When you run a business, there are lots of things which you need to consider as far as your premises are concerned, and whereas some may be at the forefront of your mind and therefore dealt with on a regular basis, there are others which may be nestled firmly in the back of your mind- drain maintenance for example.

Whilst it may initially sound like a task which doesn’t require an urgent amount of attention, and which you can afford to ignore for a little while longer, this certainly isn’t the case, as if the drains of your business premises become blocked or damaged, the consequences could be horrendous.

Most offices contain at least one member of staff who will be able to deal with a minor drainage problem such as a leaking pipe under the sink, although when it comes to bigger problems, only the professionals can effectively deal with the situation.

Failing to enlist the services of a professional to regularly perform drain maintenance is a quick route to having to deal with large and usually unexpected drainage problems which, by the time they become apparent, could be very difficult to repair.

Add to this the inconvenience caused to your business and the potential health and safety regulations which you risk breaking, it’s very clear to see that regular drain maintenance in commercial properties is just as important as is it is in domestic homes.

Blocked drains are one of life’s little annoyances, although luckily there are now many efficient and affordable professionals around who can help to put a stop to problems quickly and easily.

When the drains in your home become blocked, it’s very important to deal with the issue swiftly, as the severity of a blockage could quickly escalate.

One of the things about blocked drains is that problems are not instantly apparent, although there are a few things which you should keep an eye out for, as they could be pointing to an underlying issue.

Inadequate toilet flushing- If you notice that you’re toilet isn’t flushing as strongly or as thoroughly as it usually does, this could point to problems with drainage.

Unpleasant smelling drains- Although drains don’t smell of roses at the best of times, if the stench begins to get more noticeable and more unbearable, it could be signalling that waste water isn’t flowing away properly. If left untreated, this could quickly lead to a big blockage.

Sinks draining slowly- After washing your face or washing the pots, if water appears to be draining down the plug hole very slowly, there is a chance that you may have a blockage. On the plus side though, it could simply be a problem in the sink’s trap.

If you spot any of the above, don’t hesitate to get in contact with a drain maintenance company- it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Many areas of the UK have seen inches of snow fall already this winter, and it has caused various problems. Whilst transport was the main area in which the UK’s residents felt the effects, residents in the village of Cleadon also found themselves facing the problems of snow-blocked drains- which resulted in heavy flooding.

Whilst many breathed a sigh of relief when the snowfall started to melt and subside earlier in the month, this certainly wasn’t the case for those living in the Cleadon Lea area, who found themselves having to contend with the aftermath- in the form of severe flooding.

However, as plans to try and prevent homes from becoming flooded have now been given the go-ahead, future snowfall might not prove so disastrous.

At a Boldon, Cleadon & Whitburn community area forum meeting, it was agreed that rather than carry out simple drain maintenance, the size of the existing drainage pipe would be doubled in size- from 150 mm to 300 mm- in a bid to put a stop to the problem of excess water flowing from nearby fields.

One local councillor commented:

“We need to get some movement on this as soon as possible. I don’t think it’s acceptable to the residents that this hasn’t been sorted out yet.”

Whilst other proposals were put forward, the increased pipe capacity is likely to be the only significant change in the foreseeable future.

Whilst it’s meant to be the most enjoyable time of the year, the festive season can be an extremely stressful one, and once you have spent hours- even days- slaving away in the kitchen cooking for all of your relatives, the last thing which you will then want to have to deal with is a blocked sink.

Unfortunately though, it often doesn’t require much for a sink to become blocked, although if a problem does suddenly arise, it’s very important not to panic, and you should instead see if following these simple steps will help…

- If water isn’t draining down the plug hole as quickly as it should be doing, one of the first things which you should attempt is to pour boiling water down it. This is particularly effective in eliminating blockages caused by food and fat which could be sitting in the pipe beneath your sink.

- If the use of boiling water doesn’t prove fruitful, you should also try using a plunger to see if this makes any difference.

- Failing these, if your local supermarket is open, invest in a special drain cleaning product which could prove more successful.

If all of the above have no effect whatsoever, you could unfortunately be facing a bigger problem, in which case you should ring a drain maintenance professional.

Wessex Water provides the sewerage services and drain maintenance for 2.6 million people in the West region. On a daily basis Wessex Water are required to unblock around 18 sewers, however during the festive season this task is dramatically increased.

Unfortunately many people do not appreciate the damaged that can be caused by disposing of the grease, fat and oil from their Christmas meals inappropriately. The solidifying fat poured down the drain can cause major problems to the sewerage network, causing many more blockages than would normally be experienced.
The head of Wessex Water waste treatment, Nick Stone, stated:

“Blockages seriously affect the performance of sewers designed to remove waste water from homes and businesses, and can result in flooding inside properties causing extensive damage or external flooding that could lead to pollution of watercourses.

“Our advice is to never pour fat, oil or grease down the sink, but instead, carefully dispose of it with your household rubbish.

“Hot fats, which cool quickly and solidify in drains and sewers, along with other disposable items, cause three-quarters of blockages in sewers.

“This is a particular problem at Christmas, when it is estimated that 25 per cent more fat ends up in drains and sewers,”