Slow running or clogged drains are commonplace and everyone has had to face one at some stage or another. Although many household drain problems can be rectified by regular cleaning, often the root of the problem is invisible and can lead to some rather expensive repairs. This is normally where drain specialists start making their money.
Like you can probably imagine, many problems which are experienced with household drains are caused by general build up of grease, grime and hair and these kinds of problems do not need a plumber since you can quite easily clean them out with an off-the-shelf chemical cleaner. Even some of the more stubborn problems a pipe snake can be bought at most good hardware stores.
The trouble with this do it yourself approach becomes apparent on some older properties or on drains which have repeatedly been subjected to the harsh chemical cleaners. Pipes often rust and this is where a plumbing professional is required.
It is not only the sinks in a home that need to be considered. The hidden plumbing that affects our lives everyday can often be a problem. Drains to washing machines and dishwashers, toilets, showers, basement and external drains come to mind. What about the main sewer lines and outdoor storm drains? All of these are subject to wear and tear and occasional blocking. Leaving the problem until the drain actually fails is the recipe for paying out many hundreds of pounds worth of expensive pipe replacement.
Most drain specialists make their money from people doing stupid things. Quite simply, the majority of drain problems are caused by people just not thinking. The toilet has become an all purpose disposal receptical, people don’t rinse their plates before putting them in a dishwasher and many people throw household oil and grease down the drain. What about all that rice, peas, noodles etc which are at the bottom of the sink when you finish cleaning the dishes? How many people simply rinse this down the drain?
Of course drains are not only found in the home. It is usually suggested that commercial drains, main sewer lines and basement drains are regularly maintained every two to three years to make sure that they are not liable to get blocked. The frequency of these inspections is dependent on things like the amount of water running through the pipes as well as the water quality, how close the drains are to the roots of trees or other vegetation and also how old the pipes are.
It does not matter what kind of building you live or work in, the drains are under constant stress and will deteriorate due to normal wear and tear. Not only will you save a lot of headaches if you have your pipes regularly inspected but you will save yourself a lot of time and money as well.
The problem can be fixed at the cause if you call in a drain cleaning professional that has all the tools already on hand. From high pressure water jet devices to tools for removing overgrown roots they have specialised tools which can do the job in a fraction of the time it will take you to do it yourself.
In conclusion most drain cleaning experts recommend:
- Call a professional the moment that the initial problem is found. A small drip or clog could turn into a plumbing nightmare.
- The moment that you find that you have a problem, call in a professional straight away. you could end up with a big headache out of something that started out as a small drip.
- Set yourself a regular maintenance routine of using chemical cleaners available in the supermarket to get rid of the normal day to day build up of dirt.
- Pull out all the manuals that you got with dishwashers and washing machines and find out what the manufacturers say you can put inside the appliance.
- Get a professional in every couple of years to do a complete inspection to make sure that there are no pending surprises.
When drains at home clog or burst you cannot only think of the cost of fixing the pipe but have a look at the side effects. Replacing ceilings or cupboards because of water damage is a very expensive exercise and electrical appliances that have shorted out because they got wet are normally not covered in the manufacturers warrantee.
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