Preventing blocked drains — five habits that make a real difference
Practical, honest advice on stopping blockages before they start — no gimmicks or magic products.
1. Never pour fat, oil or grease down the drain
Even if it goes down as a hot liquid, it re-solidifies as soon as it hits cold pipework, coating the pipe wall and gradually building up until nothing else can pass. Scrape and wipe cooking utensils into a bin, not the sink.
2. Use a hair catcher in every bath and shower plughole
Bathroom drains block because hair binds with soap scum to form a solid plug. A £3 mesh catcher over the plughole stops 95% of the problem. Empty it weekly.
3. The only three things that belong in a toilet
Human waste, toilet paper, water. Nothing else. 'Flushable' wet wipes are the biggest lie in the drainage industry — they do not disintegrate and they are the single largest cause of shared-sewer blockages.
4. Run water through unused fixtures monthly
Drain smells inside the house are usually a dry trap in a guest bathroom or utility. Running the tap for 30 seconds a month tops up the trap seal and prevents sewer air escaping.
5. Clean external gullies twice a year
Autumn leaves and grit accumulate in gullies and eventually overflow. A five-minute clean in spring and autumn prevents surface flooding — no specialist equipment needed.