FAQ'S
Get Answers to Your Drainage Questions
Waste material can build up in a drainage network over time causing a blockage.
Flow rates are reduced during this process and other material subsequently collects around it.
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Some of the most common things that require external drains to be cleaned include: –
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Insoluble scale and solids created in hard water areas
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Grease and fats that are rinsed away after cooking
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Sanitary products that don’t dissolve in water; wet wipes, tampons etc
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Plastics including bags and wrapping
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The 3 Ps
Pee, poo & paper is all that should go down your toilet
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If it is not a standard blocked drain then we will discuss this before further work is undertaken.
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Answers to a range of regular questions we get asked can be found below. If you still have queries, please call or email us.
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How do I know if I have a blocked drain?You can tell if you have a blocked drain if the following conditions are present: Bad smells Gurgling sounds Water drains slowly Rising water levels If you notice any of these signs, contact MT Drains Kent a for fast, efficient affordable service
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How do I prevent a blockage?All sorts of things can cause a drain to block. It can either be due to something getting stuck in the pipe or a build-up of substances that block water flow. For indoor drains, common causes include: Baby wipes or any kind of cleaning make up wipes Nappies Sanitary towels Tampons Avoid toilet fresheners that hang on the rim of the toilets as these can become dislodged and fall into the toilet. When the toilet is flushed the plastic can become lodged and cause a blockage. Hair & soap scum – use a sink/bath screen/strainer Cotton buds Condoms Liquid fat, grease & oil. Keep a bottle/tub by the sink to pour old, then dispose of in a waste bin Food waste Coffee grounds For outdoor drains, common causes include: Leaves, twigs, silt, stones Garden waste Foliage Rubbish Drains can also become blocked due to structural damage or growth of tree roots in the drain.
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How do I know who is responsible for the drain, me or the local water company?"If the blockage is not on your property, but in the public sewer, in which case it is the responsibility of your local water board to get it unblocked. The first way to establish the location of the blockage is to consult with your neighbours. If they are experiencing similar issues to you then it is likely that the drainage problem is somewhere in the public sewerage Public or private Check with your neighbours and see if they are suffering the same issue. If they are, the blockage could be in the sewer. A public sewer is where the pipe from your home joins with a drain from another property. This should be the responsibility of your local water supplier. If your property is the only one using a pipe, it’s a 'private drain', which means that if it gets blocked, you are solely responsible for dealing with the blockage, and you’ll have to pay for it to be cleared by a private contractor
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Are you open 24/7, 365 days?"We sure are day, night, weekends, bank holidays even over the Christmas & New Year period. We are always available if you have a blocked drain. It may cost you a little bit extra in the evening or weekend please ask for further details, but we are always here to help you. Our office is manned Monday – Friday 8.30 – 5.30 Out of those hours please call 07775 918710
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What does your fixed price include?To clear the blockage whether it takes 10 minutes or 2 hours. Any extra work that needs doing will be discussed with you while we are on site.
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How do I know you will do a good job?We pride ourselves on our reputation, please click on the links below to see our reviews: Yell.com Google
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How and when do we pay?As soon as the job is complete. We accept cash, cheque debit/credit card or bank transfer Unless you already have an account with us.
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What is a CCTV Drain Survey?A CCTV drain survey is a detailed look into your drainage system, using specialist drain survey equipment. The drain camera is fed into your drainage system, which then feeds back CCTV footage back to a monitor at surface level, so a drainage engineer can fully assess the state of your drains. This recording is then documented and saved, so that any findings are confirmed, and recommendations can be made accordingly. *Surveys can only be carried out if there is manhole or rodding access If we arrive on site and no access is available a charge will still be made for our time
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Why would I need a CCTV Drain Survey?There are various scenarios where a CCTV survey would be extremely beneficial to diagnose and rectify your drainage issues. If you are experiencing re-occurring blockages or you suspect you may have a bigger problem such as a collapsed or broken pipework - a drain survey could be absolutely vital in understanding the issue at hand. Similarly, a CCTV survey is also recommended as a part of pre-purchase investigations when buying a new property. This will give you the power of an informed decision before signing. We would always Recommend a CCTV survey when buying a house weather, it a brand-new house or an old house we would always recommend getting the drains checked. Our CCTV Drain Surveys include an analysis of your drains, a detailed report by our drainage engineer, recommendations on the next steps to take.
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Is there anything I can do to unblock the drain myself without calling someone out?We would advise to not tip any products down sinks or drains without speaking to a professional. If you have tried to rod your drains and still no luck with clearing the blockage then we use a high-pressure water jetter to clear the blockage for you.