Archive for January, 2010

Selecting the right drain maintenance and cleaning services

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Keeping your drains clean is very important for the sanitation and hygiene of your home environment. For this reason, you should bear these four things in mind when selecting a professional drain cleaning London service.

1. Question: You should speak to several drain maintenance services, and ask them if they provide the services you need. Also research their reputation.

2. Equipment: You should always ask the company if they will be using all their own equipment. Some services rely on you to provide them with certain items like solvents, cleaners and brushes. You should also factor in any allergies that your family may have, and discuss this with the cleaning service to see if they can avoid certain substances or chemicals.

3. Areas: Spend a few minutes noting down the areas of your home that cause problems. This should include those areas that need constant unblocking via baking soda and/or vinegar. This could include kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, bidets and baths.

4. Payment: The arrangement for payment should be decided upon prior to drain cleaning. If the service has their own mode of payment you can pay accordingly. If not, you can pay them per visit or on a quarterly basis for drain maintenance and cleaning services. Remember to agree on a price before they begin cleaning, and – much like a car garage – ensure they tell you of any additional costs as they arise.

Drain maintenance home remedies

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

It is recommended that you use these tips only in an emergency situation. To be sure your drains are properly clean and unclogged, you should call a professional drain cleaning London service to regularly service your drains. You can usually unclog a drain by following these steps:

1. Turn off the tap if it is running, and wait for the water to drain away. Remove anything blocking the plug hole with your fingers – wearing rubber gloves for this is highly recommended. Take a cup of baking soda and put it into your plug hole. Boil a kettle of water and pour it onto the baking soda. Re-boil the kettle, and pour the boiling water into the sink. Once the water has subsided, turn on your cold tap and let it run for up to a minute.

2. If that does not work, try this variation: Again, let the water drain from your sink, remove any visible blocking items, and put a cup of baking soda into the plug hole. In addition to the baking soda, add some white vinegar. Then you need to plug the hole of the sink with your stopper and leave it for half an hour. After this time, remove the plug and pour in a kettle of boiling water.

3. If neither of the above methods work, you could fill your sink with baking soda and vinegar and leave it over night. The mixture should slowly work its way down the pipe and will hopefully have cleared it by morning. Pour a kettle full of boiling water down the drain in the morning. If this step doesn’t work, you need to call in professional drain cleaners, as the problem is likely to be either further down in the pipe, or too thick or clogged to clear yourself.

Keep extra white vinegar and baking soda in your cupboard in case this problem should arise.

How to fix blocked drains

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Blocked drains will always create a nuisance for home owners. Ignoring a blocked drain can cause the problem to escalate and can lead to a plumbing emergency. You can treat some drainage problems on your own by following some simple ‘do it yourself’ steps. These procedures will, however, require the necessary plumbing tools.

Following these steps will certainly bring down the cost of keeping your drains clear and free from clogs, as they can be followed yourself without need of a professional plumber.

The bottom section or part of the drain pipe is known as a trap that captures water in the line. The trap then creates a barrier, preventing the entry of any sewer gases. Bathroom drains, tubs and sinks usually get blocked due to hair build-up, soap scum and other bodily fats or oils. You can spot a blockage when water drains away much slower than normal. It is an indication that the drains require immediate cleaning to prevent total obstruction of the pipe. Following these steps will help you to fix the drains:

Firstly, you should examine the opening of the drain and check for hair or other particles. Such particles can be pulled out easily by taking a coat hanger and bending its wires to pull out the clogged particles. Use a plunger if you fail to locate the clog. Placing the plunger over the opening of the drain, fill the sink or bath with water, ensuring that the plunger’s cup is completely immersed. Push the plunger up and down and repeat this action 6 to 7 times. The pressure applied will help to free the pipe.

If the problem persists in spite of these steps, call out a professional plumber. As the clog may be more serious, you may damage the pipe if you try to clear it yourself.

How is drain jetting useful for blocked drains?

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

Drain jetting is one way to get rid of clogged drains. One process involves the use of highly pressured water to rectify the problem in a drain. This process is widely used and you shouldn’t need to replace any of the drainage system.

The method of drain jetting is cost effective and with modern equipment, the work becomes easier to carry out. Drains generally get blocked due to solid sediment, hair and food waste. Drain jetting cleans it all efficiently with very little hassle.

Drain blockages are a common problem in many households and businesses, but they can cause lots of problems so it is important to make sure that you clean your drains frequently to avoid these problems.

The most reliable way to fix a blocked drain is to employ professional drain cleaners to deal with it. As they have the necessary specific plumbing tools, the work gets done faster and with few problems.

Normally a simple method of unblocking works, but if there is a huge blockage with lots of waste, good drain cleaning equipment is needed. Get in contact with the best possible drain cleaning service and be assured your drains will be returned to normal.

If you do find you have a blocked drain there are companies that provide drain jetting London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and in most towns. With the help of a professional company, you should be able to get your drains cleaned efficiently and effectively.

Drain Cleaning Tips

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

Drain maintenance and drain cleaning is a nightmare for many. Listed below are a few tips on how to make the process easier:

• Step 1: Boiling water

Boiling water should be your first remedy in drain maintenance as it is a natural drain cleaner. Ordinary clogging usually consists of grease and particles of food, so make sure you scrape grease and fat from your pans into the bin and not down the sink.
Pour a kettle of boiling water down your drain to melt and remove as much of the blockage as you can.

• Step 2: Baking soda

Put a cup of baking soda into the drain and wash it down with three cups of hot water. Baking soda and water creates a mildly alkaline drain washing solution. This helps to further get rid of the clogging.

• Step3 : Vinegar and baking soda

If the previous step does not work, you should consider a combination of white vinegar and baking soda. This increases the alkaline content in the solution. Do not use balsamic or rice vinegar.

• Step 4: Use enzymes

You can also make use of dry enzymes. They have an extended shelf life and are widely available in many shops. They are helpful in dissolving clogs and are a better alternative to commercially available detergent liquids, which can contain harmful chemicals.

• Step 5: Professional help

Your last and best drain maintenance alternative is hiring a professional drain cleaner or plumber. They will do a thorough job and your drains will be consistently clean and in good condition if you employ them on a regular basis.