One of the most common reasons for a drain blockage in an urban area is the accumulation of fat and grease in the drainage pipe. Many homeowners don’t realise the problems that come with disposing liquid fat down a drain until they have a problem.

People still continue to pour liquid fat down their drains despite waste water companies spending thousands of pounds every year trying to educate the general public that this method of fat disposal is not a good idea. When fat enters the drainage system it quickly cools and then sets hard. The fat then lines the inner surface of the drainage pipes, thus reducing the pipe’s waste carrying capacity and creating a sticky mass where other debris can get stuck.

Drainage companies in London can remove the build up of fat inside a drainage system by using a technique known as high pressure water jetting. In this method of drain cleaning, a jet of water at high pressure is directed down a drainage pipe. The water removes the fat from the inside of the drainage pipe and it is then flushed through the drainage system. Any large lumps of fat can be removed via the nearest manhole cover.

Drainage problems are a common occurrence in London where the expanding population puts pressure on the Victorian sewer system.

If you have a drain blockage, drain maintenance companies in London can offer a range of services so that your waste water pipes will be able to flow freely again.

Water jetting in London

The most frequently used tool in the drain maintenance engineers arsenal is the high pressure water jet. Using water at high pressure the drainage company can blast away debris from the inside of your waster water pipes.

Removing roots from drainage pipes

It’s common to find that jetting alone cannot remove a drain blockage. When this happens, the drainage company may have to investigate the reason why the blockage is still intact. One of the most common reasons why drains cannot be unblocked by jetting is the infiltration of roots into the drainage pipes. When roots find their way into a drainage pipe they quickly multiply due to the easy source of water. When this happens they will need to be cut away by the drainage company using a mechanical spinning root cutter.

CCTV surveys in London

If you are having recurrent drainage problems, your drain maintenance company may suggest a CCTV survey. If you opt for this procedure the drainage company will be able to comprehensively check the condition of the drainage system by looking at video images of the inside of your pipes on a computer screen.

Drain blockages are an unpopular occurrence when you own your own home. Many homeowners choose to ignore the fact that a drain blockage may occur at any time, and simply amble through life unprepared for the inevitable. However, if you are ready, you can tackle most drain clogs yourself and fix the problem quite simply.

Drain blockages will occur in one of two places, either inside the home or outside the home. And thus the methods for tacking each type of clog will be different.

If the blockage is indoors, the problem can usually be solved quite easily. Most sinks and bathtubs can be unblocked using a plunger or a drain cleaning snake, which can be inserted into the plughole. These either suck and push the debris through the pipe, or move it around enough for the subsequent flow of water to take the blockage away.

If the blockage is found to be outdoors, the problem becomes a little trickier. You can hire drain cleaning rods from your local hire shop, but if you don’t know what you are doing, it’s always a better idea to turn to the drain cleaning professionals. They have all the relevant drain cleaning tools at their disposal needed to tackle even the most stubborn blockage. Using drain jetting equipment they can get rid of that stubborn clog in a matter of minutes.

Solving drainage problems in London couldn’t be simpler if you have the phone number of a reliable drain cleaning company to hand. Drainage companies are all too willing to help out when you have a blocked toilet or your sink is not taking the waste water away.

Often you’ll be able to sort a drainage problem out yourself, but when the blockage isn’t just in your plughole or the pipe just under your sink, things start to become a little trickier. Without disconnecting all the waste pipes under your sink, it’s impossible to tell where the drain blockage may lie. If however you use a drain cleaning expert, they have the technology to help you out.

Drain cleaning experts in London have a wealth of tools at their disposal which they use on a regular basis to aid drain cleaning.

Perhaps the most used tool in the drain cleaner’s arsenal is the high pressure water jet. Using high pressure water, the drain cleaning experts can direct water down a blocked drain to remove blockages. The water is sent down the drain at such high pressure that any clogs can be removed easily.

Blocked drains can happen at any time, and when they do they can cause countless problems for the inexperienced homeowner. When you have a drain blockage problem it’s really important to get it solved as quickly as possible. The following is a quick summary on why drain blockages happen and what you can do to stop them.

Reasons for drain blockages in London

People are really careless in the way they treat their sink, shower or bath. In many situations people neglect to use sink and shower strainers, which allow water to pass through but stop other debris in its tracks. This means that foodstuffs and hair can enter the drain and eventually clog the pipe. Again, people still think it’s ok to dispose of fat by pouring it down the sink. This is a complete no-no and should always be avoided, as when liquid fat cools it sets and stops the water flow.

Stopping drain blockages in London

You need to be really careful about what you dispose of down the sink and in the toilet. Drainage companies spend thousands of pounds every year trying to educate the general public what not to flush.

Things that can’t be flushed include:

• Liquid fats
• Sanitary wear
• Contraceptives
• Cotton buds
• Make up wipes

All the above items can block your drainage system, so should be disposed of in the general waste instead.