not solve every issue, but it can help.

However, there is no substitute for a professional drain cleaning service. Using our high-pressure water jets, we are able to blast away everything clinging to the side of your pipes and force it to move on into the public sewer system. The process is incredibly cost-effective, and we can be finished in around an hour! Give us a call now on 0808 164 0776 to organise your Summer cleaning service.

3. Be Careful with Washing Powder and Detergent

This sounds like an oddly specific one, but recently we have found an increasingly prevalent problem with soap scum building up and helping to clog pipes. One component of this problem is from the bath and shower, where plenty soap ends up going down the plughole. However, unless you are prepared to stop washing, there isn’t much you can do about it!

Other problem areas in the house, though, are the dishwasher and washing machine. Be careful of how much detergent you are using; overloading the machines can lead to severe soap scum issues which can very quickly combine to cause critical clogs. Use just as much as you need to avoid any problems, and save yourself some money in the process!

4. Be Vigilant!

Even when problems arise, addressing them early can allow you to avoid a critical and costly failure. It is easy to ignore your drainage system, after all, once the water disappears it is no longer your concern, but this all changes when there is a problem. By keeping an eye out for problems with your water flow, you can spot issues early and have them fixed before a burst or collapse takes place.

If you become aware of any of the following issues, it is time to call in some professionals to carry out an inspection;

• A foul smell emanating from plugholes.
• Slow water draining, often accompanied with a bubbling sound.
• Sunken ground outside.
• Areas of damp where pipes may run through the house or garden.

None of these suggest that an incoming flood is definite, but they are usually a precursor to such an incident.

Get in Touch

No matter what comes up this Summer, you can feel safe in the knowledge that you can fully depend on Clark Drainage. With technicians available and fully kitted out every second of every day, you can be sure that we are never much longer than an hour away.

If you would like some work done immediately or have any inquiries that you would like to ask about our service, give us a call now on 0808 164 0776.

Alternatively, fill in the contact form on the top right of this page, and one of our personnel will be in touch as quickly as we can!