A blocked drain can lead to a range of issues and can cause a lot of damage. Water can back up, not only causing flooding but also unpleasant odours. Drainage problems can result in slow or stagnant water flow, potentially damaging to pipes.
According to a report by Direct Line, “Over half of Brits (59 per cent) admit to deliberately using their toilets, drains and sinks as bins” We take a look at 5 common items which can lead to blocked drains.
1. Children’s Toys
Toys can be accidentally dropped or flushed down toilets. Their size and shape mean they can be lodged within the pipe network, making it extremely difficult to remove. CCTV drainage surveys Alcester will then be required to locate the blockage so that it can be cleared.
2. Bath Salts
Did you know that bath salts do not fully dissolve? Instead, the salts which contain oils, minerals and other substances accumulate within the pipes over time. This residue from the bath salts builds up, eventually leading to clogs and reduced water flow.
3. Soap
Soap, especially liquid soap, is one of the main culprits when it comes to blocked drains. We often use more liquid soap than is necessary, with much of it sliding straight down the plug hole before we have had a chance to use it.
The gooey, soapy blobs attract other debris, such as hair and oils. The soap acts like a glue which holds things together, restricting the water flow. You will then need CCTV drainage surveys in Alcester in order to identify where the problem is located.
4. Coffee
Instant coffee doesn’t tend to cause a problem, as it usually dissolves. Ground coffee is another matter. The grounds accumulate in pipes, especially at the bends, clumping together and creating obstructions.
5. Cotton Buds
Cotton buds pose a significant risk for drain blockages due to their small size. Easily dropped down plug holes, these non-biodegradable items eventually become wedged in the pipe network and tangled with other debris, causing obstructions.
Fatbergs, nappies and too much toilet paper
Some of the worst blockages come from things that seem harmless when they go down the drain. Fatbergs form when congealed fat, hair and other debris flushed down plugholes bind together into an immovable mass. They can grow to a considerable size and turn up in small household pipes as well as large drainage systems.
Nappies should never be flushed. They damage the plumbing in your toilet and then cause further problems in the sewers, swelling as they become waterlogged and creating blockages that can mean major work on whole drainage networks. Even toilet paper, which is designed to be flushed, can block a toilet when too much goes down at once, leaving the bowl filling with water.
When the cause is not obvious, a CCTV drain survey can show what is going on inside the pipe. A camera locates the blockage without cutting the drain open or guessing where the problem might be.
Warning signs your drains need attention
Drains carry waste water away to be treated separately from drinking water, which helps stop the spread of disease, so problems should be repaired quickly. Three signs suggest something is wrong.
The first is a bad smell, often most noticeable in summer. It usually points to a blockage built up from food debris and cooking fat, and it gets worse over time. Rotting food in pipes can also attract rats, which cause further damage by chewing through pipes and other parts of the home.
The second is slow drainage. If water takes a long time to leave a sink, bath or shower, there could be a blockage or damage to the pipe itself. In bathrooms, hair and soap are common causes, and you may be able to remove hair yourself if it is not too far down. The third is mould and damp on walls or ceilings. Damaged or broken drainage pipes can leak, and the water that builds up leads to damp patches that turn mouldy.
What belongs in the bin, not the drain
Most blockages can be avoided by being careful about what goes down sinks and toilets. Nappies do not break down in water. They absorb it, swell and can block a pipe completely. Baby and facial wipes also stay intact and should always go in the bin, as should sanitary products, cotton pads, make-up wipes and cotton buds, which also add plastic to the water system. A small bin in the bathroom makes this easy.
Hair is one of the main causes of blocked showers and sinks, especially in homes with long hair. A plug guard or trap catches it before it reaches the pipe.
Cooking oil and fat flow away at first but solidify when they reach a bend, building up into a full blockage. Collect old oil in a sealed container and put it in the bin. Never pour paint down a drain either: it is too thick to flush through the pipes and contains harmful chemicals.