As part of the experience of being human, we all require basic essentials to survive. We each consume food and water every day, whilst depending on expertly built structures to protect us from the elements. These shelters have evolved over time from primitive caves to luxury homesteads, where we now expect our interiors to cater to our every need.
A key part of modern building is proper drainage, where our consumption of water and production of waste needs to be managed in a safe and sensible manner. We rely on water to hydrate us, to wash our bodies and our clothes, and to sweep away any detritus we’d like to get rid of. This essential element therefore has to find its way into our homes and back out again without disrupting our daily lives.
This is where drains come in. Seemingly an unimportant part of our homes, drains are fundamental to the everyday success of the most simple of tasks. Every time we wash the dishes, flush a toilet or water the garden, drainage systems ensure that all is well both inside and outside our properties. As such it is essential that they are properly maintained and looked after.
Read on for an insight into why drainage maintenance is so important, with a look at common faults that may arise and their solutions.
Domestic Drainage Components
In our homes, our drainage systems are often hidden behind walls or below floorboards, where this can make it difficult to grasp a full understanding of how they work. Whilst you can rely on a plumber to deal with the most difficult of malfunctions, having a base knowledge of what lies beneath could help you to stay calm in a drain based crisis.
Some drainage components that you can expect to come across in your home may include:
Fixture Drains - This is the most visible kind of drain found in sinks and showers that can be seen on the outside of the fixture, where it typically comes with a blocking mechanism or drain cover.
U-Bends - These parts of your drain should be in place immediately after your fixture drain, where they are usually U or P shaped, and are designed to hold water and restrict rising gases.
Washing Machine Standpipes - Washing machines are made up of a complex network of fixtures and fittings, where the standpipe collects water from your drainage tube to be taken down to your sewage line.
Branch Drain Lines - Your branch drain lines are designed to connect together fixture drains and main drain lines, where these tend to run horizontally behind your walls.
Main Drain Lines - The main drain line is the penultimate stop off point for your home’s wastewater before it reaches the municipal sewer, where these are typically hidden in your basement or beneath foundation slaps.
Exterior Features - You may also recognise external drainage features such as downpipes and gutters, where these allow rainwater to run off your roof and into the sewerage system below in order to limit flood damage.
Common Home Drainage Issues
If you’re not taking good care of your home drainage system then there are numerous consequences that may arise as a result. The interconnected parts described above are liable to fall into disrepair if they’re consistently neglected, where some common drainage issues that you may experience could include:
Blockages
One of the primary issues that you may have to face when it comes to your drainage system is that it can become blocked without proper maintenance. This can occur at any point along the system, where blockages can be caused by external debris or an internal breakdown. It is important to handle these blockages quickly in order to prevent a major malfunction.
Leaks
Another key indicator that something is wrong with your system is if you are battling a leak. Inside your home it can be difficult to trace where your leak has originated from, especially if your drainage system is concealed beneath flooring or inside walls. The actual surface water may appear at a distance from the faulty system, where it is important to trace the leak yourself or to seek out expert advice.
External Flooding
Drainage malfunctions are not limited to your interior, where you may find that signs of leaks and blockages emerge outside of your home. Wet spots on your lawn in the form of unnatural pooling could indicate that your outside drainage system is faulty, whilst surface water on your driveway can also indicate that something has gone awry with your drainage mechanism.
Gutter & Downpipe Issues
There are also numerous common issues that can arise in relation to your gutters and downpipes, where these problems typically indicate that you don’t have the right fittings for the quantity of water that is flowing off your roof. Spluttering drains or burst pipes are key indicators of this, problems that should be addressed expeditiously if you are to avoid exterior flooding issues.
Mould & Odours
One of the most intrusive drainage problems that you may be able to pick up on in your home is the presence of mould. Mould build up can occur if your drains are particularly old, damaged or unclean, where this can cause your interior to smell. Proper drainage maintenance can help you to avoid this common problem and the headache of replacing infested parts. Always wear protective breathing apparatus and safety gloves when cleaning a mouldy drain in order to avoid causing any damage to your health.
DIY Solutions
There are numerous DIY methods that you can employ in order to ensure that your home drainage system is properly looked after, where these can take care of many of the common problems described above:
Hot Water Method - A quick and easy way in which you can maintain your drains at home is to flush them out with hot water, where this can clear blockages and loosen any build up of debris. Combine this with a baking soda and vinegar solution for stronger cleaning power.
Chemical Solutions - There are also numerous purpose made chemicals that you can use to unblock drains and prevent malfunctions, where these should always be administered according to the precise instructions on the label.
Regular Checks - There’s nothing more important than vigilance when it comes to maintaining a healthy home drainage system. Watching out for leaks, blockages or general wear and tear can help you to resolve a problem without it escalating.
Professional Maintenance
Sometimes a drain malfunction isn’t something that you can handle on your own, where expert help may be required to truly get to the root cause of the issue. Some domestic drainage solutions on offer from a professional team may include:
Drainage Investigations - A professional team will be able to carry out a thorough investigation of your drainage system, where this can include a CCTV survey, leak tracing or an in-depth analysis.
Drain Relining - Sometimes maintenance can only go so far and you will need to conduct thorough repairs in order to safeguard your system. Relining is one approach to this, where this can help to fix leaks and improve water flow.
Emergency Drain Clearances - If your drain blockage is particularly severe, then you may require something stronger than a home remedy. In this case a professional team can employ high pressure water jets and other specialist equipment to help you to get your drainage system up and running again.
Drain Surveys - Beyond professional repairs and maintenance, it can also be beneficial to consider a drain survey before you purchase a new property. These involve the compilation of detailed footage that can reveal any defects with the existing system, where a professional team will be able to estimate how much these repairs will cost.
Drainage Consultants: Domestic Drain Maintenance & Repairs
At Drainage Consultants, we can offer you a range of professional services to help keep your domestic drain system in good working order. Whether you require a CCTV drain survey or a comprehensive sewer line repair, then our drain experts are on hand to help. Get in touch with our team today to find out more about our full range of services.