How to Prevent Drains Becoming
Blocked or Clogged
Here at RMS Waste, we specialise in offering waste disposal and drain services. Today we are going to focus our attention to preventative measures. We will cover how to prevent drains becoming blocked or clogged, as well as what to do to address any surface level build-up, and advice about what to do if your drain does get clogged up or blocked.
Catch The Clogging Culprits
In order to avoid having blocked drains, it’s important to catch whatever may clog your drains in the first place. This means using a drain protector in your sinks and scraping food into your waste or compost before rinsing plates. Before showering and washing your hair, comb it through (especially if your hair is long), beforehand so that any loose hairs will avoid building-up in the plughole. Make sure to clear your plughole after use, to catch any stray hairs that could build up into a blockage.
Clogged Drain Advice
Don’t Pour Oil Down the Sink
Although it can be tempting due to its liquid nature, you should pour cooking oil into your waste disposal and not down the sink. As oil and water don’t mix, you will find that oil floats on top of the water as it travels through your drain system. When the fat solidifys, this can begin to coat the drainage pipe and over time, the repeated disposal of oil and grease in this way will accumulate and most likely lead to an obstruction or blockage.
Drain Maintenance Tips
In order to maintain your drains, you could try using an enzyme cleaning stick, which is made from natural enzymes that are designed to digest fat, grease and soapy residue. These work by placing the stick into each plughole once a month. Additionally, you can use shop bought unblocker treatments to pour down your drain on a monthly basis. Home remedies such as mixing bicarbonate soda, salt and vinegar are proven not to be as affective.
Blocked Drain Prevention
Drain Already Blocked?
There are many things you can do at home if you find you have a blockage. For example, a plunger uses air and water pressure to unclog the blockage. A wire coat hanger can also be used like a fish hook to remove debris like hairs, toilet paper or food residue, but you will need to be careful not to damage the pipes. A simple solution may be boiling water, best poured in two to three stages to dislodge light blockages (though this is only suitable on metal or copper pipes). You could even consider removing the U-shaped pipe as this is a common area where residue can get stuck, so you can clean it and reattach it, if you are up to the challenge. That said, the best thing to do when you have a blockage is to get in the professionals as the expertise of RMS Waste means you can get a solution straight away without the risks that these home-based methods carry.
Contact Us
For more information about how to prevent blockages in your drainage system, please get in touch with us using our online contact form, or via email at info@rmswaste.co.uk. Alternatively, you can all us on 01489 893921 to speak to a member of our team directly. We will happy to help with any queries you may have for us.
