What Happens When Your Drain Gets Blocked?
Many homeowners are familiar with the symptoms of a blocked drain. Ranging from an unpleasant smell around your drainage sites, to gurgling sinks and slow-draining plug holes, the symptoms of a blocked drain ebb and flow with use – and are generally recognised to be wholly unavoidable.
But if you think that those unpleasant symptoms are enough to inspire homeowners to invest more time in drain maintenance, then you’d be wrong. In fact, blocked drains in London remain a major issue– with the problem only worsening the longer it is left.
This is because when a drain becomes blocked, it ceases to support efficient drainage – creating a build-up of water pressure which can cause extensive damage to other areas of the pipe network if left to fester. This is why drain cleaning – and proper drain maintenance – is so important.
Why proper drain unblocking and maintenance is so important
First and foremost, both drain unblocking and maintenance deal with blockages but in different ways. Drain unblocking is what we consider to be our emergency service – that is, it helps us to deal with blocked drains across London and beyond, using high-power water jets to tackle, break down, and ultimately flush away built-up debris.
Drain maintenance is designed to achieve the same end result – a free-flowing drain – but with more of a long-term and ongoing approach. Where drain unblocking is a standalone service which allows us to unblock a drain that is causing issues, drain maintenance ensures that the blockage doesn’t occur in the first place.
Uncover the problem: what causes a blocked drain?
With that said, and with prevention the best approach, what actually causes your drain to become blocked?
Some of the most common culprits of drain blockages include a build-up of kitchen waste – including oil and fats from cooking, which are washed down the kitchen sink and which many homeowners don’t realise later solidify and cause blockages in their pipes. Similarly, disposable wipes and other waste products can cause blockages, with more awareness needed around the causes of the issue if we want to minimise household drainage issues.
Crucially, it is important to note that once a drain becomes blocked and the aforementioned symptoms start to rear their heads, you need to call on a drain unblocking professional as fast as possible. Blockages only get worse and cause more damage, the longer they are left – so act fast to minimise both the damage and cost of repairs.
How to know if you need emergency drain cleaning – and what to do next
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned in this blog, then you could need an emergency drain unblocking or cleaning service.
If not, and if your drains are in good working order, we highly recommend researching and investing in regular drain maintenance – keeping your drainage system in good condition to minimise the risk of future issues.
Get in touch with your local drainage professional to find out more and to check availability.