Drain Doctor helps householders avoid rip-off festive plumbers

“Here’s the problem” – a Drain Doctor technician shows a customer what needs fixing.

A burst pipe or blocked lavatory is a problem at any time of the year – at Christmas or New Year it can be an expensive nightmare. ‘Rip off’ plumbers can charge a small fortune just to take a look at the problem. Extra expense at this time of year is always unwelcome, particularly in these days of economic gloom.

That’s why Drain Doctor is reassuring its customers that it is maintaining its fixed prices, even if it is called out to an emergency over the festive season.

No overtime is charged for evening, weekend or bank holiday emergencies and there are no call-out charges – not even on Christmas Day. Every job is priced before work starts, working to a national pricing menu. We are truly on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Service requests are handled quickly and efficiently and prices are agreed before the job is done, so there are no surprises. Our constant aim is to give superb and specialised service.

Drain Doctor customers can rest assured that if they are unfortunate enough to suffer a plumbing emergency this Christmas or New Year, Drain Doctor will not charge any more than at any other time of year.

The central principle is to deliver dazzling levels of service in a market plagued by cowboy operators who are overcharging customers for shoddy workmanship.

Franchisees offer a full 24 hour per day seven-day per week service with no call out charges and they give fixed-price, no obligation quotes with a full guarantee on all their work.

Technicians are trained not just with technical skills – including the latest techniques such as closed circuit camera drain surveys and no-dig drain repairs – but in customer care that is reflected in such things as wearing overshoes while in customers’ homes and clearing up carefully after every job.

If you are unlucky enough to need a plumber over the festive period call us on 0845 357 999.

All change at Anglia Drain Doctor

Rob (right) and Sam with Freddie Mitman at the Drain Doctor awards ceremony in Bruges.

The Anglia Drain Doctor franchise which covers Cambridge, Colchester, Chelmsford, Southend and Ipswich – and all the places in between – has expanded.

Franchisees Rob and Sam Simpson have just acquired the neighbouring Norwich area. The expansion means that Anglia Drain Doctor now covers the entire Eastern region, providing additional emergency pluming and drainage repair services in Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Cromer, Attleborough and Swaffham. The Simpsons have taken on the area from previous franchisees Jason and Debbie Hawkins, who have moved on to take on new challenges.

Anglia Drain Doctor has a team of dedicated technicians living throughout the region. The area’s customer satisfaction levels are extremely high and the company is aiming to become the logical choice for businesses and households within the area.

Back in 2007 Anglia Drain Doctor became the first franchise area in the network to turn over £1 million. Since taking over the area in 2009 Rob has continued this growth.  The business is now CHAS accredited and Constructionline approved. It also holds ISO9001 status and is council approved. This means that Rob and his team can provide a ‘dazzling’ level of service to just about anyone throughout the region. And plans are in place for continued sustainable growth in the future.

If anyone in East Anglia has a plumbing or drainage problem call the local professionals on 0800 3357 999.

Time to prepare for the winter months

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

The clocks have gone back, the evenings are drawing in and there is frost on the ground. Autumn weather will soon give way to winter. You might be looking forward to long Sunday lunches and Christmas, but it is easy to forget how dependent we are on our plumbing systems so now is the right time to put a bit of effort into preparing for the winter months to ensure they are in tip-top working order. Don’t let plumbing failures spoil your enjoyment of the season. This is particularly important if you are expecting to host family or friends over Christmas.

Kitchens, toilets, showers and baths will work a lot harder during these periods than at other times throughout the year so you have to be prepared to avoid having to call a drain cleaning expert. If you are unfortunate enough to need a drain unblocker like Drain Doctor remember that there will be no call out charges, even over bank holidays.

In the kitchen, avoid throwing cooking fats and oils down the drain. The cold will make them set even faster. In winter a clog could be very inconvenient to deal with, even for the most experienced emergency plumbers. Pour fat into an old drink carton and put it in the bin.

To keep drains clear and flowing to avoid a call-out it is a good idea to run some cold water down the drain before and after using it to ensure any small particles stuck to the sides of the pipes are washed away. In order to avoid any uncomfortable moments try to do the washing up when none of your guests are using the shower.

Showers should be spread out around 15 minutes apart. Avoid family and guests taking showers one after another in order to maximise your boiler’s efficiency. You can also turn the water temperature up to ensure everyone has a nice warm shower.

Finally, ensure that your pipes are properly prepared for the winter. Frozen pipes can burst and lead to severe damage. Always know where your water main is so that you can turn it off in an emergency. Drain all of your garden hoses and lag all of the exposed pipes around your house. These simple steps can not only help make your home more energy-efficient, which will save you some money in the process, but they will also help to prevent any major damage as a result of the winter.

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.

 

 

Diamonds are forever

This story from the US just goes to show how being a bit careless can lead to some serious regret. This lady was unlucky enough to accidently throw two diamond rings worth over £6,000 down the toilet.

Luckily, a sewer crew went above and beyond the call of duty to re-unite the woman with her lost jewellery.

Here in the UK Drain Doctor technicians have had to deal with similar emergencies. The team at Anglia Drain Doctor had to search for a set of lost car keys to enable one customer to get to the airport on time to make their holiday flight.

If that wasn’t enough, the team at Bristol rescued a prized Netherland Dwarf rabbit that had got stuck in a drain pipe following some property renovations.

Let us have your stories about strange or valuable items that have been flushed away, only to be retrieved by your caring Drain Doctor technician.

And if you are unlucky enough to lose something of value down the loo call Drain Doctor on 0800 3357 999 and one of our technicians will do our best to get it back for you.

October is ‘Toilet tank repair month’

There are more national and international awareness days than there are days in the year. They range from reminders of worthy causes to the downright bizarre.

The US leads the way. Administrative Professionals Day (21st April) probably has limited appeal but in our industry a mere 24 hours isn’t enough to get the message across. So how about Appreciate Your Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Professionals Week (20th-26th June). ‘We all know the discomfort we experience when our toilet breaks,’ says the promotional blurb. ‘Appreciate Your Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Professionals Week is a chance to acknowledge the great service these professionals provide.’

We also have World Water Day and World Plumbing Day in March.

This month. apparently, it’s toilet tank repair month in the US [http://www.huliq.com/8684/88051/october-national-toilet-tank-repair-month-and-more-october-trivia]. Perhaps we should take a leaf out their book?

In the US 70,000 gallons of water are lost each year through leaky toilet cisterns – one in four of all cisterns across the country. Here in the UK thousands of litres are lost. It is important to ensure that the cistern is maintained.

To repair leaks or replace leaky ball valves why not give your local Drain Doctor a call on 0800 3357 999 to receive dazzling levels of service that should lead to a national awareness day in the UK.

Related articles

• Exploding toilets highlight pressures on power-assisted loos (draindoctor.wordpress.com)

Don’t let blocked drains give you a Halloween scare!

A pumpkin carved into a jack-o’-lantern for Halloween (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As the nights draw in and we get ready to set the clocks back, we would like to let you know about a scary new problem that can affect the UK’s sinks and drains at this time of year.

Halloween, ‘trick or treat’ and pumpkin lanterns are becoming increasingly popular in the UK at the end of October.

Along with the pumpkin carving comes the problem of what to do with the sticky waste from inside the vegetables. When pumpkin pulp goes down the kitchen sink drain, the orange flesh hardens and sticks to the pipes, leading to clogged drains.

The trick to keeping pumpkin pulp and seeds from turning Halloween into a plumbing nightmare is as easy as pie.

• Instead of carving your jack-o’-lantern over the kitchen sink, try doing it on a pile of newspaper on the counter or kitchen table. You need to be careful when removing and disposing of the pumpkin’s sticky insides.
• Keep the paper well away from the sink. Carefully wrap the pulp and then either bin it or – better still – put it in the compost heap.
• Instead of throwing the away the seeds, Halloween revellers can plant some for next year’s crop of Halloween pumpkins.
• The seeds can also be roasted for a tasty and nutritious seasonal snack.

If you are unlucky enough to get a blocked drain give Drain Doctor a call on 0800 33 57 999

Related articles

• Pumpkins carved into zombies for Hallowe’en (telegraph.co.uk)
• Halloween horrors: Forget a standard Jack O’Lantern and admire these incredible pumpkin carvings (mirror.co.uk)
• Creative Carved Pumpkins for Halloween (countryandvictoriantimes.com)
• What’s the Origin of Jack-O’-Lanterns? (mentalfloss.com)

Autumn brings leafy problems for drains and gutters

Autumn Leaves (Photo credit: blmiers2)

Autumn is here and the leaves are providing a kaleidoscope of colour in our parks, gardens and countryside. But soon the leaves will be falling and blocking drains and gutters in homes and businesses up and down the country. The blockages caused by a build up of leaves in the drainage system can cause problems with toilets and kitchen and bathroom sinks and drains inside your property.

Not only that, rainwater overflowing from blocked gutters can cause water to pour down external walls causing potential problems with damp later.

To help you avoid these problems Drain Doctor is offering some tips to prevent drains getting blocked.

• Watch where the leaves are falling. Breezes can cause them to blow around and collect in gutters and drains. Sweep leaves up as they fall, bag them and take them to the compost heap.
• Get covered. You can buy covers for drains and downpipes in guttering systems to prevent fallen leaves getting into the drainage system.
• Arrange a CCTV inspection of your drains with a trained Drain Doctor technician to check for potential problems that can be rectified before they become a serious issue in the winter months.

If you are unable to clear guttering or drains by hand give Drain Doctor a call on 0800 3357 999. A fully trained technician can clear any blockages in gutters and drains to keep everything flowing smoothly.

Related articles

• Don’t Forget Your Gutters This Fall – guest blogger Dave Cobosco (greenjoanrealestate.com)

Septic tank management: A fragrant problem

Inspect cess pools and septic tanks regularly to avoid problems.

Walking around a small village in Rutland recently I noticed the fragrance of septic tanks in the air. In rural areas it is common for properties not to be connected to the mains drainage system. These properties have to rely on a private drainage system such as a cesspool or septic tank. These types of drainage systems are very effective, provided they are managed correctly.

An average household will produce some 124,000 litres of waste each year. This is equivalent to emptying an 18,000 litre cesspool approximately seven times a year. If properly managed, most septic tanks or small sewage treatment plants do not cause problems – but if they are poorly designed, installed or managed, the discharge from them can damage the environment. Domestic wastewater can contain substances that are potentially harmful to human health and the environment.

A septic tank is a complete mini sewage system in which effluent is treated naturally. The primary purpose of the tank is to separate solids from liquids, as wastewater flows through it, and to help to break down contaminants.

A cesspool is a sealed underground tank with an inlet pipe but no outlet. It is connected to a property by a series of drainage pipes. The cesspool stores sewage and other wastewater until the time of disposal. Cesspools must be watertight to prevent the leakage of foul water or the ingress of groundwater.

Under the provisions of the Public Health Act 1936, it is an offence to allow a cesspool to overflow or leak. If this happens the owner is liable to prosecution by the local authority. In addition, if pollution of a watercourse takes place, the Environment Agency may take legal action under the Water Resources Act 1991. The penalty for allowing a polluting discharge is up to £20,000 and/or three months imprisonment.

A smell of sewage in the area, slowly draining sinks, toilets or baths, liquid overflowing from the inspection cover, surface flooding ‘downstream’ of the tank or nettles and vigorous plant growth ‘downstream’ can all be indicators of problems with your septic tank.

To avoid problems:

• Put all wastewaters from your home into the system – any of these can contain environmental pollutants. All roof and surface water should discharge directly into a ditch or watercourse.
• Use bleaches and disinfectants sparingly because these could kill the useful bacteria that help to digest the waste in your septic tank. Some brands of domestic cleaner are ‘septic tank friendly’ and are preferred.
• Try to avoid excessive discharges from washing machines by using the ‘halfload’ setting. If possible use showers instead of baths.
• Inspect the system at least once a month.
• De-sludge the tank at least once a year. Ensure that air vents are not blocked and that all covers are secured and easily accessible.
• Act immediately if you find a blockage or any sign of pollution.

Do not:

• Use your toilet or kitchen sink as a bin. Put disposable nappies, sanitary items, plastic or other large solids which may cause blockages into the bin.
• Empty chemical toilets into the drains of the septic tank.
• Pour paints, solvents, oils, fats or heavy greases into the drains of the septic tank. These should be kept in their original containers and disposed of properly.
• Allow roof or surface water into the septic tank. Excessive discharges into the tank will flush solids through before adequate digestion has taken place.

At Drain Doctor Plumbing and Drainage we understand septic tank systems and how they work.  We are experts in both the maintenance and installation of the systems.  We can upgrade existing systems to ensure they do not pollute ground water aquifers or water courses.

We can carry out ground forosity tests and lay down new soak-away or nitrification fields, with all work carried out in accordance with building regulations. We can also ‘audit’ existing septic tank systems and ensure the correct bacterial balance within the system.  This can be done by ensuring all materials used in the house are bio-degradable.  We also sell products to redress bacterial imbalance in septic tank systems.

Call us on 0800 3357 999 for a free septic tank consultation.

Nasty summer niffs mean it’s time to clean out the drains

A Drain Doctor CCTV survey will show you what is in your drains.

Finally, after months of rain, it looks as though summer has arrived. The hot weather might not just bring the sweet perfume from gardens in bloom but a nasty niff as well – a sure sign it could be time to check your drains.

The summer growing season with its combination of rain and warmth may be good for the garden but, below ground, the roots that support the new growth can play havoc with drains and sewers, penetrating pipes and causing blockages.

Locating the blockage can itself be difficult though. The best and most certain way is to put a CCTV camera into the drainage system to see what is actually down there – and where it is.  A reputable drain clearance company will give you a detailed report.

Less serious blockages – in U-bends beneath sinks and baths, for example – require less serious treatment and you can often deal with these yourself.

There are a number of drain clearing products sold in supermarkets and DIY stores. Most will clear the initial problem – but few will stop it coming back.

Rather than using a chemical-based product, take a tip from the professionals and consider using biology to shift the blockage. At Drain Doctor Plumbing we use an enzyme cleaner which digests organic wastes in drains, breaking down fat and grease build ups which lead to odours and blockages. Use the product on a regular basis to keep drains free-flowing and clean-smelling. Using enzymes rather than chemicals is much better for the environment – and, in the long run, much more effective at keeping drains clear.

Prevention, is of course, better than cure and we have a number of tips to avoid summer drainage and plumbing problems.

• Install a strainer in plug holes to catch hair and other objects that could block drains.
• Don’t pour fat and grease from cooking down the drain – allow it to cool and put it in the bin.
• Don’t dispose of old oil, paint or other  substances down the drain.
• Have an established plumber inspect drains for leaks, damage and corrosion and get problems sorted out while they are small, rather than waiting for a disaster! By using a CCTV camera in the pipes, plumbers can inspect and pinpoint exactly where drains are cracked, damaged or misaligned. Ask the plumber to give a diagnosis of the work needed and provide a written estimate up front. The ones who don’t probably have something to hide such as VAT costs or other ‘extras’.

If you do have a drainage problem and simple DIY techniques don’t solve it, call in the professionals – but make sure they are professionals. Drainage is becoming increasingly technical and you should always seek a qualified drainage technician such as Drain Doctor Plumbing. Call us 24 hours a day on 0800 3357 999.

Solutions for hard water

Drop coming out of a faucet coated with calcium from the hard water (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Much of the UK is affected by hard water which can give you problems in your kettle.  Not only that, the furring up of pipes caused by mineral deposits can adversely affect other things such as central heating systems, solar heating systems, dishwashers and washing machines.Drain Doctor Plumbing and Drainage, the UK’s largest emergency drain repair company, also happens to be the UK’s premier suppliers and installers of in-line water filter units and taps. These units can be anything from a simple taste and odour system to in-line systems to stop bacterial problems from private supplies from springs or wells.

By using one of Drain Doctor’s in-line water filters, scale will be a thing of the past.

If you live in a hard water area, you probably have issues with your tap water.  Fit a tap under your kitchen sink so that you can enjoy great tasting water at the turn of a tap.

For more details call Drain Doctor on 0800 3357 999