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Archive for May, 2011

How Do I Know if my Drain is Blocked?

As the sun rises on another day, cul-de-sacs throughout Birmingham will be full of the sound of children playing outside and the air will be full of the beautiful smells of various barbeques. Unfortunately, for every few barbeques which fill the air with the smell of burgers and sausages, there will be a house that is emitting a foul stench, due to having blocked drains Birmingham which have gone unnoticed and allowed various waste products to build up over time. A blocked drain can have a number of implications, as we here at Total Drainage are all too aware of.

Throughout our experience within the industry, we’ve become acquainted with the tell tale signs of a blocked drain, and we believe that homeowners and business owners alike should have an understanding of how they can recognise whether a drain is blocked or not.

There are three clear indications that your drainage system has a block somewhere along the lines, these are:

•    A foul stench from the drains themselves

•    Manholes overflowing

•    Waste not dispersing when the toilet is flushed

However, before one of these three signs are made evident, you’ll be greeted with several warning signs (some of which are highlighted below). If you act as soon as these become apparent you can prevent your drains from becoming blocked.

1.    A gurgling sound as you flush the toilet/empty water from the sink/bath

2.    Water levels within the toilet being significantly lower than usual

3.    Sinks within the property will have a smell about them due to trapped waste inside which cannot disperse correctly.

If you’ve noticed any of the above signs, then  your drainage system may be blocked. Instead of poking around in the dark, not knowing what you’re really doing or hoping to achieve, call us here at Total Drainage. Our experienced and specially trained team will be able to unblock any blocked drains Birmingham using the latest technology and techniques to ensure all water flows through effectively.

Who is Responsible for Blocked Drains in Bristol?

Posted on: by Oliver 1 Comment

With the warm weather looking as though it’s here to stay for the summer, many of us will be outside enjoying the delight of the sun, playing in the garden with our children and generally pottering around outside. Unfortunately, for some homeowners within Bristol the time outside will be tainted by the stench being emitted from the drainage system, due to a blockage which has gone unnoticed. When it comes to responsibility of blocked drains Bristol, the guidelines can be blurred – which is why here at Total Drainage, we’ve provided this basic guide to give you the answers you require.

The responsibility of blocked drains within Bristol depends on whether the drainage system falls into the category of being public or private.

Public Drains:

A public drain/sewage system is one which carries water waste to the sewage treatment works. However, the drainage within properties built before October 1937 also count as a public drainage system if it serves more than one property, as does pipe work which is larger than 6 inches in diameter and was built before 1978, and serves properties which used to belong to the council.

When these become blocked or damaged, the responsibility of clearing them and carrying out any necessary repair works falls with the local water board – within the Bristol area this is Wessex Water.

Private Drains:

A private drainage system is one which has been constructed to serve a single house or a couple of houses. If this becomes blocked or damaged within any way, it’s the responsibility of the homeowner(s)/property owner to organise for the blockage to be resolved, and if necessary the drain system repaired.

In these situations, we here at Total Drainage can provide an affordable and reliable service which is available around the clock to ensure that your water drains away freely. Our technicians are highly trained and experienced to provide a range of drainage services, using the latest technology available to clear your blocked drains Bristol.