Blocked Drains: Causes and Prevention
Blocked drains can be a nuisance, but if caught and dealt with early on they are relatively easy to fix and you might be able to avoid more serious leaks, overflows or electrical damage which can sometimes occur. There are various factors to consider when looking at the cause of a blocked drain, including:
Is your drain indoors or outside?
If your drain is outside it will most likely have been caused by a build-up of dead leaves, or even tree roots which can find their way into pipes and cause a barrier to the flow of water. If it’s an indoor blockage, it could have occurred because of heavy materials or objects being flushed down into the drain. Blocked drains are often caused by sanitary products, paper towels or other hard to flush materials which can clog pipes and obstruct drains. Wipes, tissues, and even hair can also be the culprits.
Is it a kitchen, bathroom or toilet drain?
As above, if blocked drains in the toilet or bathroom are a problem, it’s usually due to the items you flush down your toilet. If on the other hand, it’s a kitchen drain that is blocked, it could be because of food particles, grease and other debris which is washed into the pipes from your kitchen sink or washer. These can cause significant blockages which may require a professional plumber.
Preventing Blocked Drains
There are steps you can take to prevent blockages from happening, and these should be part of your everyday household routine. If you’re careful about what goes into your drains and what lies around them, you’ll be able to avoid some of the unpleasant side effects of blocked drains, including:
Foul smelling water
Leaking roofs, walls or ceilings
Damage to wiring or electrical fittings
Kitchen
The most important thing you can do to prevent drains from becoming blocked in the first place is to monitor the waste that goes down your drain pipes on a regular basis. For kitchens, this means scraping plates thoroughly to ensure food does not go down drains, and using adequate soaps and detergents to break down the grease and oil used in cooking. Don’t pour grease directly down the drain; if possible pour it into a container, wait for it to cool and throw it in the bin. If you must pour it into the drain, always follow with a blast of cold water as this solidifies the grease and stops it from clinging to pipes, thus preventing blocked drains.
Bathroom
In the bathroom, avoid dropping any foreign objects such as hair grips down drains as these will quickly collect other debris such as hair and cause a block. Nappies, tampons, face wipes, and cotton wool should be placed in the bin and not flushed down toilets where they may get jammed in narrow pipes and cause an overflow of water. Using excessive amounts of toilet paper can also be a common factor in drains becoming blocked, so ensure you are using just enough each time.
Outdoor drainage
It goes without saying that you should always try to keep the drains in your yard free from leaves, foliage or any other garden waste which could be washed into the drain and cause an obstruction. Sweeping your garden regularly and using a compost heap for leaves is one way of preventing these drains from becoming blocked.
If blocked drains become a problem, you may need to get a professional drainage expert out to pinpoint the cause and alleviate the blockage. There are certain techniques a drainage expert will use, including using CCTV to look at awkward and hard to reach drains to see what has blocked the flow of water. Professional plumbers can also advise you of what to do in future to prevent this from happening again
Friday, 30 March 2012
tips for preventing blockages this easter holiday
Blocked Drains: Causes and Prevention
Blocked drains can be a nuisance, but if caught and dealt with early on they are relatively easy to fix and you might be able to avoid more serious leaks, overflows or electrical damage which can sometimes occur. There are various factors to consider when looking at the cause of a blocked drain, including:
Is your drain indoors or outside?
If your drain is outside it will most likely have been caused by a build-up of dead leaves, or even tree roots which can find their way into pipes and cause a barrier to the flow of water. If it’s an indoor blockage, it could have occurred because of heavy materials or objects being flushed down into the drain. Blocked drains are often caused by sanitary products, paper towels or other hard to flush materials which can clog pipes and obstruct drains. Wipes, tissues, and even hair can also be the culprits.
Is it a kitchen, bathroom or toilet drain?
As above, if blocked drains in the toilet or bathroom are a problem, it’s usually due to the items you flush down your toilet. If on the other hand, it’s a kitchen drain that is blocked, it could be because of food particles, grease and other debris which is washed into the pipes from your kitchen sink or washer. These can cause significant blockages which may require a professional plumber.
Preventing Blocked Drains
There are steps you can take to prevent blockages from happening, and these should be part of your everyday household routine. If you’re careful about what goes into your drains and what lies around them, you’ll be able to avoid some of the unpleasant side effects of blocked drains, including:
Foul smelling water
Leaking roofs, walls or ceilings
Damage to wiring or electrical fittings
Kitchen
The most important thing you can do to prevent drains from becoming blocked in the first place is to monitor the waste that goes down your drain pipes on a regular basis. For kitchens, this means scraping plates thoroughly to ensure food does not go down drains, and using adequate soaps and detergents to break down the grease and oil used in cooking. Don’t pour grease directly down the drain; if possible pour it into a container, wait for it to cool and throw it in the bin. If you must pour it into the drain, always follow with a blast of cold water as this solidifies the grease and stops it from clinging to pipes, thus preventing blocked drains.
Bathroom
In the bathroom, avoid dropping any foreign objects such as hair grips down drains as these will quickly collect other debris such as hair and cause a block. Nappies, tampons, face wipes, and cotton wool should be placed in the bin and not flushed down toilets where they may get jammed in narrow pipes and cause an overflow of water. Using excessive amounts of toilet paper can also be a common factor in drains becoming blocked, so ensure you are using just enough each time.
Outdoor drainage
It goes without saying that you should always try to keep the drains in your yard free from leaves, foliage or any other garden waste which could be washed into the drain and cause an obstruction. Sweeping your garden regularly and using a compost heap for leaves is one way of preventing these drains from becoming blocked.
If blocked drains become a problem, you may need to get a professional drainage expert out to pinpoint the cause and alleviate the blockage. There are certain techniques a drainage expert will use, including using CCTV to look at awkward and hard to reach drains to see what has blocked the flow of water. Professional plumbers can also advise you of what to do in future to prevent this from happening again
Blocked drains can be a nuisance, but if caught and dealt with early on they are relatively easy to fix and you might be able to avoid more serious leaks, overflows or electrical damage which can sometimes occur. There are various factors to consider when looking at the cause of a blocked drain, including:
Is your drain indoors or outside?
If your drain is outside it will most likely have been caused by a build-up of dead leaves, or even tree roots which can find their way into pipes and cause a barrier to the flow of water. If it’s an indoor blockage, it could have occurred because of heavy materials or objects being flushed down into the drain. Blocked drains are often caused by sanitary products, paper towels or other hard to flush materials which can clog pipes and obstruct drains. Wipes, tissues, and even hair can also be the culprits.
Is it a kitchen, bathroom or toilet drain?
As above, if blocked drains in the toilet or bathroom are a problem, it’s usually due to the items you flush down your toilet. If on the other hand, it’s a kitchen drain that is blocked, it could be because of food particles, grease and other debris which is washed into the pipes from your kitchen sink or washer. These can cause significant blockages which may require a professional plumber.
Preventing Blocked Drains
There are steps you can take to prevent blockages from happening, and these should be part of your everyday household routine. If you’re careful about what goes into your drains and what lies around them, you’ll be able to avoid some of the unpleasant side effects of blocked drains, including:
Foul smelling water
Leaking roofs, walls or ceilings
Damage to wiring or electrical fittings
Kitchen
The most important thing you can do to prevent drains from becoming blocked in the first place is to monitor the waste that goes down your drain pipes on a regular basis. For kitchens, this means scraping plates thoroughly to ensure food does not go down drains, and using adequate soaps and detergents to break down the grease and oil used in cooking. Don’t pour grease directly down the drain; if possible pour it into a container, wait for it to cool and throw it in the bin. If you must pour it into the drain, always follow with a blast of cold water as this solidifies the grease and stops it from clinging to pipes, thus preventing blocked drains.
Bathroom
In the bathroom, avoid dropping any foreign objects such as hair grips down drains as these will quickly collect other debris such as hair and cause a block. Nappies, tampons, face wipes, and cotton wool should be placed in the bin and not flushed down toilets where they may get jammed in narrow pipes and cause an overflow of water. Using excessive amounts of toilet paper can also be a common factor in drains becoming blocked, so ensure you are using just enough each time.
Outdoor drainage
It goes without saying that you should always try to keep the drains in your yard free from leaves, foliage or any other garden waste which could be washed into the drain and cause an obstruction. Sweeping your garden regularly and using a compost heap for leaves is one way of preventing these drains from becoming blocked.
If blocked drains become a problem, you may need to get a professional drainage expert out to pinpoint the cause and alleviate the blockage. There are certain techniques a drainage expert will use, including using CCTV to look at awkward and hard to reach drains to see what has blocked the flow of water. Professional plumbers can also advise you of what to do in future to prevent this from happening again
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Blocked Toilet Shard End Birmingham
How Did The Toilet Become Blocked? According to several plumbing experts, the most common reason for blocked toilets is foreign objects finding their way into the flushing system. "Many people still believe that the toilet is a garbage for their waste", states one plumbing expert explaining that people don't treat their septic lines with much respect. Always take care with what gets flushed down your toilet. "In some cities in the UK, people often don't realize that what they flush, may end up right back into the environment.they need to take more care", the plumbing expert explains.
As a result, the first step to preventing blocked toilets is making sure you and your family are aware of what can and cannot be flushed. Some Suggestions When the Panic Begins Before you arrive at the point where the toilet is about to overflow, there is a useful hint that people commonly forget when faced with this daunting situation: do not flush the toilet if the water level is higher than normal. This may seem straight-forward thinking to the average person, however, it is common mistake for people to continue to flush the toilet even though water is not draining through the pipes. Flushing will only cause a flood if there is a blockage.
Locating the Source of the Problem Use your plunger - position it around the bottom of the bowl and try to pump as many times as you can If you have the required skills, use a plumbing snake. Pull out a section of auger pipe, insert the pipe end into the toilet bowl and rotate the drum so it burrows into the system and dislodges the block If the problem is not your toilet, but a plugged sewer, call your water company immediately Most importantly, if you aren't able to solve any of these problems, then now it is the time to consider getting expert help! Hiring a professional to care for and maintain your plumbing system can not only provide peace of mind in the event of a problem, it can also prevent the problems from occurring in the first place.
MZR Plumbing & Drainage
New Bathroom solihull Birmingham
Just refitted a bathroom for a customer in Solihull, now all the tiling is completed the bathroom looks superb,
If your looking to have your bathroom designed and fitted MZR Plumbing & Drainage can design supply and fit to you requirements, www.blockeddrainsbirmingham.co.uk are not just a 24 hour emergency service.
If your looking to have your bathroom designed and fitted MZR Plumbing & Drainage can design supply and fit to you requirements, www.blockeddrainsbirmingham.co.uk are not just a 24 hour emergency service.
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Follow these simple tips to prevent blocked drains or other drainage emergencies in your bathroom.
MZR Plumbing & Drainage
Immediately repair leaky taps - this will prevent further damage to other fixtures and fittings.
Don't use your toilet as a BIN. Flushing solid waste items [cotton buds,facial tissues etc] down the toilet is a fast route to causing a blocked drain. Keep a waste bin in the bathroom and use that instead.
Run hot water down the drain on a regular basis [weekly] - this will help prevent drain blockages and keep the drain free flowing.
Fit strainers to the plug holes in sinks, baths and showers. This will prevent most debris from entering the drain [such as matted hair or broken soap]. Make sure you empty out the strainers when they are full.
To remove scale build up from a shower head [reducing flow and looking unpleasant] fill a plastic bag with vinegar and tie it around the shower head - this will dissolve the mineral deposit.
The biggest piece of advice we can give, is that if you suspect a drainage problem, ACT NOW. You can save yourself a lot of unsavory aggravation and expense by catching a drainage problem early and dealing with it before it becomes more serious. For help and advice with your drainage problem, call MZR Plumbing & Drainage on 0121 241 3838 or 07967835427
MZR Plumbing & Drainage
Immediately repair leaky taps - this will prevent further damage to other fixtures and fittings.
Don't use your toilet as a BIN. Flushing solid waste items [cotton buds,facial tissues etc] down the toilet is a fast route to causing a blocked drain. Keep a waste bin in the bathroom and use that instead.
Run hot water down the drain on a regular basis [weekly] - this will help prevent drain blockages and keep the drain free flowing.
Fit strainers to the plug holes in sinks, baths and showers. This will prevent most debris from entering the drain [such as matted hair or broken soap]. Make sure you empty out the strainers when they are full.
To remove scale build up from a shower head [reducing flow and looking unpleasant] fill a plastic bag with vinegar and tie it around the shower head - this will dissolve the mineral deposit.
The biggest piece of advice we can give, is that if you suspect a drainage problem, ACT NOW. You can save yourself a lot of unsavory aggravation and expense by catching a drainage problem early and dealing with it before it becomes more serious. For help and advice with your drainage problem, call MZR Plumbing & Drainage on 0121 241 3838 or 07967835427
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