Have you ever been tempted to use your toilet to flush away something that really doesn’t belong down there? Well, this article may make you think twice before doing so again, especially when you consider the cost and effort of sorting out the resulting blockages.
What are “unflushables”?
Unflushables refers to all the items that homeowners flush down their toilets or rinse down their drains that shouldn’t be there. This includes wet wipes, nappies, cotton buds, fats, oils and even dust and grit from DIY jobs. Over time these items build up and clump together, causing serious blockages and during lockdown we’ve seen the problem get worse.
And remember when supermarket shelves were empty of toilet rolls at the start of lockdown? People were forced to find alternatives so kitchen roll and newspaper has been found in the sewers.
Lockdown logjams
Since we’ve been spending more time at home during lockdown there’s been a dramatic increase in sewer blockages. Thames Water saw an increase of 10 sewer blockages per day (a 20% increase) compared to pre lockdown.
An accumulation of wipes, nappies etc, known as a “ragberg”, found in Maidenhead weighed 40kg. It shows what happens to these unflushables over time and demonstrates the extent of the problem. In fact, Thames Water clears 75,000 blockages from its sewers each year, costing a staggering £18 million.
Beat the build up with a free estimate
As a homeowner, you can help protect your drainage by not putting unflushables down your toilets and into drains, but if you do have a drain blockage, it’s important to deal with it quickly.
Our free estimate service means our customers don’t need to delay investigating their drainage issues and we can advise you on the action you need to take to prevent future flooding, reducing the risk of more severe damage and the resulting long term costs.
Need help with blocked drains or sewers?
At Drain and Sewer Services we’ve been successfully inspecting, unblocking and cleaning drains, culverts and gullies for more than 50 years. Find out how we can help you, by calling 01252 312738 or by emailing info@drainandsewer.co.uk.
