Dealing with a drainage problem on Christmas Day is the last
thing you’ll need this year! Drainage problems can be stressful, time-consuming
and expensive to resolve, so it’s important not to neglect your pipes -
especially as the seasons change. Fluctuations in weather can put pressure on
drainage pipes and cause a variety of frustrating problems, so as we move into
winter and the cold weather it brings, it’s vitally important to consider how
your drains might be affected.
Unfortunately, heavy rainfall, snow and ice can cause lots of
problems at this time of year. To protect your pipes and prevent drainage
problems from developing over the next few months, make sure you’re aware of
the most common winter drainage problems and how to avoid them. Here are five
to look out for.
Drain blockages
caused by twigs and leaves
Autumn leaves may look beautiful when you’re strolling
through the park, but they can wreak havoc on drainage systems throughout
winter. If trees surround your property or you live close to a park, your home
could be especially vulnerable.
As leaves and twigs fall and settle in gutters and downpipes,
you may start to notice that water is draining more slowly than usual. Over
days and weeks, as the leaves and twigs start to decompose and form a mulch,
they will stop water from draining effectively through the pipes and drainage
grates. This can cause water to back-up into your garden, which in turn could
lead to flooding and an oversaturated lawn.
To prevent leaves and other debris from blocking your home’s
drainage system, pay close attention to your gutters, downpipes and drainage
grates. Sweep leaves away from any drains surrounding your property and garden
and consider having your gutters cleared by the professionals. This could help
to prevent your gutters from overflowing during periods of heavy rainfall!
Drain blockages caused by fat and oil
With the festive season just around the corner, now is the
time when families start using more oil and grease in their cooking. When
you’re celebrating Christmas or New Years, you may not be thinking about your
drains at all - but just a few simple mistakes could cost you a lot more than
your roast potatoes might be worth! Pouring oil or grease down the sink can
cause difficult-to-shift blockages and fat build-ups that will need to be
broken down and removed by drain clearance professionals.
Luckily, it’s easy to prevent this kind of drain blockage
throughout the winter. You simply need to make sure that any leftover cooking
oil is disposed of properly, instead of being poured down the sink. This may
seem like the easiest way to get rid of it, but doing so will cause problems
that no one wants to deal with on Christmas Day! If you do require fat removal and
drainage cleansing
services, don’t hesitate to contact your local drain experts as soon as
possible.
It’s not just fat and oil that can cause problems; you should
also be careful not to wash food leftovers down the sink! This is essential all
year round, but especially during the winter months when you spend more time
cooking at home.
Drain blockages caused by overuse
In the winter, we tend to spend more time at home than usual.
Instead of dining out or travelling around, many people choose to spend the
colder months at home with the heating on and a hot dinner in the oven! This is
wonderful for many reasons, but for drainage systems, this sudden surge in
usage can lead to several problems. All of a sudden, the whole country needs
hot water and better outdoor drainage - so you can imagine the extra strain put
on drainage systems across the UK.
To avoid running into drain-related issues throughout the
winter months, take the time to inspect any exposed pipes and look out for
signs of wear and tear. Even small cracks could leave your pipes vulnerable to
leaks during periods of heavy rainfall, so make sure any issues you spot are
taken care of as soon as possible!
It’s also important to keep up your pipe maintenance
throughout winter. This may seem like the last thing you want to do while
celebrating Christmas, but a little can go a long way. For instance, you should
inspect your stopcock for signs of corrosion over the colder months. If a leak
springs, you’ll rely on your stopcock to turn the mains water supply off and
prevent the leak from developing.
Frozen and burst
pipes
Snow may be rare in the UK, but we can often expect ice
throughout the winter months. For your pipes and drains, freezing temperatures
can be catastrophic - so it’s especially important to look out for the telltale
signs of frozen pipes as the seasons change. For instance, if your pipes
freeze, you may not be able to access hot water. Throughout the coldest months
of the year, this could leave your property vulnerable to damp-related issues
and also affect your health.
Not only this, but freezing temperatures can also cause your
pipes to burst. Burst pipes are potentially one of the most dangerous plumbing
issues that property owners face, as they can cause extremely high levels of
damage to your drainage system, home and neighbouring buildings.
It can be easy to forget about your pipes or ignore the
possibility of frozen pipes affecting your property, but this is a surprisingly
common issue that can be stressful and expensive to resolve. To prevent your
pipes from freezing or bursting this winter, consider insulating your pipes.
You can do this by wrapping foam or pipe wrap around exposed pipes to provide
an extra protective layer.
Protecting underground pipes against freezing temperatures
can be more difficult. You won’t be able to access them easily, so you will
need to call your local drainage experts if you think your pipes are at risk of
freezing. It’s also extremely important to make sure that your drains aren’t
blocked; if the ice in your pipes begins to melt but can’t escape, the pressure
may be what causes your pipes to burst.
Oversaturated lawns
Generally, lawns are capable of draining rainwater away from
their surface and absorbing moisture into the soil. However, heavy rain and
snowfall throughout the winter months can put extra pressure on your lawn. Once
it stops being able to drain itself effectively, water will start to pool and
the grass will begin to oversaturate. This problem will often resolve in a
couple of days as the soil dries out, but for some property owners, it’s a
recurring issue that causes long-term damage to their home and garden area.
Again, one of the most effective ways to prevent your lawn
from flooding this winter is to make sure that your drains are unaffected by
leaves and debris. If rain or thawing snow can’t drain away properly, water
back-ups could leave your lawn vulnerable to flooding.
However, if the problem is ongoing, you may need to install a
land drainage system. If you live in the UK, a land drainage system will
benefit you all year round! It will be particularly important throughout the
winter, so consider discussing this with your local drainage experts.
Keep your drains in
good condition all year round with Drainage Consultants Ltd
No matter what time of year it is, you can rely on the
drainage experts at Drainage Consultants Ltd to protect your pipes and offer
specialist support whenever it’s needed. With over 20 years of experience, our
team of drainage specialists have the skills, expertise and tools necessary to
cope with domestic and commercial drain issues of all sizes! Whether you
require emergency drain clearance services or localised patch lining, make our
Stockport-based experts your first port of call.
We also offer a range of other services, including root
removal, leak detection and high-level cleaning solutions. To discuss these or
any of our drainage services, please do not hesitate to contact us today. We offer all potential
customers a free consultation and will go above and beyond to discuss your
specific requirements in detail.