We really do not spend enough time thinking about drains. They are incredibly important to the day to day functioning of your house and your community. Perhaps we choose not to pay them the attention that they deserve because that carry away things that we would rather not think about, perhaps we ignore them because they are inherently simple systems that most of the time just work – getting on with their job whether we think about them or not.
This, of course, changes the instant something goes wrong. A blocked drain is not merely an inconvenience. At best a blocked drain will smell bad. At worst? At worst a blocked drain can cause sewage to back up into your house creating an unpleasant and unhygienic mess. One thing is certain – if you have a blocked drain to deal with it will command your full attention until it is dealt with. So if disaster does strike these are some of the steps that you can take to get things sorted so that you can go back to not having to think about drains:
Turn off the water
The most important thing to do if you have a blocked drain is make sure you do not make it worse. Stop using any water sources that are connected to the blocked drain immediately – if the water has nowhere to go it will simply back up into your home causing damage and disruption.
Check for any visible blockages
If you can use a torch and look inside the drain to see if there are any obvious obstructions. A bathroom drain might be blocked by a build up of hair, for example while a kitchen drain might become clogged by food particles or congealed fat. Indeed, one of the best ways to avoid a blocked kitchen drain is to avoid ever pouring cooking oils or fats down the sink.
Shift grease with hot water
If you think that the blockage might be made up of congealed fats it might be worth pouring some hot (not boiling) water into the drain. This might melt the fat and so remove the blockage. Adding some soap or other detergent to the hot water will further help to break down the fats and prevent them from congealing in your pipes again.
Have a go with a plunger
If your drain only has a minor blockage you might be able to dislodge it with a simple, old fashioned plunger. Be sure to create a good seal and then apply firm, consistent pressure. If the blockage is dislodged you can get back to normal quite quickly.
Try baking soda and vinegar
Pouring a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by the same amount of vinegar creates a mildly caustic environment which can help to loosen a blockage. After about fifteen minutes flush with hot water. Hopefully this will dislodge the blockage, but it is important not to put too much hot water into the system if the blockage remains resistant or you will back up the drain and make the situation worse.
Try a plumbing snake
If the blockage remains immovable a “plumbing snake” – essentially a long, flexible tool that can be passed through the bends and curves of a drain for emergency drain unblocking – can be used to break up and remove a clog.
What to do when that does not work
These “do it yourself” actions will take care of minor blockages and enable you to deal with a problem quickly. But sometimes a blocked drain will present too great a challenge and you will need to call a professional drain unblocking company such as Mersey Rod. There are other issues that you may notice when you start to pay attention to your drains that you should also call in a professional to address:
Reasons to call in a professional
If you find yourself needing to repeatedly clear a blockage that could be a sign of a larger problem and you should call on a professional company to check the system. You should also call in professional services if you notice any damage to your drains such as cracks or leaks. Finally if you experience sewage backup or become aware of foul odours you should call in professionals immediately in order to minimise any potential health risks.
What professionals can do
If you call in a professional emergency drain unblocking service they will usually begin by using traditional rods to break up and remove a blockage, in much the same way as a plumbing snake would be used to clear less challenging blockages. High pressure water jets can also be used to literally blast debris and other blockages away without damaging pipework. These relatively simple techniques will deal with most issues, but if the problem is more challenging there are other weapons in the emergency drain unblocking arsenal.
Applying technology
Drain rods and water jets are powerful technologies precisely because they are simple. But sometimes drainage systems can present issues that can benefit from the application of more advanced technology. As a leading emergency drain unblocking company we are proud to be at the cutting edge of drain clearing technologies:
Getting a better look
One of the problems with drain clearing is the fact that drainage systems are often comprised of vast underground systems of pipes. Unless a blockage is conveniently situated at one end of the system finding out where it is and what it is made of can be a challenge. Digging down to the pipework is incredibly disruptive and often prohibitively expensive. We can offer a solution because we can deploy advanced closed circuit TV technology into the pipe system to find the problem without the need for unnecessary and inconvenient digging.
Access all areas
Of course all of this technology is useless if it is too cumbersome to get to where it is needed. Our advanced Jet Vac trucks are equipped to both jet away blockages with high pressure water or to suck blockages and buildups away. Incredibly compact for such capable machines they are able to nimbly navigate leafy residential suburban roads, the narrowest of city streets and even complex claustrophobic industrial sites. Capable of handling effluent, agricultural slurry and industrial chemical waste our JetVac trucks can then remove material for safe, environmentally sound disposal at an appropriate waste facility.
Best of the North West
The people of the North West are famously self reliant. In most cases when they have a blocked drain Wirral householders will be more than capable of dealing with the matter themselves. But when the issue is more major and professional assistance is required it is important to ger things resolved quickly to minimise both inconvenience and damage. That is why our emergency drain unblocking services are always available when you need them – drains do not confine themselves to the hours between none and five, so neither do we.
Ready when you need us
If there is a need for drain unblocking Warrington residents, like the people of the rest of the North West will always be keen to get things sorted as quickly as possible. This is why we always strive to deliver a same day service and you can rest assured that when the situation is really serious we will prioritise immediate assistance. Put our number in your speed-dial. We hope you will never need us, but if you ever do, we will be there.