Keep drains clear in very cold weather

Why it’s more important than ever to avoid clogged drains in freezing weather

Keeping your pipes flowing and drains clear of debris is always important but it’s especially so when the weather is very cold. Blocked drains cause water to back up. If it then freezes, it expands so not only would this block the pipe, it could cause pipes to burst or crack.

Also, when there’s a big freeze or snow, when that melts there will be an excess of water and if it cannot flow down drains properly it can flood outdoor areas.

The best advice would be not to wait until you have a problem but to check your drains regularly in order to avoid blockages. These are all useful things to do to keep your drains flowing properly and avoid them clogging up in freezing weather:

• Keep outdoor areas around drains clear of debris by keeping trees and hedges cut back and sweeping round periodically to get rid of leaves, twigs and dirt
• Use a drain cover to prevent debris falling into it
• Check your grate. If it’s broken in places it will allow larger items into the drain which can lead to it blocking. Replace grates that are broken or in poor repair
• Look after your drains from the inside as well by not putting things down it that you shouldn’t and occasionally put something down to clear any build up. This could be a drain unblocking product or something as simple as vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. See more tips for keeping pipes clear here.

During winter we can expect temperatures to drop to freezing or below at any time so taking the above precautions is something that we all need to take responsibility for. If you do notice a blockage that you cannot clear yourself then we would urge you to call a drainage specialist out as soon as possible to avoid the situation being worsened if it gets very cold. (Blocked drains can cause other issues anyway, such as water backing up or blockages further into pipes where they’re much harder to access).

We can help with all drainage issues, from replacing grates to using leak detection technology to investigate and clear blockages. Call us on 0333 577 0151 or send us a message using the form to the right.