The effects of a flood can be absolutely devastating. The contents of your house and your garden can be ruined.

But while a lot of floods are caused by unusual weather patterns which are unavoidable, some are caused by improper drain maintenance.

By not keeping your drains in full working order, you are at risk of causing a flood in your property. So before this becomes a reality, ensure that you are doing everything you can to keep your drains functioning as they should be.

Blocked drains can be caused for a number of reasons and a lot of the time these are completely avoidable. Firstly, it is important not to put anything down the sink or toilet that is likely to cause a blockage. For example, grease and fat can solidify after you have poured it down the sink and this can very easily cause a blockage.

As well as this, trees planted too close to your drain system could cause problems if the roots manage to get into the pipes.

But if your drain does become blocked, it is important to get it dealt with as soon as possible. Engineers with specialist equipment can come and deal with the blockage and advise you as to how to avoid similar problems in the future.

Once they have worked their magic, you will no longer have to worry about the devastating effects of a flood.