1. Water level in your toilet rises slightly higher than normal when flushed.
2. Water level in your toilet drops lower than normal when flushed.
3. When flushing your toilet, water rises in your bath outlet.
4. When flushing a toilet, water rises or overflows from an external drain.
5. When draining a sink, water overflows from an external drain.
6. Noticing foul odours, either internally or externally.
7. Gurgling noises from baths, sinks or toilets, or all.
8. Water leaking from a manhole cover.
9. Evidence of paper around an external drain.
10. Water pooling or leaking from the base of the external soil vent pipe.
Of course, you can flush toilet wipes. But then again, you could flush a bar of soap if you wanted to, or a child's toy, which happens more often than you would think by the way.
Suffice to say, if you use and flush any type of wipe, including toilet wipes, you will at some point experience a blocked drain, guaranteed. Holding up and compacting within an underground drainage system or a vertical soil vent pipe, these are probably the most difficult of blockages to clear, especially if no access points exist on the drainage system. Just remember, no matter what the product say’s on the packaging, toilet wipes should never be flushed, unless you like to throw your money down the drain.
To suggest toilet wipes are biodegradable is very misleading. They may well biodegrade, but over what period of time? 5 years? 10 years? More? They most certainly will not biodegrade over the time it takes to flush them into your drainage system! Trust your instincts and not the product information.
As an experienced drainage engineer who's been in this business for over 35 years, removing a toilet pan to clear a blockage is seldom necessary. Now, of course, a toilet pan would probably have to be removed when a hanging toilet block is accidentally flushed, but removal of a toilet as your first port of call, as so many companies out there do, is simply wrong. If a toilet blockage cannot be easily cleared from the toilet pan, using just standard equipment, chances are that the blockage is probably located outside the property, causing the soil vent pipe and toilet to fill. So why remove the toilet pan? Why create the mess? Why stink out the house? And why make the job far more difficult and prolonged? Although a lack of experience could be to blame for this procedure, the removal of the toilet pan could also be a tactic of the disreputable drainage engineer, implemented simply to increase costs. And take note people, if ever recommended by someone that you need to high-pressure water jet downstream of a removed toilet to clear a blockage, into a soil vent pipe, think again. This should only ever be seen as a last resort procedure, which, for obvious reasons, could have disastrous consequences!
Having regular or repeat blockages do not always mean you have a damaged, defective, or partially collapsed underground drain. There are many different reasons which could cause blocked drains to re-block soon after clearing. Quite often though, the underlying cause can simply be due to misuse; the flushing of toilet wipes for instance. And in most cases of misuse, with some investigation, the trained and fully experienced operative can determine this during the clearing process. But of course, where all simple possibilities have been eliminated, an underground drain survey would be recommended.
There is a myriad of reasons which would cause a drain or drainage system to block up. In the majority of cases though, blocked drains are simply caused by misuse. And all too often, the prime suspect for causing a blocked drain is the lovely, cleansing, so soft on buttocks, toilet wipe. And it seems we can't stop using them! Or, rather than stop using them, we might just try an alternative brand! Just throw them away people.
Other causes for repeat blockages could include; cement ingress (old clay pipe joints), open pipe joints, displaced pipe joints, root infiltration, foreign objects lodged in drain, rods detached and left in drain. Fractured drainage, collapsed drainage, grease, food waste, and leaves would also cause blockages. So if persistent blockages are a problem for you, an underground drain survey would be recommended.
The vast majority of domestic blockages are resolved within an hour's time frame. But if a drain or drainage system does not clear within an hour time frame, this does not always mean there is a more serious underlying problem.
For instance, the drainage system may have been blocked for a considerable length of time. The drainage system may be full of flushed and compacted toilet wipes. There may be a lack of available access points available to clear the blockage, and sometimes, due to a spot of D.I.Y., rods and attachments lodged in the drain could be to blame. All of these scenarios, and more, can delay the clearing process.
Experience is always a factor in determining the cause of a blockage or a drainage defect, but to suggest an engineer should always be able to discover an underground defect through the drain clearing process, and within an hour time frame, would not be true.
Of course, there are certain indicators that could determine a damaged or defective underground drain, and an experienced operative would report and advise on this, but it's not always so clear-cut. However, if uncertain, and want some peace of mind, an underground drain survey investigation should be implemented to identify the cause.
Blockages cleared from £20.00? No hidden fees! Rubbish! Gimmicks to draw you in!
Now we all want that blockage cleared for a minimal cost, but we still want the excellent standard of work. It’s ok to want the best of both worlds, but unfortunately, cheap labour invariably leads to a distinct lack of expertise and customer satisfaction. Anyone who has used the so-called cheapest contractor first, taken in unclear or by false advertising, and then had to call in a professional drainage contractor because of some sort of mishap, failure to do the work, of unrealistic cost increase, will know the difference. Core promise to always provide you with clear information and totally transparent, competitive pricing, allowing you to decide who you choose.
Blocked drain rates should never be confusing, unclear or misleading. And if after calling a company, you find this to be the case, probably best to walk away. At Core Drainage, our intergrity is very important to us, and so, we promise to provide you with a clear pricing structure, fully detailing our rates. With no call-out charge and absolutely no hidden fees!
In basis terms, any underground drainage, just serving the one property would be deemed as a private drainage system. And drainage systems serving two or more properties, would be deemed a shared system and therefore the responsibility of United Utilities. It should also be noted that as a general rule, drainage lines sited beyond a property boundary, below a public footpath or road, would also be the responsibility of United Utilities. A shared drain, or a United Utilities drain, could also be inside or outside your property boundary line. To reiterate, a private drainage is the responsibility of the homeowner, and a shared drainage is the responsibility of local Water Authorities; United Utilities.
Now, it’s fair to say that many of us still see blocked toilets as plumbing issues rather than drainage problems. But whether 100/150mm diameter pipes or 32/40/50mm diameter pipes, internal or external, these are all drainage pipes designed to take wastewater away from your property. With all blocked drains, surely the first priority should be to appoint an experienced drainage engineer. Having the knowledge and understanding of working drainage systems, combined with the experience in clearing blockages should never be underestimated.
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