There is little more annoying than a blocked drain to ruin your day. We rely on our facilities to run like clockwork and it can seriously disrupt our routine when we can’t flush the toilet or empty the sink. It’s hard enough having dirty standing water and even worse if there are leftovers or dirt coming back up through your pipes. locked drains can often be avoided by not putting anything down the sink or toilet that should not be there. Plumbers forever find things in the water channel that should not be there, so here is a reminder of the things that should go in the bin and not the toilet:
Nappies
It’s hard to believe but people flush away nappies down the toilet! They are certainly not designed for this because they do not degrade in the water. More likely, they will absorb water, making them bigger and almost certainly causing a significant blockage.
Hair
Hair is one of the main issues blocking the shower and sink drains. Those with long hair tend to lose a lot when showering and it doesn’t take long for the amount to accumulate and block the drain. This can easily be avoided by installing a guard plug or hair catch trap before it sweeps down the drain.
Baby and Face Wipes
Wipes should never be thrown into the toilet because they do not break down in water and can cause bad blockages. They may seem small and harmless, but the only place they have to go when you are done with them, is in the trash. For Blocked Drains Kent, visit a site like Medway Drain Services, a company dealing with Blocked Drains Kent.
Feminine Products
Sanitary towels, cotton make-up wipes and cotton buds have no place being flushed down the toilet either. They are not designed to be disposed of in this way and will cause a severe blockage as well as putting the plastic into the water system. Keep a bin near the sink specifically for these items and put them in normal household waste.
Paint
Paint should never be poured into a toilet or down a drain. A lot of plumbers report finding someone who had poured paint into the drain in the hope it would just disappear and wash away. However, paint is too viscous to be sent through water pipes, as well as being full of hazardous chemicals. Remnants of paint must be sealed correctly and taken to the local tip for proper disposal.
Food
Food waste sits at the number one spot as the cause of blocked drains. When scraping the leftover food from the plate, it is easy to think a little bit won’t cause a problem, however, when you do a lot of the time, the food accumulates in your pipes and can cause a complete blockage and odour. Have a special bin for food waste which can go out with the recycling or placed into your compost.