If your drain or your toilet is blocked, you need help. And fast.
DIY – Good Luck!
Everyone’s first reaction is, of course, to try to fix it yourself. There are a few different ways. The “miracle cure” chemicals which might help if the problem is caused by something that can be dissolved, but can’t help if it’s something solid.
Then there’s the gold old-fashioned sink plunger like you Granny used to use. They’ve stuck around for so long because they do work on simple blockages. The knack is to pull up strongly as well as pushing down strongly, so that the water flows in both directions. This can slowly loosen the blockage allowing it to flow away, even if it is caused by something solid like human hair.
And then there’s the high-power sink plungers from your local DIY superstore. Which is probably Wickes, Screwfix or B&Q. They certainly generated more pressure than the old-fashioned plungers. Therefore, please be a bit careful with them. Drains are not designed to cope with high pressure. If you try too hard you might cause a joint to leak, shifting the problem from the drain to the house itself.
Prevention is best
Here’s a few tips to help stop blockages before they start.
Be careful about what you flush down the loo. Even things that claim to be flushable don’t always flush away. It’s best to follow the 3 Ps rule: put nothing down your toilet except pee, poo and paper.
Time to call the experts?
If DIY has let you down, it’s time to call in the professionals.
The best offer the whole range of services for keeping your drains in good condition, including:
- CCTV Scans: find out exactly where a drain is blocked, and by what, without digging any holes
- Water Jetting: high pressure water can clean out a drain, to remove a blockage, and keep it clean, to prevent blockages in future
- Excavation: sometimes the only solution is to dig down to the drain.