Unblocking drains and toilets keep plumbers busy all year round. However, there are some things that homeowners can do to avoid having to deal with toilets that can’t flush and sewage backflows caused by blocked sewer lines. Follow these five simple steps to ensure year-round flowing pipes.
Manage What Goes Down Your Drains
Kitchen grease is one of the leading causes of blocked drains. This is because, while most oils are liquid at room temperature, once cooled they congeal and start to solidify. When the grease from the kitchen sink meets other objects in a pipe, such as clumps of hair, immovable blockages occur that can lead to damaged pipes and other issues. For this reason, plumbers also recommend that all showers, baths and sinks in a home also have a solution in place to catch hair before it reaches the inside of a pipe.
Say No to Chemical Unblockers
Clogged and blocked drains and toilets are a common household issue. While there is a huge range of products on the market that claim to be able to remove blockages, they contain extremely harsh chemicals, so using these products may end up causing more damage than good. Frequent use of these types of products can cause pipes to erode and can result in leaks and burst pipes. Using solutions that are easier on your pipes, such as a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, can work for smaller blockages and won’t cause damage to the system.
If you do find yourself with a blocked drain that you cannot fix yourself, consider calling the services of a professional. Plumbers such as those at Damien McEvoy Plumbing Sutherland Shire are specially equipped with CCTV drain inspection systems, water jetting tools, and other tools to deal with clogged pipes and other plumbing related issues.
Keep Sewer and Septic Lines Clear
Whether your home is connected to a sewage system or your property makes use of a septic tank, keeping the pipes that flow between your home and the system is important if you want to avoid incidents such as overflowing toilets and sewage backflow. Many plumbers offer a hydro-jetting service that can help clear any clogs from these lines.
Reduce Your Water Pressure
The water pressure in your home can have a major impact on both the lifespan of the plumbing system in your home as well as the appliances that are connected to it. Water pressure that is too high can cause premature wearing of fixtures, which can result in leaks and even burst pipes. Reducing the water pressure to a recommended level at the outset is the best way to ensure a long lifespan for your home’s plumbing and thus fewer leaks and blockages.
Use a Water Softener
Finally, one of the best ways to ensure the continued health of all the components in your plumbing system, and thus reduce the likelihood of leaks and blockages, is to reduce the hardness of the water in your system. Water hardness is determined by the amount of dissolved minerals that are present in water. While some areas in Australia have relatively soft water, some regions struggle with general hardness factors of up to 98ppm, which can have a damaging effect on both plumbing and the people who are exposed to it that have sensitive skin. Using a water softener can help alleviate this issue and reduce the number of times you will need to call out a plumber.
The best way to ensure pipes and drains are kept blockage free is by maintaining the health of the entire system. By following these guidelines, households should experience fewer plumbing related issues.
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