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.

The transfer of private sewers and lateral drains

As of 1 October 2011 the ten water and sewerage companies in England and Wales automatically became responsible for privately owned sewers and lateral drains located outside property owners’ boundaries. These pipes were previously the responsibility of the owners of the properties they are connected to. 

The idea behind this government initiative is to relieve property owners of responsibility for repair and maintenance from property owners, who can face unexpected and potentially expensive bills or complex ownership issues when problems occur with these pipes. 

However, it’s important to remember that property owners still retain the ownership and therefore the responsibility of the drain serving their property that is located within their boundary. 

What is a private sewer?

A sewer is a pipe that carries waste water from more than one property. Sewers often run along several properties or towards the road. Most are owned and cared for by the local water company. 

Some groups of properties are connected to private sewers. Before 1 October 2011 these sewers were the responsibility of the owners or occupiers of the properties connected to them. The water and sewerage companies are now responsible for maintaining these. 

What is a lateral drain?

A drain is a pipe that carries waste water away from a single property. Drains belong to the owner of the property they are connected to. A drain is the property owner’s responsibility until it connects to either someone else’s drain or a sewer. Nearly every property is connected to its own private drains. The property owner is responsible for their repair and maintenance. However, some properties – such as apartment blocks – have shared drains. Owners of these properties are jointly responsible for their drains. 

A lateral drain is the part of a drain which lies outside the property boundary. In some cases these can be located under someone else’s land or a road. Before 1 October 2011 lateral drains were the responsibility of the individual property owner they serve. 

On 1 October 2011 private sewers and lateral drains were automatically transferred to the water and sewerage companies. The local water and sewerage company is now responsible for the maintenance and repairs to these pipes.

Related articles

• Who owns the drains? (cllrtward.wordpress.com)

Rogue plumbers give trade a bad name

Drain Doctor prices its jobs before work starts according to a national pricing menu.

Recession-busting Drain Doctor Plumbing is helping householders and businesses to keep their maintenance costs under control by maintaining its price check policy. No overtime is charged for evening, weekend or bank holiday emergencies and there are no call-out charges as every job is priced before work starts, working to a national pricing menu.

‘Rip off’ plumbers can charge a small fortune just to take a look at the problem. Take this rogue plumber who was recently caught out by BBC TV’s Watchdog programme.

It’s people like these who give our trade a bad name.

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

Drain Doctor 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.

Sometimes a plumbing problem just gets out of hand

Solving a plumbing problem is not always easy – especially when you are not sure exactly what the problem is.

The problem reported here took two weeks to fix, involved the fire department, the council’s health department, a plumbing inspector, a heating and ventilation contractor and several council officials as well as a plumber. It caused a public library to be closed for several days.

The cause of all this? Probably (but no-one seems quite sure) a faulty seal on a toilet in the library’s mens room.

Sometimes plumbing is not as simple as it seems. Do you have stories of plumbing detective work or complex problems like the one described here? Let’s hear about them!

Going psycho about toilets

This year is the 50th Anniversary of the movie ‘Psycho’.

We’re all familiar with the famous ‘shower scene’. But did you know that Hitchcock’s 1960 chiller is the first American movie to show a flushing toilet on-screen?

Marion Crane - played by Janet Leigh – has arrived at the Bates Motel after embezzling cash from her employer and fleeing. Marion is seen counting the remaining cash she has, calculating how much she needs to repay her employer on a note, then flushing it down the toilet before getting into the shower. We all know what happens next.

The flushing toilet with its contents visible on-screen was cause for concern for the censors. Reputedly, Hitchcock didn’t want the toilet to be seen, just the sound of flushing off-screen, but screen writer Joseph Stefano was able to script the film to show Marion throwing the note paper into the toilet, making it integral to the plot, so impossible to remove from the film.

Following best advice from Drain Doctor, Marion wouldn’t have thrown the paper in the toilet because it could have caused a blockage in the drains.

Related Articles

• Psycho: The mother of all horror movies (theglobeandmail.com)
• Psycho: the No 1 horror film (guardian.co.uk)

Regular check-ups by the Drain Doctor offer prevention rather than cure.

A CCTV inspection of the drain will show the nature and location of the problem.

Prevention is better than cure. Any doctor will tell you that and Drain Doctor is no exception. 

Many of you will have seen mail shots from your local water company reminding you that you are responsible for that part of your drainage system that runs from your house to the main sewer. 

They are of course trying to sell you insurance but the basic message is accurate. 

In all likelihood, your home has a mains water supply provided by one of the regional water companies. Below ground the household waste pipes are channelled through inspection chambers near the house to join the main drain, which then runs into the water company’s sewer. 

A pipe that only takes drainage from a building or buildings within the same property boundary is called a drain. The water that drains into it may be surface water (for example rainwater from the roof) and/or foul water (for example, bathroom or toilet waste). The responsibility for unblocking a drain or repairing any defects lies with the owner or occupier of the building. 

This is the case even if the problem on the drain is beyond the boundary of the building or under a road or pavement. To avoid serious and expensive repairs it is a good idea to get your drains checked regularly by the professionals. 

Drain Doctor can inspect your drains using the latest CCTV technology. Using special inspection software Drain Doctor technicians can assess your drains and advise on any necessary remedial work. This is widely supported by many of the major insurance companies and water utilities. 

Using the software Drain Doctor’s technicians undertake detailed surveys of drains and document critical inspection work rapidly and thoroughly. Installed on an industrial PC it enables technicians to log digital video from CCTV inspections, still images and text data in an extensive, searchable database. They can identify potential problems and develop permanent solutions. 

Its reporting tools and a freeware viewer make it easy to share inspection results between technicians and head office. It means that Drain Doctor can provide an even better level of service to its customers, both commercial and domestic and help minimise disruption and cost. 

So make sure you give your drains a regular health check to help avoid costly repairs.

Plumbing could be the remedy for exam result woes

Last week record numbers of students received their A level results. As a result record numbers have applied for places at UK universities. Such is the competition for places that around 150,000 applicants are likely to be disappointed. Some of these will go on gap years, others will go into an already competitive jobs market.

Today, students up and down the country will receive their GCSE results. Some will choose not to continue education to A level and look instead to join the workforce. The problem is that they will find themselves in competition with A level students who have not found a university place.

Vocational training could be the answer for those who, for whatever reason, feel that academia is not for them. Training as a plumber or drainage engineer can help students looking for a career in plumbing or drainage to secure work with companies like Drain Doctor.

Drain Doctor technicians are trained not just with technical skills in an increasingly technical industry – 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.

Vocational training can give young people not just work skills but valuable business and life skills as well.

You can trust a Drain Doctor plumber

Trust Drain Doctor to solve any plumbing problems.

According to a recent survey carried out by the Co-operative Bank, plumbers rank alongside bankers, MPs and estate agents as one of the least trusted professions.

The survey says that the top 10 most distrusted professions are:

1. Politicians
2. Bankers
3. Journalists
4. Car Salesmen
5. Estate Agents
6. Electricians
7. Plumbers
8. Builders
9. Car Mechanics
10. Footballers

While it is certain that the plumbing trade is plagued by cowboy operators with some emergency plumbing companies charging rip off prices once they have been called out, Drain Doctor is not one of them.

Drain Doctor offers a fixed price menu with no call out charges and prides itself on providing a dazzling level of service. There is no call out charge and customers are given a no obligation quote before work starts.

This is one ‘top 10′ that the plumbing industry does not want to be in. With hard work and more transparency over pricing perhaps we can get ourselves into the ‘top 10′ most trusted professions alongside other emergency services.

 

Drain Doctors have a grand day out at the Suffolk Show

Jason (left) and Rob enjoying the sunshine at the Suffolk Show.

Two  Drain Doctors from the eastern region joined forces to promote the Drain Doctor brand to the crowds at the Royal Suffolk Show. 

Rob Simpson – who owns the Cambridge, Colchester, Chelmsford and Southend Drain Doctor franchises and who lives in Suffolk – and Jason Hawkins who owns the Norwich franchise, which covers parts of Suffolk, shared a stand at the Suffolk show for two days. 

The show is the largest county show in the eastern region and had over 100,000 visitors over the two days. Jason Hawkins has exhibited at the Eye Show previously but it was Rob who was the driving force behind the two franchisees joining forces to set up a stand at the Suffolk Show. 

Rob Simpson said: “This is the first time I have done anything like this but we will attend the Suffolk Show again. With support from head office we were able to distribute a lot of merchandise which gets the Drain Doctor name in front of the public – the main point of the exercise. 

“We also developed a special show flyer offering visitors to the show a 10 per cent discount. We have already had some success with that. We have also completed two jobs for a customer as a direct result of having our stand at the show. Jason has also had a number of enquiries. 

“Over the next few weeks and months we hope to get more enquiries as a result of the flyer and the promotional mugs, pens and pads that people took away with them from the show.” 

The stand has already paid for itself. Rob and Jason acknowledge that the stand would not have been a success without all the support they received from head office. 

Jason added: “Head office provided us with banners, flags and promotional material which proved a great success. 

“We had a lot of people coming to the stand and taking away information about Drain Doctor, as well as the promotional items we had brought. We got through five boxes of mugs. We must have had well over 500 visitors pass by over the two days. 

“The main purpose of attending the show was to get the Drain Doctor name in front of as many people as possible and promote the brand. We certainly achieved that.”