February 26th, 2011 
Issac Maez A clogged or slow running drain is a problem that almost every one of us has had to deal with as some time or another. Ask a sewer and drain services company what they think and almost every one will tell you that this could be an indicator that something else, which will often cost a lot more to fix, is wrong
Like you can probably imagine, many problems which are experienced with household drains are caused by general build up of grease, grime and hair and these kinds of problems do not need a plumber since you can quite easily clean them out with an off-the-shelf chemical cleaner. Even some of the more stubborn problems a pipe snake can be bought at most good hardware stores.
Older properties do have some problems with chemical cleaners though. Repeated use of these harsh substances lead to the rusting of the old metal pipes and this is where a plumbing professional is required. Using a pipe snake in these cases could make a hole in a rusted pipe and this will be an expensive mistake. You will end up calling in a plumbing professional to replace all the pipework.
Dont make the mistake of thinking that drains are only experianced in the bathroom or kitchen sinks. Drains are an important part of many of the luxury items which we have come to rely on such as washing machines and dishwashers. On top of this there are toilet drains, basement drains, main sewer lines and a multitude of external drains as well. Of of these get damaged or clogged with age and it can cost you a few thousand pounds to repair if you leave things until the last minute.
Most drain specialists make their money from people doing stupid things. Quite simply, the majority of drain problems are caused by people just not thinking. The toilet has become an all purpose disposal receptical, people don’t rinse their plates before putting them in a dishwasher and many people throw household oil and grease down the drain. What about all that rice, peas, noodles etc which are at the bottom of the sink when you finish cleaning the dishes? How many people simply rinse this down the drain?
All drains, from the pipes that were installed 50 years ago on a traditional home to some pipes that were laid a couple of weeks ago in a new establishment are subject to a tremendous amount of stress. Regular maintenance can literally save you a lot of money and if things do go wrong and you act quickly you will save a lot of headaches.
It does not matter what kind of building you live or work in, the drains are under constant stress and will deteriorate due to normal wear and tear. Not only will you save a lot of headaches if you have your pipes regularly inspected but you will save yourself a lot of time and money as well.
There are additional services provided as well. Cameras can be inserted into drains to find out the exact spot where the pipe is damaged. The same camera will reveal the type of blockage. You can line the drains from the inside out so that you don’t need to dig up your expensive driveway or need to excavate drains through layers of basement concrete.
Most drain cleaning experts provide a host of other services as well. CCTV cameras can determine exactly where and how a drain is blocked or damaged. In areas where you don’t want to excavate (such as your lovely garden or paving) these specialists will be able to line your drains without making any mess.
- Call a professional the moment that the initial problem is found. A small drip or clog could turn into a plumbing nightmare.
- Regularly maintain your drains with a commercially available drain cleaner to get rid of general sludge build up.
- Set yourself a regular maintenance routine of using chemical cleaners available in the supermarket to get rid of the normal day to day build up of dirt.
- Get your washing machine and dishwasher manuals out and see what you are allowed to put into them. Stick to the manufacturers recommendations.
- Have a complete inspection done every couple of years to make sure that there are no disasters just waiting to happen.
Don’t only look at the pipe repair when your drains clog or burst. There are so many things which can get damaged as a side effect. Cupboards, ceilings and electrical appliances can cost you thousands in water damage from a single leaking pipe. This is normally not covered by the manufacturers warrantee although make sure that your home insurance is paid up just in case.
Fast Flow Drains are currently promoting the term drain clearing London as part of their ongoing SEO process
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