There is no single schedule

How often you clean your drains depends on how heavily you use them. A busy shared house needs cleaning more often than a home with one or two people. Kitchens that handle a lot of cooking fat also need extra care, because grease builds up quickly.

Rather than follow a fixed date, watch for the warning signs. Our guide to how to know when your drain needs cleaning lists them. A set routine still helps, since it stops small problems growing.

Why regular cleaning matters

Prevention is cheaper than repair, because sorting out a slow drain early costs less than dealing with a flood. Your drains also carry all the waste water from your home to the sewer, so they need to flow freely.

Regular cleaning has several benefits, for example:

It keeps pipes flowing and stops pressure building up.
It reduces smells in the home or business.
It lowers the risk of sewage backing up into your property.
It can help you spot cracks before they spread.

Blocked drains can also lead to damp, because water finds its way into walls and ceilings. Therefore a clean drain protects your building as well as your pipes. If a pipe cracks, it can cause structural damage and even subsidence in the worst cases.

Signs you should clean sooner

Do not wait for the next routine clean if you see a warning sign, because delay makes repairs dearer. Foul smells, gurgling and slow drains are all clues. Water backing up is the most urgent, as our guide to a sewer backup in a basement shows. Another early sign is a bath that fills with water, which we cover in bathtub drain backing up.

If you see more than one sign, act at once. In that case, however, a professional clean is usually safer than home remedies. You can read about what causes a drain blockage to understand why.

What blocks drains

Fat, cooking residue, hair, leaves and wet wipes cause most blockages. Never put solids other than toilet paper down a toilet. In particular, keep these out of your drains:

Cotton wool, floss and cigarettes
Nappies, plasters and sanitary products
Paper towels and wipes
Oils, fat and medication

Throw these in a bin instead, although you can recycle some. Our article on the common causes of blocked drains goes through them in more detail. Another useful read is causes and prevention of blocked drainage.

Simple habits between cleans

A drain guard over the plughole collects hair and dirt, while a strainer does the same in the kitchen. Lift it out, bin the waste and put it back. A strainer in the kitchen sink does the same job for food scraps.

Boiling water can soften fat, although it should not go on a toilet pan. Bicarbonate of soda and vinegar can help with a minor build-up. For more ideas, see how can I keep my drain clear of blockage and methods to unblock clogged drains. If your toilet is the problem, read unblocking a toilet.

When to call a professional

Home remedies suit minor jobs. If a blockage keeps returning, or you notice leaks or smells, ask an engineer. A professional has the right tools, and the work is done with less mess. Meanwhile, avoid doing more damage by forcing rods or chemicals into the pipe.

Although many jobs are simple, our guide on what you can do to clear a blocked drain shows where home care ends. For heavy build-up, jetting blocked drains is the standard method.

A maintenance plan

A planned routine means you do not fall behind, since the work is booked in. We offer drain maintenance that can be set to suit your property. Ask about it through the online enquiry form.

Where we work

We also cover, for example, drain unblocking in Enfield, blocked drains in Edgware and drain unblocking in Southgate. See our blocked drains pages for the full list of services.