Blocked drains are a common issue in the city of Reading, UK. They can bring chaos to your daily routine, causing water backups, flooding, and even health hazards owing to the growth of harmful bacteria. In a bustling city like Reading, understanding the common causes of blocked drains can help you take preventive measures and tackle the problem before it becomes out of control.
One prime cause of blocked drains in Reading is the build-up of fat, oil, and grease. Whether it is a residential kitchen or a bustling restaurant, oils and fats from cooking are often dumped down the sink. These substances harden as they cool down and cling on the line, constricting the internal diameter of the pipe, causing a blockage over time. It is therefore advised to always dispose of cooking fats, oils, or grease in the trash rather than washing them down the sink, preventing a fatberg.
Accumulation of hair can be another major culprit. Hair falling off during shower or while brushing can go down the drain and can get tangled with other objects creating clogs. Drain guards are good investments, primarily in the bathroom drains to collect hair before it goes down the drain.
A less obvious but perhaps more harmful cause of blockages is the intrusion of tree roots into the drain pipes. Root systems of large trees have a knack for finding their way into even the smallest cracks in sewer lines, in search of water and nutrients. Over time, these roots can thicken, obstructing the flow of waste, leading to blocked drains. This could eventually lead to extensive damage to the pipeline requiring high-cost investment in repair.
Foreign objects flushed down the toilet, such as toiletries, wipes, diapers, and even toys can cause significant blockages. Contrary to popular belief, not all wipes, even those labelled as ‘flushable’, break down upon being flushed. They can cause stubborn blockages, leading to overflowing toilets and severe drainage issues.
The city’s ageing infrastructure contributes to blocked drains as well. Many of Reading’s sewer lines are decades old, if not more, and can suffer from internal corroding, pipe displacement or collapsing, leading to drainage issues. Regular maintenance checks by the appropriate authorities can help identify such problems early on.
Climate changes can also affect drain function significantly. Heavy rainfall, a common occurrence in Reading, can saturate the ground, causing external drain pipes to overflow, leading to blockages.
To maintain healthy, blockage-free drains in Reading, it’s crucial that we watch what we’re washing down our pipes and arrange regular professional drain inspections. Don’t treat your drains like a dump, educate other family members to do the same and consider installing protective measures. In the case of stubborn recurring blockages, it could indicate a bigger issue, such as tree root intrusion or a broken pipe, in such cases, one should consult a professional for help.
Understanding these common causes of blocked drains can help homeowners and businesses in Reading take active steps to prevent them, ensuring a smoother daily functioning, preventing unnecessary stress, and blocked drains reading reducing the financial burden of dealing with a full-blown crisis.