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.
The majority of drain problems are caused by obvious things like grease or hair building up in the drains of a sink. Many of these kinds of problems do not need a plumber and are easily corrected by the homeowner with a couple of off the shelf cleaning chemicals. Alternatively, for slightly more difficult problems a pipe probe (or pipe snake) can be purchased almost anywhere.
Doing it yourself is not always the best idea though, especially on older properties. Many of these buildings still have metal pipes and if they have been subjected to harsh chemical cleaners then you may often find that they have become rusted. If you don't know what you are doing then you could damage the pipes even further by using the incorrect equipment and you will ultimately need to call in a plumbing professional.
If you leave things until the last minute then you could end up spending thousands of pounds. Remember that you don't only have to consider the bathroom or kitchen sink drains. You also have to think about washing machines, dishwashers, showers, toilets, basement drains, main sewer lines and their are a multitude of external drains which can also be clogged and causing damage.
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?
All drains, from the pipes that were installed 50 years ago on a traditional home to some pipes that were laid a couple of weeks ago in a new establishment are subject to a tremendous amount of stress. Regular maintenance can literally save you a lot of money and if things do go wrong and you act quickly you will save a lot of headaches.
No matter whether you are living in a newly built establishment with brand new pipe work or staying in an older home where the pipes are 50 years old, all drain pipes are subject to a lot of stress and wear and tear. Regular inspection will save you a lot of headaches. Not to mention the fortune in terms of money and lost time just because you were simply too slow to act.
If you have all the necessary tools on hand to do the job yourself then by all means go ahead but you will find that it is normally only the drain cleaning professionals and pipe cleaning experts which can afford those tools. They range from mechanical devices to high pressure water jets. Most will also have tools for removing roots and other vegetation from pipes. All in all they will probably do the job in a fraction of the time that it will take you to do it yourself.
Most drain cleaning experts provide a host of other services as well. CCTV cameras can determine exactly where and how a drain is blocked or damaged. In areas where you don't want to excavate (such as your lovely garden or paving) these specialists will be able to line your drains without making any mess.
To summarise, most drain cleaning specialists recommend:
- Regularly maintain your drains with a commercially available drain cleaner to get rid of general sludge build up.
- Use a over the counter chemical cleaner regularly to make sure that your drains remain clear of grease, grime and general waste.
- Get your washing machine and dishwasher manuals out and see what you are allowed to put into them. Stick to the manufacturers recommendations.
- Have a regular inspection done by a plumbing specialist every few years just to make sure that all the pipes are clean and that there are no pending disasters.
Don't only look at the pipe repair when your drains clog or burst. There are so many things which can get damaged as a side effect. Cupboards, ceilings and electrical appliances can cost you thousands in water damage from a single leaking pipe. This is normally not covered by the manufacturers warrantee although make sure that your home insurance is paid up just in case.
The majority of drain problems are caused by obvious things like grease or hair building up in the drains of a sink. Many of these kinds of problems do not need a plumber and are easily corrected by the homeowner with a couple of off the shelf cleaning chemicals. Alternatively, for slightly more difficult problems a pipe probe (or pipe snake) can be purchased almost anywhere.
Doing it yourself is not always the best idea though, especially on older properties. Many of these buildings still have metal pipes and if they have been subjected to harsh chemical cleaners then you may often find that they have become rusted. If you don't know what you are doing then you could damage the pipes even further by using the incorrect equipment and you will ultimately need to call in a plumbing professional.
If you leave things until the last minute then you could end up spending thousands of pounds. Remember that you don't only have to consider the bathroom or kitchen sink drains. You also have to think about washing machines, dishwashers, showers, toilets, basement drains, main sewer lines and their are a multitude of external drains which can also be clogged and causing damage.
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?
All drains, from the pipes that were installed 50 years ago on a traditional home to some pipes that were laid a couple of weeks ago in a new establishment are subject to a tremendous amount of stress. Regular maintenance can literally save you a lot of money and if things do go wrong and you act quickly you will save a lot of headaches.
No matter whether you are living in a newly built establishment with brand new pipe work or staying in an older home where the pipes are 50 years old, all drain pipes are subject to a lot of stress and wear and tear. Regular inspection will save you a lot of headaches. Not to mention the fortune in terms of money and lost time just because you were simply too slow to act.
If you have all the necessary tools on hand to do the job yourself then by all means go ahead but you will find that it is normally only the drain cleaning professionals and pipe cleaning experts which can afford those tools. They range from mechanical devices to high pressure water jets. Most will also have tools for removing roots and other vegetation from pipes. All in all they will probably do the job in a fraction of the time that it will take you to do it yourself.
Most drain cleaning experts provide a host of other services as well. CCTV cameras can determine exactly where and how a drain is blocked or damaged. In areas where you don't want to excavate (such as your lovely garden or paving) these specialists will be able to line your drains without making any mess.
To summarise, most drain cleaning specialists recommend:
- Regularly maintain your drains with a commercially available drain cleaner to get rid of general sludge build up.
- Use a over the counter chemical cleaner regularly to make sure that your drains remain clear of grease, grime and general waste.
- Get your washing machine and dishwasher manuals out and see what you are allowed to put into them. Stick to the manufacturers recommendations.
- Have a regular inspection done by a plumbing specialist every few years just to make sure that all the pipes are clean and that there are no pending disasters.
Don't only look at the pipe repair when your drains clog or burst. There are so many things which can get damaged as a side effect. Cupboards, ceilings and electrical appliances can cost you thousands in water damage from a single leaking pipe. This is normally not covered by the manufacturers warrantee although make sure that your home insurance is paid up just in case.
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Fast Flow Drains are currently promoting the term sewer cleaning services as part of their ongoing SEO process
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