It’s been a rough go, but you’ll be pleased to know that winter is, well and truly, on its way out.
Spring – the season of brighter days and new beginnings – is right around the corner, and you may already be working through your yearly to-do list to get yourself ready.
Just one of the things on your list should be drain maintenance, to ensure that they’re kept in tip-top shape. But, seeing as they’re mostly out of sight, out of mind, their importance often gets overlooked.
Learn more about why cleaning your drains is so important and discover the best way to do it in this article.
Why is it so important to clean your drains regularly?
Cleaning your drains is, of course, a bit of an unpleasant task, but it’s better to do it sooner and get it out of the way, rather than later.
Neglecting your drains can cause serious, long-term damage to your home’s plumbing infrastructure.
Debris in your pipes that accumulates over time can lead to blockages, which puts additional strain on your pipes – leading to corrosion, leaks and even causing them to burst.
So, regularly cleaning your drains and flushing out the debris in the pipes will help prevent costly damage and repairs, and extend the lifespan of your plumbing system.
So, how do you clean your drains properly?
Whether you know you have a blockage, or you just want to give your drain a good clean to keep the pipes in good condition, the process is pretty straightforward, and it can be completed in a few simple steps.
First, pour boiling water from your kettle down the drain to flush the pipes.
Then, combine equal parts boiling water and vinegar (around 240ml) in a jug, add 120g of baking or bicarbonate of soda (whichever you have to hand) into the mix, and pour this down the drain, letting it sit for an hour. This should foam up inside the pipes to help loosen and clear the blockage.
After an hour or so, run hot tap water for up to a minute into the drain to clear everything inside and test that everything is running smoothly once again.
If you’re still experiencing issues, you may have a more severe blockage on your hands and will need to call a professional to assess the severity.
How can I prevent blocked drains?
No matter how well you take care of your drains, or how often you clean them, they’re bound to get blocked at some point or other.
However, there are some things you can do to prevent it from happening and maximise the longevity of your drainpipes – including:
- Invest in a drain strainer – If you often find food leftovers clogging the plug hole in the kitchen sink, or clumps of hair tangled in your bath/shower drains, investing in a drain strainer will help you steer clear of this problem
- Refrain from pouring grease, fat or oil down the sink – You should never pour grease, fats or oils down your drains, as it can harden over time and clog the pipes. To avoid this, you should wipe down greasy dishes with a paper towel before washing them up properly in the sink, and use plenty of hot water and washing up liquid.
- Be mindful of what you’re flushing down the toilet – You should only be flushing toilet paper. Things like baby wipes, and sanitary towels should always be thrown in the bin, as they can very quickly and easily cause drain blockages.
Need more info?
If you’re struggling with blocked drains and need expert advice, or you think it might be time to replace parts of your home’s plumbing system, the team at Total Pipeline Systems would be more than happy to help.
Get in touch with their friendly team today, or browse their range of high-quality plumbing parts and fittings on their website!
