We’ve been crawling under sinks and poking around manholes in Dorchester for over a decade now, and let me tell you, it never gets old. There’s something oddly satisfying about hearing that stubborn clog finally give way, watching dirty water swirl away as if it’s washing your worries down the plughole. But first, let’s talk about why your drain is moaning at you in the first place, how you can struggle with it yourself (if you’re feeling brave enough.), and when it’s time to call in the drain experts me and the team here at Blocked Drains Dorchester.
Common Causes of Blocked Drains
The following are the prime suspects:
Hair & Soap Grime
Your Princes Street morning shower, luxurious shampoo, pleasant chat, and then. water that barely drains. Hair, when it’s combined with soap dirt, clings to pipe walls like nothing else.
Grease and Kitchen Scraps
Monday evening’s roast dribbling down the drain on Maumbury Road is not quite so good a view after it cools and solidifies to a nasty solid.
Hint: save fat in an empty tin and junk it, rather than letting it flow free.
Small “Surprises”
One day we dug up a kids car toy from behind a Victorian drain at High West Street. Infants are curious and drains are deep. Needless to say, this was causing quite the blockage.
Tree Roots
Those great old forests around Puddletown stretch thirsty roots out for a sip of water wherever possible. They intrude into teeny-tiny crevices in clay pipes, then expand, turning a delicate trickle into a full-blown bottleneck.
Inappropriate Flushable’s
“Flushable” wipes, cotton pads, sanitary products… They all conspire to have a sit-in at the worst possible moment. Your paper will disintegrate, but not most wipes.
Read our blog post on the 6 most common causes of blocked drains for more information.
DIY Clearing Methods: Pros and Cons
Some DIY Tips (But at Your Own Risk…)
See, I get it: everyone needs a little DIY in their life. We’ve seen customers try all sorts! Occasionally it works. Occasionally it doesn’t, and occasionally it makes it worse.
Boiling Water
Pouring a kettle-full down the drain can melt grease. Works… until your kettle runs overtime and your pipes still clog.
The Plunger
Ideal for a recalcitrant loo in Broadmayne Road. Close it up tight, push, pull, push, pull and keep on going. This might dislodge the blockage, but with a root intrusion or greased-up pipes, you might struggle.
Drain Snake
You twist it, you feel some resistance, you yank out crud. Easy in theory, less so in practice when elbows are deep in muck and you are second guessing life choices.
Chemical Cleaners
They promise miracles. They’re corrosive. They’re toxic. They might burn through that clog, but they’ll also nibble at your pipes and harm the environment. Use them sparingly, if at all.
If your DIY crusade is turning into a soggy, smelly saga, consider calling us. Half the time, you’ll save you money, time and your sanity.
When to Call Blocked Drains Dorchester
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve hurried out to a panicked phone call: “My sink’s flooded, and I’m neck-deep in water!” Yes, it does occur. Especially following torrential rain along the river Frome, when surface water buries aged systems causing overflowing and backing-up.
This is when you need professional muscle:
Water surging back in multiple fixtures, you shower, sink and loo are all in rebellion.
Persistent, foul smells, that sewage stench in the kitchen is a distress signal.
Gurgling sounds, your pipes are auditioning for a horror movie soundtrack.
Leaking or water-stained spots, behind walls or under floors.
Once on site, we’ll whip out our high-pressure jetting gear and carry out a deep drain cleaning process. This isn’t your garden hose; we’re talking water at up to 3,000 psi, blasting through sludge, roots, and years of neglect without harming your pipes. Then, for trickier jobs, out come the electric drain rods—flexible steel that bores through blockages like a hot knife through butter.
Maintaining Your Drains
Often, your symptoms are just the tip of the iceberg. That’s why I recommend a CCTV drain survey annually, at least, if your home is from the Georgian era, as so many are in Dorchester town centre. A little camera goes where we can’t, viewing cracks, collapses, root invasion, or pieces ready to die. Once we have an exact idea of what’s going on, we can fix it, often without digging up your garden. Pipe relining is a miracle: we put in a resin sleeve that seals gaps and comes back to strength, all from the inside.
Prevention Tips
Use Catcher Strainers
Plug them into your showers and sinks. Hair, peelings, toys—there they stay, on top of the grate, not down the pipe.
Monthly Maintenance Flush
Mix a half cup of bicarbonate of soda with white vinegar, pour down, let it sit for 15 minutes, then flush through with boiling water. Natural, non-abrasive, and does the trick on grease.
Mind What You Flush
Only paper and human waste. Not anything else.
Annual CCTV Check
Annual CCTV checks will keep your drainage system in check and flowing freely.
Conclusion
Blocked drains Dorchester are the go-to Dorchester company for clearing blocked drains. Our emergency drain unblocking experts are on call 24/7 and can be out to any emergency within 1 hour. We are here to help Dorchester and keeping their drainage systems flowing freely all year round.
Call us today on 0330 133 1625 or contact our team for more information on our services.