We’ve all been there – standing over a sink filled with water that just won't drain, wondering what went wrong. Or even worse, flushing the toilet only to watch in horror as the water rises menacingly towards us. Blocked drains are a common household nuisance, but the good news is, they're largely preventable.
FOG (fats, oils, and grease)!
Fats, oils, and grease are like the bad guys of blocked drains. They slide down your drain with ease when they cool, stick to your pipes and build up over time. Avoid pouring oil or fats directly down the sink. Let them cool, solidify, and then bid them farewell via the bin. This can save you a major headache down the line.
Hairy horror story
Venture into any shower drain (not recommended!), and you might discover the lair of our next culprit: Hair. It often joins forces with soap scum to create a dense barrier that can stop water in its tracks. But fear not, for the solution is simple – a drain guard. This will catch any stray hair before it embarks on its journey down your drain, keeping your pipes clear.
Bad food
Certain foods can be bad for our drains! Food scraps such as cereals, rice, pasta, diced vegetables, tea leaves and coffee grounds can expand when they meet water, often resulting in a blockage. Put any food scraps into your compost, FOGO bin or rubbish bin and use a sink strainer to catch any potential drain invaders.
Optimistic flushing
This is the hopeful belief that just about anything can be flushed away. However, certain items like baby/face wipes, cotton wool balls, sanitary products, and kitchen paper are not made to break down when wet, so they don't disintegrate and can cause a blockage. Even ‘flushable’ wipes don't break down so avoid flushing any type of wipe (the last thing you want to see is water rising back towards you!).
These items expand, solidify, or simply refuse to break down, leading to a blocked toilet. Instead of flushing these items, give them a proper send-off in the bin.
Remember, a little prevention goes a long way in avoiding the unpleasant experience of dealing with blockages.
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