Blocked Drains Southend on Sea
Telephone: 01702-967086
Blocked drains near me
You can rely on us to unblock your drain quickly and easily because we're professionals with years of experience looking after blocked drains in Southend on Sea, and all surrounding areas, whenever you need us we'll be on standby ready to deal with the problem as soon as possible. We always offer a first-class service at prices that cannot be matched so call today for a free quote, and find out how much money you could save by hiring us instead of buying investing in new pipes or drains. Blocked drains are the most common cause for a plumber to be called out and unfortunately, they can result in damage and flooding if not dealt with quickly and correctly. Blocked drains occur when waste products such as soap, shampoo, food particles, etc., block the pores of drain pipes resulting in water not being able to pass through. If left blocked, waste starts to build up which will ultimately lead to overflowing toilets or even flooding into your property. It is important that you contact an expert drainage company such as SOS Plumbing & Heating, as we offer a fast service without any additional costs associated with unblocking drains. Our drainage company uses hi-tech, high pressure water jetting machines followed by CCTV camera inspections so that the problem can be identified precisely - this will allow problems to be diagnosed and a solution to be found. What causes blocked drains There are many reasons why a drain may be blocked but the main reason is because of build up from things such as food being washed down them from within homes, hair, fat, soap scum, etc. The most common cause of a blocked drain or sewer outside a house is tree roots or debris that causes a blockage, especially in sewage systems. Tree roots, dirt, and other debris may accumulate in sewer drain pipes over time and cause an obstruction. The roots can also grow inside the pipe causing serious damage over time. With tree roots, the problem is often periodic which means even after you've had your line cleared there's still a high chance it will become clogged again due to new growth. Roots are easily removed sometimes through the use of chemicals or thru hydro jetting but if they cannot be resolved that way then replacement of the affected section is required. Sewer backups can lead to substantial basement flooding if not dealt with immediately. Many things can cause this including excessive water flow, low pressure in city mains, cracks and holes in sewer pipes, deterioration of joints and manholes, etc The problem causes major property damage due to standing water and can also be hazardous to anyone who comes into contact with it posing risks to your safety as well as legal liability for yourself. Health risks of block drains Blocked drain fly breeding areas - If a blocked drain is not cleared it can attract flies, rodents and other pests which will live around the blockage and breed there, as well as spreading diseases through the dirt. This becomes a health hazard for you and your family. In addition to this, if the problem of blocked drains is left untreated, you will have to deal with accumulations of foul smelling sludge that can seriously damage your home's walls and foundations making it very expensive to repair. Most homeowners opt to have drains unblocked or cleaned by professional plumbers at least once every year because of these reasons. If you are performing regular maintenance on your drainage system then you should never find yourself in need of blocked drain repair. How can I tell If my drains are blocked? The easiest way to tell if your drains are becoming blocked is by checking for water collecting at the bottom of your drainage system. If there is no visible water, take a plunger or stick to unblock it yourself. You should not use chemical drain cleaners as they can harm both you and your family. Never use chemicals, instead opt for natural products like boiling hot vinegar which will clean the blockage without causing any damage. Blocked drains require immediate attention otherwise they will lead to major issues later on. If you still think that these methods will work then go ahead; but our professional plumbers recommend that you do not try this yourself because if something goes wrong you might end up worsening the problem. Blocked drains are not only an eyesore, but they can also lead to unpleasant smells coming from your sink or drain. This happens whenever water does not flow through the system smoothly and it stagnates along the way which gives bacteria a chance to develop . Also, blocked drains can lead to overflow in sewers, wastewater leakage and pooling of rainwater in catch basins. And while there might be no visible signs of damage you should still act quickly otherwise all these issues will only get worse with time. How to avoid blocked drains Every year thousands of people are victims of blocked drains that are further complicated by bad odour emitting from both sinks and sewers. Not only is this extremely inconvenient, but it can cause health concerns if left untreated for an extended period of time. In order to avoid this from happening to you, here are a few steps that you can follow in order to prevent stops up in your drainage system: The most important step in avoiding blocked drains is keeping a close eye on what goes down the drain. This includes food residue or any other substance that could eventually harden and solidify in the pipe, resulting in a clog. It is very important not to throw anything into the sink unless it is an approved product for use with drains. Even when using approved products , they may sometimes be too strong for some types of blockages so if their use does not solve the problem, then it's important to call a plumber immediately. If there is already standing water in the sink or tub, always call a plumber before attempting to clear any blockages. In some cases, especially if there is already standing water, it may be necessary to first lift the blockage out of the drain with a plunger and then disinfect and unclog the drain. Blockages that allow for immediate re-use of the drains should be left this way as they often clear themselves within 45 minutes by allowing air into the pipe and shifting debris down toward where it can be washed away with running water. Kitchen Waste blockages When you and your family members failed to clean off the plates before rinsing them, that's when kitchen drains get blocked. The reason is particles of food can accumulate inside making it difficult for water to flow freely down the drain. Bits of paper towel or cooking grease might also contribute causing blockage within a few days after cleaning up! Fortunately, if this does occur chances are high such problems could be prevented by taking simple actions like washing dishes more frequently using hot soapy water rather than cold running tap water; scraping excess food and waste leftovers into the bin instead throwing away down your sink, and also avoiding pouring liquid fat down the plug hole. All these tips will help you keep your drains running smoothly and save you money by not calling our plumbing services. Can a plumber fix blocked drains? Yes indeed, even if you try to fix your clogged drain yourself, a professional plumber will likely do it better and with less hassle. The experience that comes from unclogging drains on a regular basis makes the job easier for them than say someone who does not do this kind of work. How much does it cost to clear blocked drains? To be fair, there are many things for us to consider before we quote a price on the unblocking of a drain. Below is a few things we must take into account beforehand. All down to the scope of work and if the drain is still intact or collapsed.
As you are now aware, a drain blockage could be a single problem or numerous problems. We will always try to unblock your drainage issue the cheapest way possible. Any other services that you require please go to our main website page www.sosplumbingheating.co.uk PVC Waste Pipes Plumbing waste pipes are manufactured from PVC plastic, this material expands and contracts due to fluctuating temperature changes of any water that passes through inside them. When your PVC pipes expand then they come into contact with your other plumbing fittings that can cause a tapping, knocking, hammer kind of noise. Water hammer can also be known as. This can be an indication of an underlying problem with a previous plumbing installation, maybe a blocked air chamber, loosened pipe fittings, or surges in pressure as a result in faulty valves. This can be difficult to detect without further investigation by our expert plumbers and taking a good look at your current installation. It’s not always possible to say straight off why your plumbing piping is noisy. If you are in any way concerned that you could be experiencing any leakage in your current plumbing system or damaged pipes, then by all means contact us direct for help and assistance, at the end of the day peace of mind is everything. Drain Cleaning Frequently Asked Questions: Q : How can I prevent blocked drains? A : One way to reduce your chance of getting a clogged drain is to make sure food particles don't go down the drain or garbage disposal. You should also avoid putting anything in your toilet like cotton swabs, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts or children's toys because all these items can damage your plumbing system over time. Unfortunately if you want to avoid a clogged drain in the bathroom it's a lot easier to push things down there than in the kitchen. But if you must use something in your toilet make sure it is flushable. Q : How long does it take to clear a blocked drain? A : Here at SOS Plumbing & Heating we have all seen that if you pour grease down your sink or shower, flush sanitary pads and nappies down your toilet, leave hair down the plughole or build up food from cooking then everyday drains can get blocked very quickly. For more serious blockages which need professional intervention such as tree roots growing through a sewer or collapsed drains our emergency response time is less than an hour. If for any reason we cannot resolve the problem straight away, we will discuss the best and most cost-effective solution to unblock your drains, and a predicted timescale to complete the unblocking. We have various remedies at our disposal, including drain CCTV equipment that can show where the problem is. Q : How do you know when your drains need cleaning? A : When it is important to get rid of blockages in the drain, our underground cameras offer a non-invasive way of locating any problems and can also provide live streaming video back to a control room. Our technicians are trained on the use of all types of CCTV equipment, including manual inspection scopes that allow them to find and fix any problems which may arise. This is very useful when there may be no water in the drain at all or if there is something such as fat blocking the drain, but without seeing what they are looking for it's difficult to work out how best to resolve matters. This is why it's so important to use a well-trained technician to carry out Drain Surveys in Southend on Sea, Essex, before any work starts. Unblock your Drain - Do It Yourself method We would always advise calling a professional drain expert, but if you would like to try yourself, then here are a few methods you could always try. Try a DIY method if the problem persists after you have used different methods. It is possible that your drain system has corroded at some parts or it has been clogged by a foreign object that cannot be removed manually. In such cases, you need to use home remedies like baking soda and vinegar to shift clogs or dislodge them from the drains. These two substances act as natural drain cleaners when combined together (heat will play an important role in this process). With time, their reaction leads to expanding gasses which open up the pipe lines. If you don't want to go for chemical or homemade solutions, contact your local plumbing service provider who would help you with the entire procedure - for example, putting some high pressure water jet on the clog, if possible. These devices will make sure that the clogs are cleared fast and effectively. Some of them prefer to use some chemicals like snake oil or corrosive acids which dissolve drain clogs over time (this can take days or weeks). However, it is always better to go for more natural solutions instead of putting your health at risk by using chemical ones. When you try to unblock the drainage system by yourself, remember that this is not an easy task especially when you have used heavy duty chemicals in trying to clear out drains. So, there is a high possibility that these substances might affect the surrounding areas since they are very powerful in nature - this includes soil, grass or even underground water sources. You might also create a big hole in your drain if the chemicals that you have used are not strong enough. So make sure to use suitable chemicals for specific types of clogs. Prevention Tips The best way to prevent this problem is by making sure that you dispose of any waste into designated bins for organic matter rather than flushing them in your toilet. Also, make sure you maintain your kitchen properly by making sure there are no leaks in your drainage system and the pipes are not damaged because these are often the root cause of this problem. Fatbergs do not only happen in your home, you can occasionally run into them when visiting public places like schools, malls, office buildings, et cetera. This is because most people tend to dump their waste anywhere instead of disposing it properly. While this may seem like an inconvenience at first, what many fail to realise is that fatbergs can be a huge health hazard especially if they get stuck under buildings or areas with a lot of foot traffic. You might consider calling a drain camera service or a plumber to check on any potential blockage. Sewer backups caused by fats result in large amounts of damage to homes and public places. This is because the grease that has mixed with water doesn't just cause it to be sluggish, but sticks to everything that comes into contact with it. It's already difficult enough to remove hard fats like dairy products, but what makes this all the more challenging is that most people dump other kinds of oils including vegetable oil, cooking oil, and even used motor oil along with their kitchen waste instead of putting them in separate rubbish bags or containers. ✘ Using caustic soda - using caustic soda will only lead to your drains becoming blocked again very soon after trying to clear them. The problem with using caustic soda is that it's highly corrosive and despite the fact that it is meant to be used on grease, if there is any grease present in your pipes then it will melt this down as well which will cause a fat buildup at the bottom of your pipes which can't actually dissolve because of how cold they are. ✘ Using boiling water - while boiling water may sound like an effective plan, but there are two problems with making use of this method; firstly, the water will only go as far as wherever your U bend is. If you've got a long run of pipes then this could prove very ineffective, secondly boiling water can't dissolve fat which will still clog up your drain. ✘ Using liquid plumber - liquid plumber contains detergents that are meant to help it break down grease but because these are made from plant extracts they don't work for cold pipes so if there is any grease present in your drainage system it will simply coagulate and block things up again. Liquid Plumbers also contain caustic soda so using too much of the stuff can cause the same issues as using caustic soda itself. ✘ Using baking soda and vinegar - baking soda and vinegar is one of the most popular ways to unblock blocked drains out there but it doesn't really work miraculously unless you use A LOT of baking soda with just a tiny bit of vinegar. The reason why is because baking soda and vinegar react to create carbon dioxide which isn't fatal to your drainage system but its high temperature will soften any fat present in the pipes so that when the water finally does reach these parts, they'll be easily swept away. ✘ Chemical toilet drain cleaners - these chemicals are typically mixed with water and poured down the loo, left for an hour or so then flushed away with lots of clean water. These chemicals will dissolve into the water that is sitting in the U-bend which eventually moves its way into our drainage system. The heat from the sun can also speed up this process (within reason) resulting in warm water dissolving grease (and yucky stuff) much more quickly. After the blockage has been broken down and flushed away, we will put our drain cameras in to make sure there is no trace of any residue left in the drain... ✘ Mechanical Drain Rods - they use kinetic energy (i.e., water velocity) to break down the blockages internally. The only reason that they sometimes don't work is because when they try to push through a clog they meet an immovable force, like something solid blocking your drain; either that or when you're working on a pipe with a lot of bends it's difficult for the rods to navigate around corners... So, if you have got a poorly designed system with too many right-angle turns, be prepared to have it blocked again faster. ✘ Drain snakes - They all work mechanically by poking, twisting and scraping the inside of your pipes to clear them out... Unfortunately, if you have a large blockage in a long pipe it can be almost impossible to get any kind of penetration no matter how many times you thrust the cable deeper and deeper into the drain or how long you leave it there. You see, this is why most blockages reoccur: because people try using one method and expect different results! This problem usually occurs when your whole system has been clogged up for a while and then someone comes along with an aggressive machine that tries to charge through the problem at once; what happens? The drain water can't flow fast enough so it diverts around the blockage and floods your house or property. S.O.S PLUMBING & HEATING
Affordable Plumbers SOUTHEND-ON-SEA ESSEX Telephone: 01702-967086 |
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