One of the most common problems found anywhere around the home is a blocked pipe. Be it in the kitchen or bathroom; a blocked pipe can cause all sorts of problems if not dealt with quickly.
As not only can a blockage cause a foul odour, but in many cases can have knock-on effects that can permanently damage other pipes around the house. In warm areas around the home, blocked pipes can also represent a health risk as bacteria start to multiply, causing yet more headaches.
So how do you solve a problem like a blocked pipe?
With a few simple steps, you can solve these issues and help ensure that your water system around the home is in good working order. With regular inspections required keeping tabs on your water pipes will save you much hassle further down the road and ensure that you minimise damage and health risks accordingly.
In the Kitchen
Make sure that no food waste or other material slips its way down the sinkhole. Those small scraps of food can soon add up to a blocked pipe somewhere down the line. So, make sure that you have fitted a simple sinkhole strainer to catch small debris from entering the pipes. It is also important to never drain any fat, oil or cooking fluids down the drain as the substances tend to harden within the pipes and give off a foul smell. Simply allow the fats and oils to solidify in a cool place before disposing in the garbage with other larger items.
In the Bathroom
It is crucial to also fit hair and debris guards to all drainage pipes such as sinks and showers. This will ensure that any hair, cotton buds, beauty products and toothpaste lids do not accidentally fall down a drainage hole. Hair can quickly cause a blocked shower. So, it is best to catch it on the surface, rather than to block a pipe a couple of metres down the drain requiring urgent professional assistance. To avoid anything accidentally falling down and causing a blocked shower or sink; make sure that cotton buds, medicine bottles, and other solid objects are kept away from all sinks and toilets.
The majority of blockages in and around the home occur due to lack of inspection. So, make sure that you regularly check all pipes and systems for blockage – especially in high-risk areas such as the kitchen sink and the bathtub and or shower drain. Scrub, wash and rinse any problematic areas with hot water and a simple disinfectant will resolve many simple blockages and should be tried before any stronger household chemicals are used.
If you tend to use a stronger household drain and sink unblocking detergent, ensure that you fully read the instructions printed on the label. Many strong sink and drain unblocking fluids such as gels or powders express exact methods of utilisation and are necessary for safe use, not only for your health but for the health of your pipes, too.
For a Melbourne homeowner, if all else fails, call your local professional plumbers in Templestowe and nearby areas. A drain expert can easily guide you through the whole plumbing process. It is often a good rule to have regular inspections of your pipes. It ensures that everything is in good working order, giving you peace of mind and a longer-lasting, more durable plumbing system in the future.
