drain cleaning & Unblocking, ayrshire & glasgow
Blocked drains can seriously disturb your day, whether they are at home, at work, or in an industrial setting. The issue can be promptly and effectively resolved by Equiflo Solutions' skilled drain unblocking and cleaning service.
If you think you could have a blocked drain that requires cleaning and help, there are certain key indicators to watch out for. If ignored, these symptoms could be a sign of a more serious problem that is obstructing your pipes. Among the warning signs of a blockage are:
Overflowing manholes and gullies
Slow draining sink or bath
Unpleasant smells coming from drains
Water rising in your toilet after flushing
Gurgling sounds coming from drains and plug hole
Areas We Cover
Ayr
Kilmarnock
Irvine
Troon
Prestwick
Ardrossan
Glasgow
East Kilbride
Clydebank
Motherwell
Cumbernauld
& surrounding areas
How we can clean and unblock your drains
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High Pressure water jetting
To clear a blocked drain we use pressurised water that is forced through a nozzle at the end of a long hose using a powerful pump and inserted into the pipe or drain to provide a deep clean without using chemicals.
High-pressure drain jetting is usually successful in shifting the issue by breaking it and forcing it through the system with high-pressure water.
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Tanker
For more stubborn blockages or obstructions our tanker could be utilised to draw it out.
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Roots Removal
Roots are a common cause and will prohibit the flow and cause blockages. These can be removed using robotic cutting tools.
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Descale
Descaling removes the build up and deposits from inside the pipe. Cast iron pipes can also have a build up of encrustation which can also cause issues.
Descaling prevents blockages and improves the flow of the water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Blocked Drains and Pipes
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Drains usually block because something's going down them that shouldn't be which builds up over time, like hair, grease, food particles, and soap scum.
To Unblock a drain:
Hot Water:
This is the simplest first step and can often clear minor blockages caused by grease or soap build-up.
Carefully pour a kettle full of hot water directly down the drain in stages, allowing the hot water to work for a few seconds between pours.
Baking Soda and Vinegar (The Fizzing Action):
Pour about ½ cup of baking soda down the drain then 1 cup of white vinegar.
The mixture will fizz – let it work for about 30 minutes (or even a few hours for tougher clogs). You can cover the drain with a plug to keep the fizzing action contained.
Flush with plenty of hot water.
Use a plunger:
For sinks with an overflow hole, seal it with a wet cloth to create better suction.
Place the plunger firmly over the drain opening, ensuring a good seal.
Push and pull the plunger up and down vigorously for several minutes.
Remove the plunger to see if the water drains. Repeat the process if necessary.
Avoid Harsh Chemical Drain Cleaners:
While they might seem like a quick fix, they can be corrosive and damage your pipes over time, potentially leading to leaks or bursts.
They are also bad for the environment, consider safer, more natural alternatives.
Call in the professionals:
If this doesn’t help or you’re experience recurring blockages, it’s time to contact us, we can inspect your drainage system and identify and repair underlying issues like poor installation, major blockages or tree root intrusion.
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Drains that smell are usually a sign of a blockage or stagnant water lying in the pipe.
To Unblock a drain:
Hot Water:
This is the simplest first step and can often clear minor blockages caused by grease or soap build-up.
Carefully pour a kettle full of hot water directly down the drain in stages, allowing the hot water to work for a few seconds between pours.
Baking Soda and Vinegar (The Fizzing Action):
Pour about ½ cup of baking soda down the drain then 1 cup of white vinegar.
The mixture will fizz – let it work for about 30 minutes (or even a few hours for tougher clogs). You can cover the drain with a plug to keep the fizzing action contained.
Flush with plenty of hot water.
Use a plunger:
For sinks with an overflow hole, seal it with a wet cloth to create better suction.
Place the plunger firmly over the drain opening, ensuring a good seal.
Push and pull the plunger up and down vigorously for several minutes.
Remove the plunger to see if the water drains. Repeat the process if necessary.
Avoid Harsh Chemical Drain Cleaners:
While they might seem like a quick fix, they can be corrosive and damage your pipes over time, potentially leading to leaks or bursts.
They are also bad for the environment, consider safer, more natural alternatives.
Call in the professionals:
If this doesn’t help or you’re experience recurring blockages, it’s time to contact us, we can inspect your drainage system and identify and repair underlying issues like poor installation, major blockages or tree root intrusion.
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Dealing with blocked drains is a real hassle! Thankfully, there are several things you can do to significantly reduce the chances of them occurring.
In the kitchen:
Never pour fats, oils, and grease down the sink.
Avoid rinsing food scraps down the drain.
Wipe down greasy dishes and pans with paper towels before washing them.
In the Bathroom:
Hair is notorious for causing clogs in showers and sinks. Use drain protectors or hair catchers.
Brush your hair before showering.
Toilet - Only flush the “three P’s” pee, poo, and toilet paper.
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If your drains block regularly there maybe a larger blockage or fault in the pipe. We can use our high pressure water jetter to clear stubborn blockages or our CCTV camera to find any underlying issues.
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Install Drain Guards: Use them in all your sinks, showers, and even outdoor drains to catch debris like leaves and prevent them from entering the pipes. Clean these guards regularly.
Regularly Rinse Drains:
Flush with hot water regularly, especially after using the kitchen sink, to help wash away any small build-up of grease or food particles. Be cautious with boiling water on older or weaker pipes.
Consider a monthly flush with a natural drain cleaner like a mixture of baking soda and vinegar followed by hot water. The fizzing action can help break down minor build-up and deodorize the drain.
Soda crystals dissolved in boiling water can also help keep drains clear of fats, oils, and grease.
Avoid Harsh Chemical Drain Cleaners: While they might seem like a quick fix, they can be corrosive and damage your pipes over time, potentially leading to leaks or bursts.
They are also bad for the environment, consider safer, more natural alternatives.
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Hot Water:
Carefully pour a kettle full of hot water directly down the drain in stages, allowing the hot water to work for a few seconds between pours.
Add Hot Water and Baking Soda:
Pour about ½ cup of baking soda down the drain then 1 cup of white vinegar.
The mixture will fizz – let it work for about 30 minutes (or even a few hours for tougher clogs). You can cover the drain with a plug to keep the fizzing action contained.
Flush with plenty of hot water.
Use a Plunger:
Place the plunger into the bowl to cause a seal.
Plunge forcefully up and down 10–15 times, keeping the seal intact.
Flush to check if the blockage has cleared. Repeat if necessary.
Avoid Harsh Chemical Drain Cleaners:
While they might seem like a quick fix, they can be corrosive and damage your pipes over time, potentially leading to leaks or bursts.
They are also bad for the environment, consider safer, more natural alternatives
Call in the professionals:
If this doesn’t help or you’re experience recurring blockages, it’s time to contact us, we can inspect your drainage system and identify and repair underlying issues like poor installation or major blockages.
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Hot Water:
Carefully pour a kettle full of hot water directly down the drain in stages, allowing the hot water to work for a few seconds between pours.
Baking Soda and Vinegar (The Fizzing Action):
Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the bowl.
Followed by 2-3 litres of hot water with half a cup of vinegar.
The mixture will fizz – let it work for about 30 minutes (or even a few hours for tougher clogs). You can cover the drain with a plug to keep the fizzing action contained.
Use a Plunger:
Place the plunger into the bowl to cause a seal.
Plunge forcefully up and down 10–15 times, keeping the seal intact.
Flush to check if the blockage has cleared. Repeat if necessary.
Avoid Harsh Chemical Drain Cleaners:
While they might seem like a quick fix, they can be corrosive and damage your pipes over time, potentially leading to leaks or bursts.
They are also bad for the environment, consider safer, more natural alternatives
Call in the professionals:
If this doesn’t help or you’re experience recurring blockages, it’s time to contact us, we can inspect your drainage system and identify and repair underlying issues like poor installation or major blockages.
TIPS TO AVOID BLOCKED DRAINS & toilets
At Equiflo Solutions, we believe that prevention is the key to avoid blocked drains and we want to share some of our tips to help our customer save money and limit damage to their property.
The Three P’s Rule
It’s easy to avoid blockages in your home if you always follow ‘The Three P's Rule’. The only things that should go down your toilet are Pee, Poo and Paper. Everything else? Put it in the bin!
We often find items such as wet wipes, sanitary items, cotton buds, oils and fats that are flushed down the toilet or that go down the kitchen, laundry or bathroom sink ending up in your drainage causing blockages.
One of our biggest no, no’s is flushable wipes! Trust us when we say, these wipes take forever to degrade, leaving them to build up within your drains causing major blockages. Oh…. and RATS love them too to make cosey beds right under your feet.