How to avoid blocked drains

You've heard the old adage 'Prevention is better than cure', this very wise advice should be followed when it comes to your home's plumbing system, the drains in particular. By doing, or not doing, a few simple things you can easily avoid the hassle and cost of blocked drains.

What not to put down your drain

Quite often the convenience of a drain to get rid of household rubbish overrides common sense. Plumbers have a hard and fast rule about what can go down a drain or toilet.

Substances and items which should never be disposed of in your household drain include:

Oil, fat, and grease

These liquids cool and solidify as they pass through the drains over time they cause a build-up and other items of food and debris can stick to them eventually forming a large clog in the drain.

'Flushable' wet wipes

We know what you're thinking, it actually says it's ok to flush them on the packet. Brace yourself, we have some bad news, sometimes companies twist the truth to sell products. A shocking revelation we know.

We could go on and on about this point for hours but to save you the lecture here are the notes - Don't flush wet wipes, they block your drains up solid. If they don't get stuck in your drains they travel to the council sewer pipes and block them. It's costing councils millions each year to get rid of them. Put them in the bin.

Food scraps

Over a couple of days, an average home kitchen sink can wash a lot of food scraps down the drain. From a few grains of rice or the carrot tops to the little bones from last night's roast chicken, it really builds up. Invest in a $2 sink strainer to collect the bits of food and stop them from collecting in your drain.

Garden waste

the stormwater drain in your yard is not the right place to get rid of leaves, sticks or dirt. A build-up of debris may not be noticeable until it rains, at which time instead of allowing the water to efficiently run off the property it floods the garden and potentially rises through your home.

Keep your drains clear

As you can see it's more about what you don't do than carrying out difficult jobs, it's easy to keep your drains clear of potential blockages. The plumbing system of your home is a wonderfully efficient method of getting clean water in and removing wastewater, a bit of care and respect will ensure it keeps working without trouble for many years to come.