We often take our plumbing and drainage for granted, can you imagine living without it? It is such an integral part of modern domestic living that is often overlooked, but when things go wrong with your drains, it can become a problem for your daily life.
When things do go wrong with your drainage Happy Drains will always be on hand to rectify any issues; however, prevention is better than a cure. Below are some helpful reminders and flags of things that can damage your drainage system.
Fat
Grease from fats and oils may be liquid when they first enter the drain, however, whenever they get cold the start to congeal and solidify. When this happens, the grease adheres to the walls and begins to feed on anything else that is poured down the drain.
Using a fat trap to pour waste oils and fats into will remove this build up, and your pipes will thank you thank you for it.
Hair
Both human and pet hair are key culprits for clogging up drains. Installing a simple mesh screen over the top of your plug-holes will help reduce the amount of hair that ends up down your drains. A mesh screen will also stop food from making its way through too, but be sure you clean it regularly.
Food Waste
Coffee grounds seem like a harmless addition to your kitchen sink; however, they are just as bad as pasta, rice, or any other foods. Food waste acts similarly to fats and oils, sticking to pipes and causing blockages.
Fibrous Materials
Items such as wet-wipes, dental floss, cotton balls and feminine hygiene products should all be binned. These items can easily snag on the rough parts of your drains and subsequently create build-ups.
Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals
Engine oil, paints, solvents etc. should all be disposed of safely according to the information on the packaging; these should never enter the water supply where they can harm our groundwater. While some of these may freely pour away, they can be harmful to plants and wildlife.
If you’re after tips on how to keep your drains clean, have a look at our previous post in which we try the Mrs Hinch method to clean our sinks.
