The bathroom is where you would usually find leaks in your home. Water stains on the ceiling of the room below are an obvious sign of leaks in your bathroom. Leaks often occur in plumbing fixtures such as sinks and toilets. Unsure on how to check for leaks in a bathroom? We have the expert industry knowledge on how to check for leaks in a bathroom. These top tips could save you from a repair bill on your plumbing.

How to check for Shower Leaks

The shower is a common culprit for bathroom leaks. The seal of a shower is used to ensure that water does not escape from your shower and cause damage. This is why you should check the seal regularly to make sure it is working properly. If your shower seal is damaged and goes unnoticed, it could lead to serious water damage and plumbing issues. Water damage to the surrounding walls and floors could lead to a large amount of repair work. A common sign of water damage from your shower is peeling paintwork, mould spots or rotten flooring.

Here are some great ways of preventing damage from your shower:

Ensure that your shower curtain is not letting out water by closing it fully or using a splash guard
If you have shower doors, make sure they are properly closed
Fill any gaps in your seal with caulk and check this has sorted the leak

Check for Tile Leaks

Damaged grouting on your tiles allows water to escape past the tiles. This allows water behind your walls or onto the floor, causing water damage. If you notice any mould on your tiles, it is likely that you have tile leaks. You may want to consider re-grouting your tiles to ensure this doesn’t happen.

How to Check for Toilet Leaks

Leaks often occur from a toilet every time it is flushed. This is caused by a leak between the waste pipe and the actual toilet. One obvious sign that your toilet is damaged is if it moves when you sit on it. This shows that the seal is loose and broken. Check the seals around the bottom of your toilet and make sure the toilet is secured to your bathroom floor.

How to Check For Bathtub Leaks

Bathtub leaks are similar to shower leaks. If a seal on a bathtub is faulty, it will often lead to water damage and plumbing damage if it is not noticed quickly. Simply fill the gaps in your seal with caulk and check the seal is working properly. Leaks from the pipes, however, can be harder to spot. This is due to the fact that the pipes are hidden by bathtub panelling. Water stains on the ceiling from the room below are an obvious sign that your pipes are faulty. If you are unsure about a leak from a pipe, feel free to contact us or see if you are in need of our drainage services. Leaks around the plugs are another place where a leak can form. These leaks usually leak slowly. To test if your bathtub is leaking, put the bath plug in and fill it with some water. If the water level drops, you probably have a leak. A water leak from the plug will drip on the floor and cause water damage, which could become a serious issue

Checking for Sink Leaks

Sink leaks usually occur at the joints of the pipes. Water runs down the pipes and on to the floor. This causes water damage to the floor. Frequently check that your sink is not doing this to avoid large amounts of plumbing repair. If you find your sink pipes are leaking, it is a good idea to get professional help. Contact us with any queries you have.

Need More Help on How to Check For Leaks in a Bathroom?

Listen to these steps and you should be able to control and leaks you might have in your bathroom. However, sometimes it’s a good idea to get professional help for more serious leaks and repairs. Here at Maintain Drains, we have an experienced team of professionals who can help with any drainage and plumbing issues. Have a look at our drainage services and see which one suits your needs the most. Alternatively, you can contact us with any questions you have. Call: 01202 300040.

If your sink isn’t working properly, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Maintain Drains, we can offer you the best advice on how to fix a blocked sink. Reluctant to call a plumber? No problem. Find out how to fix a blocked sink with a few methods you can do yourself.

How to fix a Blocked Sink with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Drain cleaning products can be damaging to the environment. Baking soda and vinegar are an eco-friendly alternative to drain cleaners. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to fix a blocked sink with baking soda and vinegar:

Pour a kettle of boiling water down your sink.
Put approximately 8 tablespoons of baking soda down the sink and leave for a few minutes.
Then, pour a mixture of 250ml of vinegar and 250ml boiling water down the sink.
Cover the sink hole at leave it for 5-10 minutes.
Finally, pour another kettle of boiling water down the sink.

This solution will soften any waste that might be in your sink and loosen it from your sink. A final rinse will make sure all of the blockage is cleared.

Use a Plunger

A plunger can also be a great way to fix a blocked sink. This method is very simple and does not require any other products.

Start by making sure the plunger is completely covering the plug hole of your sink, making sure that all other outlets are plugged with wet rags.
Making sure the plunger is help upright, plunge vigorously until the blockage is cleared.

Use Drain Cleaning Chemicals

There are plenty of strong cleaning chemicals which are designed to unblock drains. These products can be effective when attempting to unblock a sink. Using chemicals is usually a quick and affordable method of unblocking a sink. However, there are issues with that arise with using chemicals to clear your drains. Repeated use can cause damage to your drainage pipes and drain cleaners and not eco-friendly.

None of these methods working?

Although these method are effective at clearing sink blockages, you may find they are not effective, especially with a heavily clogged drain. But don’t worry, our team of qualified professionals are ready to sort any serious blockages you have with our Drain Unblocking service. Regular maintenance of your drains is advised to further prevent your sink from clogging. For any questions about how to fix a blocked sink, or for a free quote on our drainage services, contact us or call 01202 300040.

Fatberg is a term used to describe congealed lumps of fat, sanitary items, wet wipes and other waste found in the sewer systems. It is advised not to throw too much grease, fat and sanitary products in the sewer system. Here at Maintain Drains, we can offer advice on how to prevent fatbergs and services to check your drains are working properly.

How to prevent fatbergs in the home

If you’re wondering how to prevent fatbergs from developing, there are a few easy steps you can take. Certain things (such as ensuring you do not dispose of wet wipes and sanitary products, or throwing excess oil into the bin) will help the sewage system work efficiently. Wet wipes are much harder to ‘break down’ than toilet paper. This leads to wet wipes combining with other materials in the sewers, such as fats and greases, causing fatbergs. Instead, simply dispose of things such as wet wipes and sanitary towels in the bin. The same goes for oils and fats. Rather than putting them down the drains, dispose of them in bin.

How to prevent fatbergs – commercial

If you work in a commercial kitchen, it is a good idea to have a grease trap installed. A grease trap is designed to ensure that grease and fats from the kitchen do not enter the public drainage system and cause fatbergs. In London, 90% of restaurants are contributing to the fatberg problems. It is advised that a kitchen should have regalar grease trap maintenance to ensure the grease trap is working effectively.

Cost of fatbergs

In recent times, a ‘Monster’ fatberg was found in east London sewer. The fatberg measured 250 meters long and weighed a staggering 130 tonnes, which took 9 weeks to clear. You can imagine the blockage and damage this was causing. Overall, Thames Water spend around £1 million a month clearing blockages in its sewer network.

Think you have a drainage problem?

If you follow these steps, and you can help prevent Fatbergs being caused in the nations sewers. If you feel like your drainage is slow or not functions properly, feel free to browse our drainage services or call us with your problems and we can provide a free, no obligation quote. Call: 01202 300040

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If your drains are draining slow it might seem like a mild inconvenience. However, this can be an early warning sign that something is wrong with your drains. Follow our tips to make sure to sort out this problem before it gets worse.

Diagnosing why your drains are draining slowly

Slow drainage is one of the most common drain issues, and while it can be easy to fix, it could also be an early warning sign of a greater issue.

A common cause for slow drainage is an obstruction in the pipes, or deteriorating old pipes which are breaking down and causing a blockage. There could be a bigger problem, such as root ingress in your drains or a blocked drain.

We can assist with any domestic or commercial drainage issues, but you might want to try our below DIY tips and fixes.

When internet advice goes wrong

Before reading this blog you may have received advice on pouring boiling water down the drain along with baking soda and vinegar. If you haven’t seen this advice consider yourself lucky. We advise that you should NOT do this. Boiling water and baking soda can damage your pipes and the sink or bath itself. Not to mention the danger to yourself if you use this in conjunction with drain cleaner. It’s always best to get advice from a professional plumbing expert to find the best solution to unblock drains. Avoid doing this method and follow these steps instead:

Tip 1: Drain stopper

If you have a drain stopper in your sink or bathtub this might be a culprit for your drains are draining slow, if there is hair attached to it. First, remove the outer cap by switching it to the open position and turn it counterclockwise. Now you should be able to clean the hair out of the stopper with soap and warm water and insert it back into the bath or sink.

Tip 2: Drain cleaner

If you don’t have a drain stopper or the drain is still blocked pour some drain cleaner down the pipes. You can try enzyme drain cleaner to minimise the damage to pipes. All you need to do is simply dilute the solution with warm water and pour it down the drain. Wait around 20 minutes and then use the taps on the bath or sink to wash the solution away. You should always be aware of the dangers of using chemical drain cleaners.

Tip 3: Use a plunger

If the previous tips do not work try incorporating a plunger to help clear the drains. Use a standard plunger and warm up the rubber with warm but not boiling water. Then attach the plunger to the sink and thrust five or six times. Incorporate this with the drain cleaner and try again after the drain cleaner has been used. Afterwards, try the tap and see if the sink is draining properly.

Drains still blocked?

If you are still experiencing a blocked drain, it’s important to get advice from a professional plumber. To save future costs and time, it’s best to get a professional opinion to diagnose and resolve the cause of the blocked drain. Contact us today for a free quote and advice from our drainage experts.

A blocked toilet is a common occurrence that can be a nightmare for any house especially if it’s following a takeaway. Here’s our expert advice to get your toilet flowing in no time.

Step one: Prepare your equipment

You’ll need a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands from the bacteria and other waterborne diseases. It is recommended to use some old newspaper around the toilet to soak up any water that spills to keep the bathroom slip free.
If you haven’t already open a window to keep the bathroom well ventilated.

Step two: The soap and hot water method

Using standard soap or washing up liquid squirt some into the toilet bowl along with around a litre of hot water. The hot water and the soap work together to soften the blockage. This should work to fix a blocked toilet with a smaller blockage. But if the blockage still occurs try our next step to help you fix a blocked toilet.

Step three: The plunger method

Using a standard toilet plunger create a seal along the toilet bowl. Before using the plunger in the toilet run it under hot water to soften the rubber. This will allow the plunger to make a tighter seal. Thrust the plunger firmly in the toilet. Though make sure not to do this too rigorously, as this may move the blockage deeper down the toilet drain. If a standard plunger is not effective you can use a plunger that uses water rather than air. Simply shoot a high-pressure jet of water to remove the blockage.

At maintain drains we provide commercial water jets to clear any blockage.

Step four: The plumbing snake method

If it’s a stubborn blockage that is lodged deep down in the drain try using a plumbing snake. To use this insert the plumbing snake into the toilet bowl pushing firmly down on the snake so that the end feeds through the pipe. Then twist and pull the snake to break up the obstruction allowing the water to flow down.

If none of these options work we recommend calling an expert plumber to fix a blocked toilet caused by a stubborn blockage. We provide domestic toilet unblocking services for all your plumbing needs.

It seems this time of year there are always reports of damage and inconvenience caused by flooded kitchens and bathrooms. Make sure to take these precautions to protect your home. These simple and inexpensive fixes can save you a lot of money and hassle in the long term.

1: Securing the bathroom

While it may seem an unpleasant thought, many homes are flooded by blocked and slow draining toilets. You’ll need rubber gloves, plunger (a piston-shaped one is more effective than the standard plunger) as well as standard bleach. To ensure the blockage doesn’t get any worse do not attempt to flush a blocked toilet which can lead to it overflowing. If the object is visible try clearing it by hand. Otherwise, make a vacuum seal on the opening of the toilet bowl with the plunger (try running it with hot water if it needs to be more malleable).

2: Securing the kitchen

Homes can get easily get flooded from a leaking tap and sinks overflowing. If you leave a blocked sink unattended with a flowing tap it can easily flood the kitchen. Sinks can get blocked by any number of food items such as cooking oil, egg shells, lard etc. So it is better to take a preventative measure. You’ll need a plunger, baking soda and vinegar.

Firstly insert the plunger and thrust 5-6 times to dislodge the blockage. If this method fails try using baking soda and vinegar in the sink followed by hot water. This will create a chemical reaction that should remove any residue blocking the pipes.

However, it is not recommended to try DIY attempts too many times as this can cause damage to the pipes and plumbing system. Maintain drains provides a sink unblocking service for those extra tough jobs.

3: Securing the gutters

One of the most common ways that homes can be flooded is by blocked gutters. So you should clean your gutters at least once a year. To do this, ensure you have a stable extendable ladder, rubber gloves and a small shovel. To get the large debris out of the gutters use rubber gloves and a small shovel (for the smaller debris).

You can also call our experts, who are able to do any size house and guttering, ask for a quote today.

4: Securing the drains

The failure with baths and toilets to drain properly may be the sign that the underlying drainage system around your house is damaged. While you can clear some of the debris around this area, it is recommended that you have a professional be called for this. You’ll need a spade, hose, rubber gloves and drain rods for this job.

Open the manhole cover with the point of the spade. Then by using a jet of water from a hose directed into the drainage clear out any fat or grease lodged in the drain. This should remove the blockage. But, if this sort of work is not for you or the problem is more serious you can get a quote from us.

Maintain Drains are pleased to announce that the company has successfully completed the transition of their Quality Management system from ISO9001:2008 to the ISO9001:2015 standard. This latest version of the much regarded standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement. The company has worked very closely throughout the transition with NQA who are our Certification body, to meet the stringent requirements, and achieve this significant milestone.

Today is Maintain Drains 10^th anniversary.

Over the past 10 years both our family and company has grown. Like every company, we faced our hard times, but we have also been very blessed. We have had many fair and honorable clients that have entrusted us as a honest & Reliable Plumber to work with them and we continue to do so today.

I am very proud of what we’ve achieved and we continue to grow our business on the same morals laid down in 2006 to provide a dedicated, honest and reliable service to our clients.

The team has accomplished a lot in 10 years but we’re not nearly done – we cannot wait for what the next 10 years will bring.

Thank you.

There’s never a good time to plunge a toilet, but blockages seem to happen at the most inopportune moments. Fortunately, you can clear most blocked toilet problems yourself before calling us.

Follow these steps, and you could have the blocked toilet problem cleared up before the in-laws come over for dinner.

Method 1 – The Good Old Rubber Glove Method

1. Flush only once. If it’s not flushing the first time, don’t flush again. This will cause more water to be pumped into the toilet bowl. If the toilet becomes blocked, the first flush will not cause the bowl to overflow, but the second flush might.

2. Put on a pair of rubber gloves. Toilets are inherently unsanitary places to work, but a good pair of rubber cleaning gloves will protect you from any germs within.

3. If you can see the cause of the blockage, put on a pair of rubber gloves and remove it from the toilet if possible.

Method 2 – Dish Soap and Hot Water Method

1. Add a little dish soap. Just place a few squirts in the toilet.

2. Pour a pot or half a bucket of tap-hot water from about waist level into the bowl. (The reason you pour from waist level is because the weight of the water can help to clear the blockage, or erode it away if some amount of water is getting through.

The water should be no hotter than a hot tea you can drink comfortably, but not boiling, since very hot water can crack porcelain. A little water won’t work––you want to raise the temperature of the water passing around or pressing on the blockage.

3. Let the water and dish soap sit for a few minutes. Sometimes doing this will soften a blockage enough for the blockage to loosen and clear on its own.

4. If the water has not gone down, give the coat hanger method a try.

Method 3 – Wire Coat Hanger Method

1. If the soap and bucket method fails to unblockage the blocked toilet, a wire coat hanger may clear the obstruction. This will generally work if there is an obstruction in the first few inches of the drain.

2. Unravel the coat hanger. Twist the top ends of the coat hanger apart until they are no longer connected. (To avoid damaging the porcelain tightly wrap one end with a rag).

3. Stick the wrapped end of the wire into the drain. Once the wire is in the drain, twist it, push it, and manoeuvre it in a circular motion to clear the drain.

Hopefully these methods will have cleared your blocked sink. If not were always here to help 24hrs a day, feel welcome to call us 01202 300040.

Your kitchen sink is indispensable to your daily routine, but you don’t really appreciate it until something goes wrong. A blocked sink can be a disaster, as dishes stack up and cooking comes to a halt.

If the worse comes to the worst you could call us straight away and one of our friendly engineers will visit you and deal with the blocked sink problem speedily and efficiently. By calling 01202 300040 with fixed prices you’ll always know what you’ll pay up front and the problem with be dealt with.

But before you do, why not try to clear the blocked sink yourself with these couple of methods.

Method 1 – Unblock the kitchen sink with a plunger

Plungers are only a few pounds, readily available from DIY stores and can deal with most blockages.

1. Fill the sink partially full of hot water.

2. Position the plunger over the drain. If you have a double sink, then stuff a washcloth into the unclogged drain to ensure that the plunger’s pressure is focused on the clog.

3. Work the plunger up and down quickly. Pull the plunger off of the drain opening and see if the water starts to drain.

4. Continue using the plunger until the clog is dislodged.

Method 2 – Unblock a Kitchen Sink with Vinegar and Baking Soda

1. Put on a pair of rubber gloves. Use a bowl or a cup to bail standing water out of the sink. Pour the water into a bucket.

2. Push 1 cup of baking soda down the sink drain. Use a spatula to force the baking soda into the opening, if necessary.

3. Pour 1 cup of vinegar into the drain opening. Put the stopper into the sink so that the vinegar is forced toward the clog.

4. Wait 5 minutes to allow the solution to work on the clog. Run warm water into the sink to see if the clog disappears.

5. Pour 4 cups of boiling water down the drain if the warm water fails to work. If the sink is still clogged, then apply the baking soda and vinegar solution again.