Maintaining a household can be a significant undertaking, and in our time-strapped lives, we tend to prioritize urgent DIY tasks while putting off others for later. A clogged drain might appear as a minor inconvenience initially. Some might resort to pouring bleach down it or clearing the drain cover if it’s external. In this article, we will discuss why it is important to clean blocked drains.
It’s common to postpone this chore, but neglecting it can lead to further issues and expenses if not adequately addressed. Those who’ve dealt with a blocked drain firsthand understand the frustration it brings. Considering that the average person uses 235 litres of water per day in South Africa, it’s evident that well-functioning drains are crucial in modern living. Here, we highlight why swiftly addressing blocked drains is crucial.
- Impeded Drainage: A blocked drain disrupts the flow, causing inconvenience indoors and potential damage outdoors. Indoors, it renders sinks unusable, while outside, it might redirect soapy water from car washes onto your lawn. Moreover, blockages lead to foul odours and unhygienic conditions due to accumulated waste, creating breeding grounds for harmful bacteria and insects. Especially with young children around, it’s vital to keep drains clean to prevent any health hazards.
- Financial Implications: Ignoring blocked drains can result in overflows, causing costly repairs if water damages flooring. In a time when living costs are escalating, preventing unnecessary expenses is crucial. Regular maintenance may require minor purchases, but it significantly reduces the likelihood of emergency repair costs. If handling such tasks isn’t your forte, seeking professional help beforehand can prevent issues from escalating, providing peace of mind about proper drain care.
- Minimized Odors: Unwanted odours stemming from clogged home drains are persistent and challenging to eliminate merely with air fresheners. To effectively remove these odours from your home, consistent cleaning and maintenance by professional cleaners using proper services are essential.
- Reduced Blockages: Slow-draining sinks or showers can be incredibly bothersome, often indicating impending clogs that impede water flow. If these minor clogs aren’t promptly addressed, they can snowball into significant blockages. Conducting drain surveys, handled by skilled technicians, can effectively tackle these issues. Ignoring these initial warning signs to save a few dollars could result in significantly higher costs later on, making early intervention advisable.
- Extended Lifespan: Consistent periodic cleaning of drains significantly reduces the need for costly repairs. Similar to how routine servicing enhances the longevity of various products, regular drainage maintenance enhances the usable lifespan of residential drains. By undertaking regular cleaning at specific intervals, you can mitigate the need for extensive repairs, thereby prolonging the efficiency of your drainage system.
How to Address Blocked Drains
When the drain issue is within your property boundaries, it’s generally your responsibility to resolve. Fortunately, several simple practices can keep drains clear and minimize the risk of blockages. Avoid pouring grease or food down drains and use a mesh screen to trap debris like hair.
There are effective homemade solutions for regular drain cleaning. For instance, a mixture of baking soda and vinegar is both simple and safe to use immediately afterward. By following a sequence of steps involving hot water, baking soda, and vinegar, you can break down blockages. Regularly using a plunger or snake also helps prevent minor blockages from evolving into major problems.
In case of an emergency, seeking expert assistance is advisable. While it may seem the issue will resolve itself, addressing it promptly is crucial for your home and family’s safety, making the added cost worthwhile.
In Conclusion
Regular drain cleaning need not be daunting. Consistent maintenance prevents issues from escalating, ultimately avoiding additional expenses. To mitigate problems, reduce non-water materials entering drains, clear external drains of debris, and routinely clean them using baking soda and vinegar.
