The dark nights are in full swing and we’ve already seen temperatures reach subzero levels across Manchester, Stockport, Macclesfield and surrounding Cheshire. It’s slowly becoming the norm to have heaters on full blast and de-icer at the ready, and it pains us to say it but the worst is yet to come.
A number of sources, including the Daily Express, have already reported that the UK is expected to face a “big freeze” in the coming weeks as the whole country prepares to counter the Arctic swell ahead of us.
To really compliment these (freezing) dark nights and morbid mornings, there are still flood warnings in place for large areas of the country. Just what we need ahead of the Arctic blast we’re hearing of.
Our neighbours at Metro Rod South Yorkshire have been amongst the most recent contenders to battle the Great British elements to provide as much drainage relief as humanly possible to the homes and businesses of their area.
As they say; “it’s grim up North”, so hang tight everyone - we’re expecting more wet weather shortly.
(Pictured: flooding on Alderley Edge bypass in Cheshire back in Summer)
We’ve reviewed some of our most common jobs from last year to give you some handy tips for prevention of water and drainage issues this winter.
Frozen/Burst Pipes
Frozen pipes are often the leading cause of little or no water pressure throughout the winter. They essentially become blocked by frozen water, not allowing anything to pass through and be fed through to your taps. However this isn’t the only issue frozen pipes can cause. They can in fact cause fractures or breaks in the pipe. When water freezes, it expands. This can cause a build-up of pressure within the pipework that may lead to it bursting.
Burst pipes may mean big trouble indeed. If left long enough, they’ll cause damage to your property both internally and externally depending on the location of the damaged pipe. Parts of your home like walls, floors and even your belongings are susceptible to damage should you leave a burst pipe unattended.
If a burst pipe becomes a reality at your property, you should turn your water supply off immediately. Then drain the water from your property by opening all the taps until all the water has passed through. This will prevent damage or further damage from occurring.
There are some telltale signs that you may have frozen pipes at your home:
- Water pressure is low, with taps providing little or no water
- Your sinks block up when draining water
- Your toilets flush slowly or slower than usual
- Your central heating appliances make gurgling noises when in use
An easy way to remedy a frozen pipe is to thaw it out by pouring hot (not boiling!) water over the affected parts. It could save you a bit of money on having to call our engineers here at Metro Rod Manchester and Macclesfield out to assess the issue. But that option is still available if you’re struggling!
Blocked Drains
We deal with blocked drains all year round (as you’ll see from our social channels), but it’s particularly worse in winter. You probably know what is and what isn’t suitable to be poured down the drain. That doesn’t mean we’re going to stop preaching it any time soon though!
We’re always talking about the dangers of fats, oils and grease, or FOG as it’s known in the drainage industry. It’s one of the leading causes of drain blockages within restaurants, hotels, or anywhere that operates a commercial kitchen. (We do install and maintain grease traps for sites with commercial kitchens but that’s a different story.)
Pouring warm fats in liquid form down the drain does not mean that they’ll flow nicely into public sewers and not be a problem to you. Out of sight out of mind, right? Wrong.
(Pictured: absolute sacrilege - oils disposed of down a sink basin)
FOG can, does, and will catch you out. It cools and solidifies in drainage systems, which over time creates a thick impenetrable layer of gunk that means water cannot pass through it. Your drains are now blocked *round of applause*.
In colder weather, these fats will solidify at a far more rapid rate when they hit the icy pipes, meaning you might not get a 2nd chance. It’s a common misconception that accompanying fatty waste with hot water will clear any potential blockage. It won’t. Fatty gunk and water separates from each other. It’s best to let them cool and stick them in a container for the bin.
(Pictured: a thick layer of FOG blocking a drainage chamber)
We’re done for the day now anyway. No more lecturing. We hope that the above helps you steer clear of disaster this winter and hopefully saves you a bit of money that you can then stick in the central heating meter – you’ll need it!
If for whatever reason you do become victim to frozen pipes or blocked drains, there’s no need to panic. We’re on hand 24 hours a day to assist with any drainage or plumbing-related emergencies.
As you can probably gather by the “Metro Rod Manchester and Macclesfield”, they’re the areas we cover. It doesn’t stop there though. We also cover Stockport and substantial areas of Cheshire. You can find out more on our areas of coverage for Manchester and Stockport here, and for Macclesfield and the rest of Cheshire here.
If we’ve managed to engage you in the world of drainage, we’ve got a bunch of industry-specific case studies on our website too. Perfect bedtime reading! Click the relevant title from the following: Retail, Education, Manufacturing, Facilities Management, Social Housing, and Sports Stadiums.
Last thing, we promise! Please be sure to follow our social media channels! You can get us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn by clicking the relevant title. We also have a Vimeo channel with some short, easy-going videos on what we do! Very cutting-edge, hey! Check it out!
Phone: 01625 879035
Freephone: 0800 66 88 00
Email: [email protected]
“We guarantee our clients a safe, professional and honest service day and night”
Talk to your local Metro Rod specialist
We are always happy to arrange a free site assessment and no obligation quotations for any work you might need. Alternatively, you can call our emergency hotline number on 0800 66 88 00
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