Drainage systems keep our buildings dry, clean, and safe to live and work in. Many people take drains and pipelines for granted because they are out of reach and usually perform well. Property owners rarely pay attention to blocked drains when the damage has been done, and they ignore their drains when everything works well.
Any property owner should understand what causes clogged drains and pipes, how to avoid them, and what to do if the worst happens.
Drain Blockage Prevention
In certain situations, the only way to deal with drain concerns is to prevent them in the first place. Drain blockages are caused by accumulations of domestic or industrial waste. You can prevent this by not using toilets like garbage cans, placing strainers in plugholes to collect hair, broken soap, and food wastes, and flushing the drains with hot water once a week.
Causes of Blocked Drains
However, throughout their lives, all drains, whether domestic or industrial, will eventually experience similar blockage issues. There are mostly substances like grease, leaves, silt, and litter that have built up on the interior of the vessels. These deposits not only reduce the effectiveness of the drain but if left to accumulate over time, can ultimately create a blockage.
When a drain becomes clogged, the water attempting to exit cannot flow into it and fills the outlet, backing up to the source and causing floods. Including a kitchen sink to a toilet tank, from a washing machine to a bath, the root may be anything. Not only does this result in water harm to the property’s foundation and wiring, but it also risks permanent damage to electrical equipment.
Health and Safety
Drain blockages can be more than an annoyance; they can also be a health and safety threat. The rest of the water we discard is tainted. Water that has backed up in a plugged drain is much dirtier than water that has been thrown out of a kitchen, toilet, or utility room. It’s been a breeding ground for toxic bacteria, and it’s much worse if the backed-up water comes from the bathroom.
If a drainage system gets blocked and backflows into the property, the blockage must be addressed quickly to prevent the transmission of polluted water and contamination risk. Following the clearance of the blockage, the affected parts of the property must be sanitized per Health and Safety Inspectors’ requirements.
If you’re unsure if your clogged drain poses a health danger, consult a licensed drain cleaning company or call your local Environmental Health Department.
Modern Drain Cleaning Methods
There are two key cleaning options for blocked drains: high-pressure water jet cleaning and electro-mechanical cleaning.
High-Pressure Water Jet Cleaning
Depending on the form of blockage, high-pressure water jetting is the fastest, safest, and most efficient mode of drain cleaning. A constant stream of water is “fired” into the shaft, blasting away at deposits and blockages before being ejected.
Electro-Mechanical Cleaning
Rather than drains, this process is used to unblock narrower bore pipes like toilets and sinks. In comparison to water jetting, a lightweight rod is inserted into the pipework and manually removed blockages. Several attachments are attached to the end of the rod if required to either hack or scrape debris away. It’s great for getting rid of uric and limescale, as well as roots, twigs, compacted leaves, and other foreign pieces.
Advantages of Professional Drain Cleaning
CCTV inspection is the most current advancement in drain washing. The drain is fed with a long, flexible cable with a camera at the end. The camera sends images to a computer as it is forced further into the drain, allowing the engineer to see the state of the drain’s interior and locate the blockage. A CCTV survey report and a drainage sketch layout are both given to the customer.
When it comes to drain cleaning, always follow the help of a specialist. It might appear that taking a domestic high-pressure power jet or a stretch of pipe and attacking the drain is an easy, less costly choice, but understanding where the blockage is, how to avoid further flooding, and clean the drain without destroying it is by far the better, more cost-effective option, so always call an experienced professional.
J.O. Plumbing has a team of expert plumbers who are specialists in drain cleaning, drain maintenance, and drain inspection. They also carry out emergency plumbing maintenance and repair jobs throughout Melbourne.
