Yes, in the spirit of all things mysterious and spooky we thought we’d have a bit of fun with this one, and pay homage to the legendary fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.
All is well enough but “there is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact,” Sherlock Holmes stated. And if we know anything at Happy Drains, it’s that drains can be a little deceptive too. A faint gurgle in the night? Just pipes settling, you think. A sniff of sulphur in the hall? Must be the dog. For as Holmes had warned, “the world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.”
The Drains of the Baskervilles. A Literary Inspiration
One of Holmes’ most famous cases (first published in 1902), The Hound of the Baskervilles is a story about a cursed family, a spectral hound and the mists of Dartmoor hiding deadly truths. (Sound familiar?) As with the Baskervilles, many a household has endured its own “curse”- drains that growl, gurgle, and rise to exact revenge. Not supernatural, but none the less still rather unsettling.
The Curious Clues
“Watson!” Holmes exclaimed, “observe the signs!”
And what common signs they are:
- The gurgle of the plughole – like a distant growl.
- Bitter odour in the air and a sour sense of foulness, sulphurous and sinister.
- The puddle outside – a mysterious puddle growing with every rainfall.
To the average observer, they are trifles. But, as Holmes would say, “You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of trifles.”
The Usual Suspects
Every mystery has its villains. In Holmes case it was Moriarty. But in the real world of drainage disasters, the culprits are seldom spectral; but they are nevertheless equally as troublesome:
- Leaves and debris – autumn accomplices swept in by the wind.
- Fatbergs – silent, greasy masterminds lurking beneath your sink.
- Tree roots – stealth attackers, cracking their way into pipes.
- Collapsed drains – the unseen villain bringing the whole case crashing down.
“It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data,” Holmes reminds us.
Which is why at Happy Drains we handle every case so thoroughly.
Solving the Mystery
Where Holmes had his pipe and magnifying glass, we have our CCTV drain survey and high-pressure drain jetting. Although our tools are modern and very hi-tech by comparison, the principle remains the same: observe, deduce, and take action. “The game is afoot, Watson!” we exclaim. finding the source of your drainage woes is what we do best!
Escape the Curse
The Baskervilles weren’t free from their hound, but fortunately for you, you can escape your blocked drains. Don’t let your home become the epicentre of its own gothic mystery this Halloween. Call in the drainage detectives (that’s us!) before the puddles rise and the stench spreads. Mwahahahaha!
Happy Drains – your very own Sherlock Holmes of the sewers. So if your blocked drains are baffling you and you don’t have a clue, give us a call on 0800 849 8099 and we’ll solve your drainage mystery with Holmesian precision.
Elementary, my dear reader. Mystery Solved!
Best David & Will