tag-line

Blocked Drain: Everything That You Need To Know

Blocked Drain: Everything That You Need To Know

Blocked Drains

 

Drains can often become blocked in areas like residential and commercial properties where there is high human water activity. Buildings with a large number of people require regular checking of drainage and cleaning to prevent the blocking of drainage. If the drains are uncleaned for a long time, it could become a serious health concern as blocked drains increase the mold and bacteria which leads to dangerous diseases.

 

How to Identify a Blocked Drain?

 

  • Smell: The first sign that indicates a blocked drain is a dirty and unusual smell. A sewage-like smell is most likely to be felt when you have a blocked drain.

  •  
  • Overflowing: The most common indicator of having a clogged drain is overflowing. If the water spills back up it means that you are facing a blockage.  

  •  
  • Gurgling sounds: Gurgling sounds in the drain show that the water is slowly pulling or pushing against the pipe. 

  •  
  • Slow Draining: If your sink or water after taking a shower takes a long to get drained, then it is because of clogging. The problem worsens with time and can cause a bigger blockage. 

 

What Causes Blockage of Drains? 

  •  
  • IN AGRICULTURE 
  •  
  • 1. Unknown Objects
  •  

The problem of blocked drains in farms occurs when foreign objects such as stones, Animal dunks and debris build up between the drain pipe and other pipes that flow to the bottom. AT first, these materials are there in small amounts, but with time, it gradually starts to increase and eventually stops the wastewater from flowing freely and causes the blockage.

 

  • 2. Heavy Storms and Rains 

 

After heavy rains and storms, the outdoor drains can get blocked by leaves, dirt, and dry stems, etc. that can cause the blockage. Blockage of drainage systems can be a headache for people as it’s not made to handle large volumes of water. Therefore, this can lead to flooding the farm, land or property.

 

  • 3. Damaged Pipes

 

It is likely for drainage pipes to break in the farm if stones or any other hard objects hit it. When the line starts to break, it turns out to be more susceptible to blockages than pipes that are well unblemished. Except if you can noticeably see the broken pipe, it can get hard to analyze this issue. But not with Dutron.   

 

  • IN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES
  •  
  • 1. Tree Roots

 

Tree roots are dangerous and it can block your main drainage system. The root keeps growing until it breaches the pipe and causes a blockage.

  •  
  • 2. Toiletries

 

Toiletries such as diapers, baby wipes and sanitary pads can cause a blockage and should not be flushed down the toilet. 

  •  
  • 3. Cooking Oil

 

Cooking oil is more viscous than you think they are. Under no circumstances you are allowed to throw cooking oil in the sink. It can stick to the side of the pipes and create blockages. 

  •  
  • 4. Soap

 

Solid soap cakes can create drain blockages. It can get lodged within the pipes until they break down. One way to stop this from happening is to use a mesh wire guard to cover up the plug holes.

  •  
  • 5. Hair

 

Having long hair is both a blessing and a curse. When you wash it in the bath or shower, you’ll find that some of it has fallen out. As it does, it mixes in with other substances and becomes a major cause of a blocked drain.

  •  
  • 6. Natural Debris

 

Natural debris can fall into your outdoor drains, especially when you don’t use gutter guards. This usually means leaves and twigs, although it can include dirt and grit as well. 

 

How to Avoid a Blocked Drain?

 

It’s easy to avoid the blockage by using quality products by credible brands and methods that lead to a consistent and smooth flow of water.

One of the brands that are widely used for Drainage and Agriculture purposes is Dutron.

 

Dutron’s PVC-U Drainage Pipes (link to the page):

 

Dutron’s PVC-U Drainage Pipes are the most durable and most used pipes for drainage purposes across the world. They are widely used for underground drainage, mainly suitable for sewerage and below-ground gravity drainage. They are easy to install, hygienic and leakproof as well.

 

Advantages of Using Dutron’s PVC-U Drainage Pipes:

  •  
  • ~ They are easy to install.
  • ~ They are hygienic and leakproof.
  • ~ They are larger in size, hence, provide a smooth flow of water and prevent blockage.

 

Do’s and Don’ts to Avoid Blocked Drain: 

 

Do’s:

 

Install a drain filter – Installing a drain filter or drain trap is an easy way to keep drains clog-free. This device will catch any large items, such as food or hair, and will make cleaning easy by trapping these items before they go further down your drain.

 

Run some hot water down your drain – If you see a clog starting to take place, try running a little bit of hot water down your drain. This likely won’t help solve the problem permanently, but it may dislodge any small items that are stuck.

 

Run cold water while your disposal is running – This is a good step to take every time you turn your garbage disposal on to help prevent clogs and help your food get flushed down the drain more easily. Keep the water running for a minute or so after you’re finished to help get rid of any particles that may have been left behind.

  

Don’ts

 

When it comes to the don’ts of drain clogs, the steps you take before the clog are just as important as what you do after a clog has already started.

 

Put oily, greasy foods down the sink before clogging – While it seems like it should be ok to put oils or grease down the drain because they’re liquids, the fact is that these will eventually harden and congeal, causing clogs in your drain.

 

Put non-food items or food waste down the drain – Drains and garbage disposals are delicate appliances. While some things may seem ok to put in your garbage disposal and flush down the toilet, if you’re questioning whether it will be ok or not, it’s always safer to err on the side of caution. Band-Aids, cotton balls, cigarette butts, paper towels, animal bones or skin, eggshells, hair, etc. are all big no-nos. If only you could see some of the things we’ve dug up in people’s drains! Sometimes you have to wonder what they were thinking.

 

How to Clear a Blocked Drain?

 

1. Boiling Water

 

Boiling water is useful for tackling blocked drains caused by grease, conditioner, and some other kinds of toiletries. This is because these substances have a low melting point, and the extreme heat helps to break them up. Boil a pot of water and pour it down the drain to shift the blockage.

2. Natural Cleaners

You can use some natural cleaners to create a fizzing effect that breaks drain blockages apart. Try pouring hot water down the drain, then follow it with one cup of bicarbonate of soda and a cup of vinegar. Leave it for ten minutes, then pour more hot water and you are good to go. A combination of the hot water and the natural cleaner mixture can break blockages.

3. Caustic Cleaners

 

Some stores sell caustic cleaners that take stronger action against drain blockages. It dissolves grease, fat, and oils, making it ideal for tougher blockages. It is important to follow the instructions on the packaging and ventilate the room before starting.

4. Plungers

 

As a simple and well-known yet effective tool, plungers can help to dislodge local blockages. They work by forming a seal around the plughole, followed by a vacuum effect that removes the blockage.

5. DIY Drain Snake

You can make a DIY drain snake out of any thin metal wire and leave a hook at the end of the snake to insert it into the plughole. Try using it to fish out local blockages made of hair. This approach is most effective in showers.

6. Plumbers Drain Snake

Plumbers drain snakes are advanced tools that only a professional should use. They delve further into your pipes and can remove blockages from deep within the system. Tools like these are usually reserved for difficult clogs that everyday methods can’t tackle. It’s not advisable to use it at home if you are not a professional. 

7. CCTV

When snaking isn’t doing the trick, we can use CCTV to identify where the clog is and how extensive it is. This usually involves inserting a waterproof camera along with a tool that’s similar to a drain snake. We then can assess the severity of the clog and form a plan for removing it.

 

Excavation

 

In the case of severe drain blockages, excavation is necessary. This involves digging around the drain so that a plumber can repair or replace some of the pipework. Although this type of approach isn’t always necessary, it can save the rest of your pipework from extensive damage.

 

Conclusion:

 

With the increasing rate of population and residential construction, blockage of drains has become a common issue among residents and workers. Dutron recognized this issue early and started producing products that are highly efficient and effective for water and drainage purposes. And due to that, our products are widely used in residential and corporate buildings to maintain the safety of people by avoiding drain blockage.

 

About Dutron:

 

Dutron has been producing and delivering quality products for the last 50 years. Dutron started its journey with the Kanaflex series which proved why its products are the best for drainage, agriculture and irrigation projects. The hard work and efforts Dutron’s team put in making all the products are why Dutron is successful.

Keep reading our blogs for getting information regarding all our products and how they can benefit you.

 

Feel free to reach out and contact us for any query.