HELP & ADVICE

Blockages in toilets and general drains are typically caused by several factors:

Misuse:
- Avoid flushing large volumes of toilet paper at once and opt for thinner paper, which dissolves more easily.
- Never flush non-flushable items such as wet wipes, sanitary products, or pet waste/litter, as these can cause severe blockages.

Water Issues:
- Insufficient water flow can lead to blockages. Water-saving cisterns, while environmentally friendly, may not provide enough water to effectively flush waste, increasing the risk of clogs. Ensure your cistern delivers a strong enough flow to clear the bowl and trap.

Design Flaws:
- Poorly installed or damaged drains, as well as those compromised by root intrusion, can impede the flow and cause blockages. Regular maintenance and professional inspections can identify and mitigate these issues.
- We recommend a preventative CCTV survey to diagnose potential problems within the drain system. This technology enables a thorough inspection, identifying blockages and structural issues without invasive digging.
- For home buyers, a pre-purchase drain survey is highly recommended. This can help avoid inheriting costly drainage problems by identifying issues before finalizing the purchase.

By addressing these common causes and implementing preventative measures, you can maintain efficient and trouble-free toilet and drain systems. Maintenance plans are designed to keep your drainage systems flowing smoothly. Regular inspections and upkeep by our professional team ensure that potential issues are identified and resolved promptly, preventing inconvenient and costly blockages.

Blocked sinks and gullies are often caused by food waste and fat deposits. Using a sieve can prevent food waste from entering the system. A simple trick is to squirt washing-up liquid down the plug hole and run water for ten seconds, ensuring your sink waste pipe and sink gully are flushed with clean water and soap suds to break up any lingering fat deposits.

Hair commonly blocks basins and baths, leading to slow drainage and potential water overflow. These blockages occur when hair accumulates in the pipes, often mixing with soap scum and other debris to form stubborn clogs. Using a sieve or drain cover can help prevent these issue's by catching hair before it enters the drain, significantly reducing the risk of blockages.

In addition to using a sieve, regular maintenance can further prevent clogs. Flushing the drains with hot water and vinegar periodically can dissolve accumulated soap scum and debris. For tougher clogs, a plumber’s snake or specialized drain cleaning tools can be effective.

Educating all household members about proper hair disposal practices and the importance of keeping drains clear is also beneficial. By combining preventive measures with regular maintenance, you can ensure your basin and bath drains remain functional and free-flowing.

We understand that in some cases, particularly in flats where drainage systems may be shared, maintaining clear drains might be challenging. This is where our maintenance plans can be invaluable, whether you are a homeowner or involved in property management. Our professional services ensure that your drainage systems are regularly inspected and maintained, preventing issues before they become major problems.

Items added to gutters, such as covers and brushes like hedgehogs, can sometimes worsen blockages. While covers may block large debris like moss, smaller particles such as soil can still pass through and lead to growths that block the gutter. Brushes may trap leaves, causing a buildup that backs up onto the roof. During rainfall, water can overflow from the gutters, potentially damaging the property's integrity.

Blockages in downpipes often occur when moss accumulates at the top or when screws used in joints catch debris as it falls. Avoid using loose screws in your downpipes, as they can cause significant issues. Call a drainage specialist to inspect and repair any problems.

We recommend that all downpipes connected to gutters should lead to an easily maintained gully before connecting to underground storm drains.

Gullies that handle waste from sinks, baths, washing machines, and dishwashers should connect to underground foul drains. Sometimes, downpipes from gutters lead to the same gully. While this typically does not cause additional problems, we have been called to alter systems in the past.

Blocked gullies connected to downpipes from guttering are typically clogged due to soil or moss from the gutters.

Blocked gullies handling waste from sinks, baths, and other non-foulage services usually result from solidified fats/oils, food waste, and detergents from washing machines and dishwashers.

Regular gutter cleaning and the installation of gully grids can prevent these blockages by catching leaves and debris before they enter the gully. We use a powerful, high-extended gutter vacuum system with poles that reach up to five stories, offering a budget-friendly solution to keep your gutters in excellent condition.

Regular gully maintenance, including emptying the gully grid of loose debris, helps keep them flowing smoothly.

Clearing out gully traps is not recommended for DIY due to the sharp edges or potential hazards within the gully or traps. Specialized PPE equipment or machinery is highly recommended. We use a high-pressure hydro jetter to clear blockages and thoroughly clean the entire drainage system as part of our preventive maintenance plans.