Having problems with blocked drains?

There are numerous signs that your drains are blocked, some inside your home, others on the outside. However, whatever’s causing it you’ll want to get it sorted as soon as possible, whether that involves taking the task in hand yourself or getting a plumber in and claiming on your plumbing and drainage cover. Blockages can range from the minor and easy to shift to the major and difficult to move. Knowing which is which often requires the eyes and expertise of an experienced tradesman – which can prove to be expensive if you haven’t got the right cover in place.

Knowing the signs

You’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for signs that your drains are blocked. For example, if your toilet or bath is failing to drain quickly, then this could be a telling symptom. It could also indicate that you’ve got an overflowing inspection chamber or gully.

If you notice that water isn’t draining down grids or gullies outside as well as normal, this could also prove that your drains are blocked.

However, seeing any one of these signs is not an automatic indication of a blocked drain. For example, if your toilet is backing up, this could be because of an obstruction in the u-bend, rather than something more serious further along the system. This will often be much easier to sort out than a blocked drain.

Attempting the job yourself

If you’re confident about your DIY skills, then you may be able to complete the unblocking process yourself. You’ll need a power washer with a drain jet attached, which is inserted into the soil pipe. To gain access to this pipe, lift the inspection cover or unscrew the cover.

The jet of water should be able to wash out the obstruction and unblock the drain.

Bringing in an expert

If you’re still struggling, it’s time to call in a plumber. This could turn out to be pretty expensive, especially if the blockage is further along the system. For this reason, you may find that having plumbing insurance in place gives you extra peace of mind that you won’t have a big bill to worry about at the end of the work. This is because the cost of the labour and any new parts will be covered under your policy. Your cover will also be useful in many other plumbing and drainage situations, meaning you never need to worry about keeping your home’s water system in tip-top condition.