At Nuflow Ipswich we specialise in clearing blocked drains without digging up your house and yard using a technique called trenchless pipe relining – which is a relief if you should find yourself in this situation.
However we also know that as a homeowner, it’s a much better idea to known how to prevent blocked drains in the first place!
The fact is, most blockages are avoidable – occurring from common items that shouldn’t be flushed or washed down the drain.
Apart from the inconvenience and cost of having to fix a blocked drain, it can also cause unpleasant smells, water damage and even be a potential health hazard. That is why we are providing these tips to help you prevent blocked drains from occurring in your household.
COMMON CULPRITS FOR BLOCKED DRAINS
FATS, OILS AND GREASE:
Things like excess oil, cooking fats, greasy face creams, body lotions, hair treatments, baby oil, and even certain makeup products contain a lot of oil and should be disposed of in waste bins NOT down your drain. When fats, oils and grease can be washed down the drain with hot water, when the water cools they solidify and starts forming a barrier, preventing the free flow of water and waste. These barriers can eventually break or split pipes and cause blockages.
FOOD WASTE:
All food scraps should be placed in the bin. Food scraps like rice, pasta and bread expand when added to water and when gathered can cause a smelly blockage. Fruit pits are another common item to avoid as they take years to decompose, meaning they are more likely to block the drain. Also avoid leftover bones, onion skins, carrot peelings, raw meat, asparagus, pumpkin, dairy products, celery and corn husks as all can build up and lead to unpleasant smells and blockages in your drains.
BATH BOMBS:
It would be hard to find a household in Ipswich which doesn’t have bath bombs! However, regular use can cause issues as they often contain oils and salts which won’t dissolve in water. Some fancy bath bombs even contain flower parts, glitter and even sparkling tiny stars, none of which are good for your drainage pipes. We recommend saving the use of bath bombs for special occasions only, to prevent a blocked drain.
MAKE-UP WIPES/TOILET WIPES/TISSUES/FLOSS/TAMPONS AND SANITARY PADS:
These should all be placed in the bin, not the toilet or sink to prevent clogging your pipes.
COFFEE GROUNDS:
Wet coffee ground sticks together and are a common culprit of a blocked drain. You may think the coffee ground is small however, the small grains can build up causing slow water flow within your drains. You’re much better off throwing coffee grounds in the bin – or your compost heap!
Prevention is better than cure! We hope that by sharing our knowledge on how to prevent blocked drains, you never have to deal with problem plumbing – but if you do, we have some simple tips that you can use to clearing that blocked drain .
CONTACT NUFLOW IPSWICH TODAY
However, if it needs the skills and equipment of a professional – call the team at Nuflow Ipswich today on 3277 8401 – we service the Ipswich area including Redbank, Brassall, Goodna, Springfield Lakes, Ripley, Willowbank, Amberley, Rosewood, Somerset, Kilcoy and Blackbutt.
