Tag: blocked drains

  • How to regularly clean and maintain your drains

    How to regularly clean and maintain your drains

    Keeping your drains clean might not be the first thing on your to-do list, but regular maintenance can save you time, money, and hassle in the long run. Clean drains help prevent clogs, unpleasant odours, and even potential health hazards. Plus, maintaining your drains properly has significant environmental benefits, such as reducing water waste and preventing harmful chemicals from entering the water system.

    In this blog post, we will explore  some simple but effective ways to keep your drains clean and well-maintained.

    Signs you have blocked drains or drains that need cleaning

    signs of blocked drains

    Before diving into the DIY approach, it’s essential to recognise when your drains require attention.

    Here are some common indicators that you have blocked drains or they might need cleaning:

    • Slow draining water: If water takes longer than usual to drain from your sinks, bathtubs, or showers, it could indicate a build-up of debris in the pipes.
    • Unpleasant odours: Persistent foul smells emanating from your drains suggest trapped food particles, grease, or other organic matter.
    • Gurgling noises: Unusual sounds coming from the pipes can mean there’s air trapped due to a blockage.
    • Frequent clogs: Regularly occurring blockages signal that your drains need a thorough cleaning.
    • Water backing up: If water starts to back up in your sinks, it’s a clear sign of a blocked drain that needs immediate attention.

    Identifying these signs early can help you address minor issues before they escalate into more significant problems.

    The DIY approach

    Tools you’ll need for the job

    To effectively clean and maintain your drains, you’ll need a few basic tools:

    • Rubber gloves
    • Plunger
    • Drain snake or auger
    • Bucket
    • Baking soda
    • White vinegar
    • Boiling water
    • Biological enzyme cleaner
    • Soda crystals

    Step-by-step guide to cleaning and maintaining drains

    Below you’ll find several different methods of effectively cleaning and maintaining your drains. The great thing about all of these suggestions is that they are equally effective whether you are cleaning a kitchen sink, bathroom sink or shower drains.

    Method 1: Boiling water

    1. Boil a kettle of water.
    2. Pour the boiling water slowly down the drain in two to three stages, allowing the water to work for a few seconds between each pour. This can help dissolve and flush away minor clogs.

    Method 2: Baking soda and vinegar

    baking soda and vinegar

    1. Pour a pot of boiling water down the drain.
    2. Add about half a cup of baking soda and let it sit for a few minutes.
    3. Pour a mixture of one cup vinegar and one cup hot water down the drain.
    4. Cover the drain with a plug or cloth to keep the reaction below the drain surface.
    5. Wait 5-10 minutes as the mixture fizzes and breaks down debris.
    6. Flush again with boiling water.

    Method 3: Biological enzyme cleaner

    cleaners

    1. Follow the instructions on the product label to mix the enzyme cleaner.
    2. Pour the enzyme cleaner down the drain and let it sit overnight. These natural enzymes break down organic material, which can then be flushed away.
    3. Flush the drain with warm water the next morning.

    Method 4: Soda Crystals

    1. Dissolve about half a cup of soda crystals in boiling water.
    2. Pour the solution down the drain, and let it work for a few minutes.
    3. Flush with boiling water.

    Preventive measures

    Taking preventive steps can help avoid future clogs and keep your drains running smoothly:

    • Use drain guards: Install drain guards or strainers over sink drains to catch hair and soap scum, food particles,  and other debris.
    • Avoid pouring cooking grease down the drain: Grease can solidify in pipes, causing blockages. Dispose of it in a separate container instead.
    • Run hot water: After each use, run hot water down the drain to help keep it clear.
    • Use enzyme cleaners regularly: Monthly use can help maintain clean drains without harsh chemicals.
    • Be mindful of what goes down drain pipes: Avoid flushing anything other than toilet paper and human waste. In sinks, avoid allowing large food particles to wash down.

    When to call a professional

    Despite your best efforts, some drain issues may require the expertise of a professional plumber. Here are some signs it’s time to call in the experts:

    • Persistently clogged drain: If your drains continually clog despite regular maintenance, a deeper issue might need professional attention.
    • Water damage: Signs of water damage around your sinks or floors indicate a possible leak that needs to be assessed.
    • Multiple slow drains: If more than one drain is slow, it could suggest a severe blockage in the main sewer line.
    • Sewage smells: Unpleasant sewage smells mean there might be a significant blockage or broken pipe needing professional repair.
    • Recurring issues: If problems keep coming back, it’s worth getting a professional to diagnose and fix the root cause.

    FAQ

    How often should I clean my drains?

    For optimal performance, it’s recommended to clean your drains every month using DIY methods like boiling water or enzyme cleaners.

    Can I use chemical drain cleaners?

    While effective, chemical drain cleaners can be harsh and may damage your pipes over time. Natural or enzymatic cleaners are safer alternatives.

    What should I do if I’ve accidentally poured grease down the drain?

    If you’ve poured grease down the drain, follow it up immediately with boiling water and a grease-dissolving dish soap. Alternatively, use the baking soda and vinegar method for a more thorough clean.

    Are there any eco-friendly ways to maintain my drains?

    Yes! Enzyme cleaners and natural solutions like baking soda and vinegar are eco-friendly and effective in maintaining clean drains.

    How do I remove a hair clog from the shower drain?

    Use a drain snake or a bent wire hanger to fish out hair clogs. You can also use the baking soda and vinegar method to help break down any remaining debris.

    Conclusion

    Regularly cleaning and maintaining your drains is vital for a healthy home plumbing system. By identifying the signs of clogged drains, using the right DIY methods, and taking preventive measures, you can keep your drains flowing smoothly. Remember, while DIY approaches are effective, don’t hesitate to call a professional for more significant issues.

    By following this guide, homeowners and DIY enthusiasts can ensure their drains are clean and well-maintained, preventing costly repairs and maintaining a healthy drainage system.

    Need further support with a blocked drain?
    Contact BDS Drainage!

    If you encounter persistent drain problems or require professional assistance, BDS Drainage is here to help. Our expert team provides comprehensive drainage solutions to ensure your system stays in top condition.

    Contact us today to schedule an appointment or for more information.

  • 4 Ways to Prevent Blocked Drains | Infographic

    4 Ways to Prevent Blocked Drains | Infographic

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Blocked drains are the bane of many a household. When the drain in your kitchen (or any other space) gets blocked, it can be a nightmare. However, there are ways in which you can prevent such an eventuality for your drain.

    For starters, understand that your drain is not a dump where every non-solid waste can be thrown. Which means you must avoid discarding stuff like cooking oils, fats, and grease into your drains as they can seriously jam it up. It’s well-known that more than 75 percent of blocked drains are the outcome of dumping grease and other similar stuff into the drains. Your drain is built to carry only waste water out of your home, and nothing else.

    Need help unblocking your drain? Speak to an expert now:

    08081 689 112

    Probably the cheapest way of maintaining the health of your drain, a drain strainer is a device that restricts prohibited items from entering your drainage system and creating blockages. Also known as a drain screen or drain gate, the device is available for a variety of sink types and sizes and is a must-have for all households.

    You can also avoid the formation of a drain blockage by regularly cleaning your drains. Just simple things like removing stuff like hair and other debris from the drain every now and then can prevent blockages. Using baking soda and flushing it down with a bucket full of steaming hot water gets rid of sticky debris. Doing these things ensures your drain remains devoid of odour and flows freely.

    Finally, never shy away from getting professional help when things go bad. Your drainage system is a complicated piece of plumbing that is not really ripe for DIY. Moreover, there are loads of professional plumbing services that offer a maintenance option which ensures your drainage system is checked for anomalies and problems regularly. While this might sound like an expensive proposition, remember that you’ll end up paying a lot more in case you need to fix a full-blown drain blockage.

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  • Clogged Drains and Terrible Smell Fixes

    Clogged Drains and Terrible Smell Fixes

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    Nothing is more disgusting and frustrating than to have your kitchen smell like garbage because of a drain. For one, it’s hard to fix without calling in professional help, and two, no one likes bad smells in their kitchen. But of course, there are ways to take care of such issues without having to spend a lot of money on professional help. In fact, there’s a good number of fixes for situations like these, and you get to learn them right now free of charge.

    What Is That Horrible Smell

    Sometimes solving a disgusting smell issue is as simple as flushing the drain with boiling water. Smells are often created by hair and other small substances getting stuck in the lining of drains with soap scum. Pour boiling water down the drain first, then pour in cold water five minutes later to make most of the waste you want to get rid of congeal. After that you can pour in hot water again to wash it away. Still, you should always have a plunger ready in case this isn’t wholly effective.

     

    Need help unblocking your drain? Speak to an expert now:

    08081 689 112

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    Some Solutions To Unblock The Drain

    Believe it or not, white vinegar can be a solution to your problem. Four cups of boiling white vinegar may solve your problem. Pour two down the drain, follow it with cold water, then send two more to potentially power through any small blockages, which is usually the source of foul smells.

    If you haven’t figured it out yet, a lot of these techniques rely on hot water. Coincidentally, so does scouring the drain. This is a combination of the first two tactics with baking soda added to the fray. Run hot water down the drain, dump a cup of baking soda in after it, and pour two cups of hot vinegar down last. After about half an hour, you rinse the drain out with boiling water and hopefully get to call it a day.

    Of course, there’s no guarantee that these tactics will be an end all method for your smelly drains. Sometimes you need to combine them, and sometimes whatever is stinking up your drain will just be too powerful to handle with DIY remedies. Remember, if you want to be absolutely certain that the smell is eradicated no matter what, professional help will always get the job done. It may not always be cheap, but you’ll nevertheless solve your issue without fail.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]bad smelly drains[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

    Need A Professional Drainage Company

    When it comes to getting professional help for cleansing your smelly drains, consider BDS drainage, one of the UK’s most reliable companies when it comes to matters like these. If you want a guaranteed fix to all of your drain problems, whether or not they have anything to do with smell, they’re sure to set you up and have you on your merry way as soon as possible. Just do yourself a favor and try some home remedies first. It sure would be unfortunate if you paid a lot of money to solve a problem a little bit of hot and cold water could have rectified just as easily.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]