Having at least a basic understanding of your home’s drainage system can help you to avoid plumbing emergencies before they happen and keep your home safe and secure.
Home drainage – the basics
The main role of a drainage system is to take away used water from your property to the sewage system via a series of pipes. Drains work by gravity alone and so ensuring pipes are at an angle can help water to flow better. Plumbing is the series of mechanisms that allow us to access water in our homes. One system brings water into the property through taps and pipes, while another takes waste water away to the sewage works. Foul drainage takes wastewater from bathrooms, sinks and showers away from your property. Meanwhile, surface water drainage deals with the water around your property which is not part of your plumbing system, such as water collected in gutters.
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Three common drainage problems and how to fix them
Clogged drains are a common problem in homes. Signs of a blocked drain include a foul odour, strange noises and slow draining water. Flushing and cleaning drains regularly will help tackle the problem.
Slow drains, pools of water on your lawn and a strong sewer smell are just some of the signs of a damaged sewer pipe. Sewers collect water and waste from the drains of a number of buildings and some elements are privately owned, although most are publicly owned.
One option to repair a damaged sewer pipe is sewer relining, which sees areas of concern repaired by tightly bonding a patch of material over it. Sewer pipe lining is a much easier and more cost effective alternative to replacing pipes completely. If you are searching for sewer pipe lining Solihull, for example, always use qualified experts such as wilkinson-env.co.uk/sewer-repairs-drain-lining-concrete-cutting/drain-repairs/drain-repairs-solihull/ to carry out the work.
Overflowing gutters can cause roof damage, flood damage and mould. Check gutters are clean and free of debris. If this does not help, it may be that the gutters are too small and you need to install larger ones or repair them.