Drain Doctor prevention is better than cure for national pub chain

Around 65 per cent of blockages in a year are caused by the build-up of fat solids and grease in the drainage system. Fitting and maintaining a good quality grease management system will help to prevent them.

At Drain Doctor Plumbing we are advising our commercial customers that ‘prevention is better than cure’ when it comes to grease management and planned maintenance.

The message has been well-received and Drain Doctor has signed service level agreements with blue chip national pub group JD Wetherspoon and Wagamama, a chain of Japanese noodle bars.

Drain Doctor business development manager Catriona Berry said: “We work with our customers to raise awareness of the importance of grease management in the hospitality industry.

“Around 65 per cent of blockages in a year are caused by the build-up of fat solids and grease in the drainage system. Dealing with these blockages can be costly and lead to higher water bills, as well as lost business.

“At Drain Doctor we advise our customers to be proactive in the management of their grease systems in order to avoid blockages and reduce the amount of water they waste and therefore reduce their water bills.”

In addition to supplying and maintaining grease traps Drain Doctor offers a variety of preventative maintenance plans for commercial customers covering all emergency plumbing and drainage, allowing managers to run their businesses without worrying about blocked toilets and drains.

Catriona added: “We also offer a centralised invoicing system, with all vans despatched by our national call centre, which is staffed by friendly and knowledgeable emergency call takers.

“With over 200 vans on the road run from 68 locations nationwide, national customers such as JD Wetherspoon can be confident that we will be there when we are needed.”

Related articles

• Wetherspoon’s sales increase 3.6% (bbc.co.uk)
• Drain Doctor Signs New Plumber for East Cornwall (your-story.org)
• JD Wetherspoons supports Prime Minister David Cameron with Veto Ale (telegraph.co.uk)
• Wetherspoon remains cautious despite Christmas cheer (independent.co.uk)

Pissing Boy’s plumbing falls foul of freezing weather

Image via Wikipedia

Here is a story which draws attention to the importance of keeping your plumbing warm in freezing temperatures.

According to news agency Reuters, the Manneken Pis (Pissing Boy) in Brussels can’t continue to do his business. With the mercury plunging to sub-zero levels the Pissing Boy has had to stop pissing because local officials have said the arctic conditions could damage his internal workings. However, when the weather warms up he will work again.

Temperatures in Brussels fell to -10 degrees Celsius last week. By Friday in the UK recorded temperatures were as low as -17 in some parts of the country. When the weather is like that it is more important than ever to ensure that your plumbing and drains are in order to avoid costly repairs and flooding from burst pipes when they thaw out.

The 393-year-old  little fellow is so important to culture and tourism in the Belgian city that he is dressed up in more than 800 individual costumes for various celebrations. None of them, it seems, were warm enough to keep him flowing.

For more advice give Drain Doctor a call on 0800 3357 999.

Related articles

• Reuters Does A Ridiculous Story About A Peeing Statue To Illustrate Cold Weather In Europe (businessinsider.com)
• Brussels is too cold for the Manneken-Pis to pee (newslite.tv)
• Brussels statue too cold to ‘go’ (reuters.com)

Follow Drain Doctor’s tips to avoid plumbing problems during the cold snap

Follow a few simple tips to avoid frozen pipes during the cold snap

With the recent snowfalls and the plummeting temperatures Drain Doctor has received higher than usual call levels from customers with frozen pipes. If your pipes are frozen it could mean that you are getting no water supply.

In general most water companies’ pipes are buried deep enough for them not to freeze, so a lot of the time it is the customer’s own pipes which are frozen. Many householders may not realise that the water company is only responsible for the water mains and service pipes outside the boundary of thier property.  Anything inside the property boundary is the responsibility of the householder.

Taking steps now to make sure the pipework leading to your home and within your property is protected from the cold can help avoid problems with frozen pipes later in the winter.

If anyone finds they have no water during this cold snap, check pipes for signs of splitting and if there is any damage, call Drain Doctor. If it is not fixed quickly, it could end up with flooding once the water thaws.

Here are a few tips to help protect your plumbing and drains for the rest of the winter:

1. Locate and label your main stop valve. It is on the incoming mains water supply and is often under the kitchen sink. 
2. Stop valves tend to corrode slightly with time, so once every six months check that it’s working by exercising the valve twice from fully open to fully closed and back again (and always back the valve off ‘half a turn’ from fully open once you’re done).
3. Make sure that all your pipes and storage tanks are properly lagged and covered, especially in cooler roof areas and attics.
4. Open the loft door to warm the roof area in very cold weather. This will stop the pipes up there from freezing up (but it will push up your heating bills – so lagging pipes is a better idea).
5. Inspect cold water cisterns (they are probably in your loft) annually. If there are any signs of corrosion or leaking, contact a reputable plumber.
6. Leave the heating on a low temperature to maintain circulation and warmth if you are going away for a few days.
7. Bleed radiators for maximum efficiency.
8. Keep curtains closed to retain heat in the home.
9. Insulate/lag any pipes in exposed areas where they could freeze.
10. Isolate, drain and insulate any outside taps and pipework.
11. Try to avoid pouring fat down drains, as it will solidify fast in cold weather.
12. Plumbing is becoming increasingly technical. Always seek a qualified professional plumber such as Drain Doctor Plumbing. Call them  24 hours a day on 0800 3357 999.

Scottish plumber gets freedom of the City

Aberdeen plumber and president of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineers Allan McIntosh has been made a Freeman of the City of London.

The granting of the Freedom of the City of London is one of the oldest traditional ceremonies surviving today. It is believed that the first Freedom was presented in 1237.  A number of ancient privileges associated with the Freedom  include the right to herd sheep over London bridge, to go about the City with a drawn sword and –  if you are unlucky enough to be convicted of a capital offence – to be hung with a silken rope.

He joins other Freemen including Norman Wisdom, Luciano Pavarotti and Barbara Windsor.

Is this the highest honour to be bestowed on a UK plumber? Are there any Drain Doctor plumbers out there who have an unusual title, honour or claim to fame? We would love to hear from you.