Water is essential to all life on earth, without it we would all be truly lost. It is our lifeline and essential to most activities that take place in everyday life. It can however be a hindrance, for example in the case of flooding or blocked drains. Whether you own your own home or you own a commercial property, it is always a headache when you experience a blocked drain. In this article with the help of drain experts from Glasgow Drain Doctor we will be offering some invaluable drain unblocking advice.
For those of you who do not know what a drain and the purpose of it is well simply a drain is a pipe that transports surface water or sewage from your property. The point at which your drain connects to the sewer at the border of your property is known as the lateral drain. The sewer is the pipeline that transports surface water and sewage from several properties. If your drain is blocked, you will notice that the gullies will overflow and toilet waste will not go when you flush. Your drains will also emit a foul smell of human excrement. It is therefore essential from a health and safety point of view that you deal with this matter as matter of urgency. If left you can attract vermin that can spread disease such as weil’s disease.
So what are the causes of blocked outside drains? There are many causes of blocked outside drains. Typically it can be trivial items such as the build of food waste to more larger items such as baby nappies and children’s toys that are flushed down the toilet, yes children do have that annoying habit of doing this! Plants can also causes unwanted blockages. This happens when the root system finds its way to the drain in search for water. These roots exert pressure on the drain pipes causing them to crack. Leaves collecting in a drain can also cause a blockage. Surprisingly human and animal hair that has been dropped down your sink that subsequently accumulates in the drains can also cause a blockage. Cooking fat poured down the sink together with grease can also get stuck in the drain.
So what do you do when you notice that you have a blocked outside drain? The first thing to do is not to panic. Stay calm and see your neighbour to see if they are experiencing similar problems. If the neighbourhood is experiencing a similar problem then your sewer may be blocked. If this is the case then the local authority will need to be contacted. If you are the only one with the problem then it may be necessary to get a plumber out.
In order to prevent your drain getting blocked in the first instance it is important that you are cautious about what you flush down your toilet. When washing your dishes, ensure that you clear the plates of all food particles before placing them in the sink. Always use enough soap so that grease from the dishes breaks down adequately and never pour grease into the drain, as this can solidify.
This article was made with the help from Drain Doctor the emergency plumbing specialists based in Glasgow UK.
