Blocked drains are a common but potentially serious household problem, and are most often caused by fat and oils. Preventing blockages and acting quickly when they happen are both key to preventing leaking and damage to your pipes.
The Problem with Oils and Fats
Oils and fats are the leading cause of blocked drains in the UK. This happens when people pour them down the sink, expecting them to wash away with other liquids. However, fats will always solidify, and when this happens in the drain itself, they will remain in the place they turned solid, often in the corners of pipes. Not only will solidified fats build up, but they will also attract and hold onto other solids such as hair and food that come down the drain. Over time, these can block the entire drain and can lead to slow flowing drains and bad smells, or even to leaks and broken pipes. In the worst cases, these can occur in the sewer systems, causing major ‘fatbergs’. Whilst fatbergs are fixed by water companies and local authorities, blockages in household drains are the responsibility of homeowners.
Preventing, Diagnosing and Fixing Blockages
The most important part of drain management is to avoid pouring oils and fats down the sink or toilet in the first place. Ideally, fats should be left to cool and then deposited into your general waste. Installing a sink drainer or grease trap can also help prevent fats and other debris from building up. If you think you might have a blocked drain, then you should get this diagnosed with a drain survey. You can book a CCTV drain survey Loughborough with companies such as www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/loughborough. Once a blockage has been found, a plumber will be able to clear the blockage before any damage occurs.
The most important step in avoiding blockages is to avoid pouring oils and fats down your sink in the first place. If you think you have a blockage building up, then dealing with the situation quickly will help prevent costly damage to your pipework.