Summer is an excellent time of year to enjoy the sun, heat and garden. It is the perfect time of year to invite your friends over and enjoy a nice BBQ with a cold beer.
However, summer is also the time of year that smelly drainage becomes a problem. The last thing you want is to invite your friends over with the smell of clogged drains permeating through the garden.
So, what causes clogged drains? And how can we prevent smelly drainage?
How The Hot Weather Affects Drainage
Bacteria
Throughout the summer, most of us enjoy the hot weather. That is no different for bacteria. The heat during the summer creates the perfect breeding ground in your drains for micro-organisms.
When we pour food down the sink, it can get stuck and lodged inside our drains. Much like the heat, bacteria loves food. They will begin to break down the food creating a rotting smell in your pipes.
Dirt, Plants And Moss
Externally, your home may become subject to an attack from nature. Bright sunlight allows plants to thrive and grow bigger. That can create problems if the plants are near your guttering or drainage.
If the plants grow inside your drainage, it may cause a smell when the plants die and begin to rot. However, a much more likely problem is that plant roots can grow and crack your drainage. That will leave smelly drainage water pouring out of the pipes into your garden area.
Ways To Prevent Smelly Drainage
Nobody wants to deal with smelly drainage. It can become a problem for your neighbours and friends too. But with a few easy steps, you can prevent smelly drainage.
Call An Expert
First of all, if you already have smelly drainage internally or externally, you may need to speak to an expert. However, there are a few methods you can try before it gets to this stage.
You may look at trying a store-bought drain unclogger. A lot of the time, this will work. However, if it does not, you may need to speak to a specialist.
If your guttering has cracked or broken, you will need to replace the affected area. Your local home improvements company will be able to help you with this.
Maintain Your Drainage
For your external drainage, you should look at clearing around the guttering. Remove any plants, moss or debris from around your home. That should prevent roots from taking place and causing a problem to your pipes.
You should also clear out the inside of your gutters. Leaves and debris can often get stuck and begin to rot inside.
The best times of year to do this are spring before the hot weather arrives. It would also be a good idea to do this after autumn when the leaves have fallen. However, rain and wind can make this a challenging task.
If you are uncomfortable doing this, speak to a professional.
Prevent Build Up
In your kitchen, there are a few methods of preventing the build-up of food in your sink.
When washing up, you may consider using a sink strainer. That will catch any chunks of food in the water from disappearing down the drain.
You should also try and scrape plates clean before washing them. Scrape leftover crumbs and sauce into the bin.
As well as food, you should avoid putting oils and fats down your sink drain. That is because they can thicken and cause blockages.
Furthermore, using a drain unblocker now and then will keep your drains clear and should prevent any smelly drainage.
