Summer is the perfect time to invest in a bit of drain maintenance. Here are some quick and simple things you can do to avoid more complex, expensive problems later down the line.
Clean the gutters
If you’ve had a wet winter and spring, your gutters are likely to be clogged up with crusty, dried leaves that are sticking to your pipes, or building up into big clumps before washing down the downpipes. The more you let leaves build up, the bigger the clean-up job will be.
It makes sense to regularly clean and inspect your gutter to prevent any problems from building up. And if it’s not something you can do safely yourself, it pays to get a professional in.
Get drain covers in place
In summer, drains can be affected by grass cuttings, dry dirt, garden waste and other types of debris that blow around the garden and end up in the drain. A simple drain cover will help to protect your brain from the elements and prevent any build-up issues from occurring within the pipes.
Take a look under the guards
If you already have drain guards and start to notice a smell, it’s time to lift them up and see what’s underneath. if the water is draining slowly, you probably have a blockage. A good start to tackling it is to pour boiling hot water down the pipe to see if some of it clears.
If the block is persistent, then call in the experts to assess the problem. If you need drain repairs or drain lining Gloucester, then a local specialist such as www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/sewer-repairs-drain-lining-concrete-cutting/drain-repairs/drain-repairs-gloucester will be able to help.
Consider planting
It’s also good to remember that garden plants, trees, shrubs and lawns act as perfect natural drains by mopping up all the rainwater that tends to pour down at certain times of the year. This relieves the pressure on your drainage system. So, it’s worth doing maintenance in the hot summer months to make sure that the drain is ready to go when the rain hits in autumn again.
