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Why a Frequent Drainage Service Is Essential for Older Properties

Just moved into a stunning period property? If you’ve bought an older home, you’ll benefit from lots of charming original features. But you’ll also face different kinds of maintenance issues compared to owning a more modern home. It’s important to get on top of these from the day you move in, to prevent serious problems later down the line. 

A crucial task to add to your to-do list after moving into an older property is booking a drainage service. This involves inspecting your drainage system to check for any signs of damage, blockages or other weaknesses. It can also involve cleaning, repairs and other maintenance to ensure your drainage system is working as it should.

Read on for more persuasive reasons why a drainage service is essential for older properties. 

Pipes and Drains Can Deteriorate With Age

In older properties, plumbing pipework may be made from different materials than you’ll find in modern homes. This includes cast iron, clay and galvanised steel. All of these materials can start to corrode, crack or weaken over time. 

To identify problems before you experience a leak or other serious problem, it’s a good idea to have a survey to get your pipework checked out. A plumber or drain specialist can spot the early signs of corrosion and any weak points in the system. This enables repairs to be made before these minor issues turn into major problems.

Debris Accumulates Over Time

Through normal everyday use, household drains can start to be clogged with a gradual build-up of debris. This may include things like soap scum, grease, hair, food and even mineral deposits from the water itself. 

Depending on the age of your home and whether the drains have been regularly cleaned, it may be necessary to flush out the system. This will remove the accumulation of debris so that water can drain away freely – and minimise the risk of future blockages. 

Tree Roots Could Be Causing Problems

Just moved into an older house with a well-established or perhaps even overgrown garden? It may be the case that trees growing close to your household drains are causing an issue. More specifically, their roots. Tree roots can penetrate tiny cracks or holes in drains or their joints, and then start to grow and expand inside. This can block the drain and over time, perhaps even cause the whole drain to collapse.

The only way to identify this problem is with a CCTV drain survey, which you can arrange as part of a drainage service appointment. This involves using specialist cameras to enter drains and see if there are any blockage or other issues. 

Early Maintenance Can Prevent Plumbing Emergencies

Whatever the age of your home, regular maintenance is key to preventing serious problems. This counts for your drainage system just the same as it does for your boiler, heating system or roof. 

By scheduling in regular checks, cleans and maintenance, you can hopefully avoid those nightmare scenarios of leaks, flooding and backed-up wastewater. These are usually expensive and stressful to deal with, so spending a small sum on preventative maintenance to avoid them could be money well spent. 

Prolonging the Life of Your Drainage System

Just because you’ve moved into an older house with a well-used drainage system, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll need to be replaced. 

Some outdated or damaged elements may need repair or replacement. But if the system is sound overall, you simply need to keep up with regular maintenance and there’s no reason it can’t serve you well for many years to come. 

So if you’d rather avoid a complete re-plumbing of your property or want to put it off for a few years at least, an annual drainage service could be the solution.