Blocked drains can be a headache in any setting, commercial or residential. They can cause a health hazard and result in loss of business due to downtime and expensive repair bills. Therefore, it is wise to have a regular maintenance contract in place. It would be a false economy not to budget for this. It will save you from unexpected incidents like a bolt from the blue and give you peace of mind.

Signs of a Blocked Drain in a Commercial Building:

Below are some signs of a blocked drain in a commercial building.

• Unpleasant smell: A foul odour from a clogged drain is a sign of solids stuck in the drain.
• Standing water in flush: Stagnant water in a flush is a sure sign of a blocked drain.
• Drips/Wet floors: Drips underneath sinks, wash basins, etc. are a sign of a clogged drain.
• Gurgling sounds: If your drain is blocked, then you will hear a gurgling sound when using a flush or draining water
• Slow draining: If water is slower to drain than usual, it could be a sign of a clogged drain.

Once you see any of the above signs, you can expect things to get worse if not addressed immediately.

Causes of a Blocked Drain in a Commercial Building:

Many things can cause blocked drains in commercial buildings. Some of these are listed below:

Toilet paper: Excess toilet paper and being flushed down the toilet are a common cause of toilets getting blocked. This is more of a problem in a commercial setting where people are more likely to put their guard down.

Leftover food: Leftover food making its way to the drain in a restaurant setting is a common cause of blocked drains.

Results of a Blocked Drain in a Commercial Building:

If a blocked drain isn’t unblocked, it can cause severe damage to your health, business and property. Some of the results are listed below:

• Loss of business: Blocked drain can cause loss of business due to downtime and bad publicity. Imagine a blocked toilet in a restaurant or a wet floor due to leaks. These can force you to shut down until the problem is resolved. Businesses spend a substantial amount of their budget on advertising to attract customers. It would be a false economy not to have a regular cleaning regimen.
• Higher Water Bill: Water leaks due to a clogged drain will cause more water to be used than usual.
• Sewage discharge: A blocked drain, if not fixed, can cause sewage discharge in a worst-case scenario. This can be ugly and bad for health, property and wallet.
• Burst pipes: If a blocked pipe is not fixed immediately, solids will build up and eventually result in a burst pipe which can cause flooding. This will create an emergency and will be expensive to repair.

Solutions for a Blocked Drain in a Commercial Building:

Fatty acids: It is best to get rid of used   in an appropriate container by following local government guidelines.

Toilet paper: It is best to have signs in the toilet advising customers against excessive use of these and have appropriate waste bins where they can throw away nappies and sorts. In a more significant setting, toilet cleaners can be trained to advise customers like mothers where the waste bins are for nappies.

Leftover food: Food leftover by customers should be thrown in the bin before plates are put in the sink to be washed. It is also best to have a sink strainer in place to catch food scraps before they enter the drain.

If it’s still blocked, then get in touch with us. We have DBS checked trained drainage professionals. We charge a fixed hourly rate with no call-out charges.

Clearground has qualified staff on call 24/7. Call us on 0151-652 8010

Areas we cover: We provide our services all over Merseyside, including Aintree, Bebington, Birkdale, Birkenhead, Bootle, Bromborough, Crosby, Ellesmere Port, Formby, Haydock, Heswall, Hoylake, Huyton, Kirkby, Knowsley, Ledsham, Litherland, Liverpool, Maghull, Moreton, Newton-le-Willows, Port Sunlight, Prenton, Prescot, Rainford, Rainhill, Rock Ferry, Southport, St. Helens, Thatto Heath, Wallasey, West Kirby and many more.