Skip to main content

In this article

    5 Ways to help you maintain your drain health in the home

    21st January 2022

    You may have heard the phrase; prevention is better than a cure. The same phrase can also be used for your drainage system, a part of the house that is often overlooked before it becomes a problem. We depend on our drains every day and when they do go wrong, or you experience a blocked drain it can cause mayhem!

    Here are five simple ways to help you maintain your drains:

    Use a Drain Guard

    Most plugholes come with drain guards but it’s always good to install them to reduce the volume of waste that gets washed down your sink. They come in plastic or metal and they’re a small disc-style grate that sits on top of your plughole to collect waste which you can remove and empty into the waste bin. You can buy drain guards to cover most of your plug holes including kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, bathtubs, and showers, which is one of the most important ones as loose hair can clog more quickly and cause your shower to overflow, so it’s worth emptying your shower grate frequently.

    Use Boiling Water

    Hot water helps with the breakdown of oils and can improve sluggish drains, it’s one of the simplest ways to maintain your drain health and is accessible to most of us. We recommend that once a week you boil your kettle or pan of water and give your kitchen drains a flush.

    Garbage Disposals

    If you have a garbage disposal installed in your kitchen it’s important to give it a regular clean. Plan on cleaning it once a month with a sturdy disposer brush. Another way to help keep your garbage disposal in good condition is to flush it out with cold water followed by half a lemon or lime to give it some added freshness.

    Washing Your Pets

    Most of us wash our pets in the bathtub and some even take them into the shower to save on having to chase them around the house when they’ve escaped the bath! Washing your pets can be a massive task, but it is harder on your drains than you think. Pet hair is quite oily so it can easily find its way through the plughole grate that we’ve recently installed. Another way to help collect pet hair is to place a facecloth or a tea towel over the plughole to catch your pet hair. You can then take the cloth outside and hang it to dry. 

    Let Cotswold Drainage do the Cleaning for You!

    Let us help you with your drains. An annual health check is it all takes to keep your drains health in tip top condition, this is the best way to keep your drainage system flowing free from debris. However, if you are faced with a problem and you are not sure how to move forwards then get in touch with our professional team and we will provide you with some sound advice. 

    We can also help in an emergency, we’re on call 24/7 365 to support you with burst pipes, blockages,  commercial properties and more.


    Get in touch

    Contact our friendly and professional team via form, phone or email for any drainage issues you may have.

    From blocked drains to septic tank repairs and replacements, we're here to help. We have over 25 years of experience and offer 24/7 emergency callouts.


    This company carried out some rather difficult works inside a treatment plant for me. There was a longer delay than I expected for the parts but they kept me informed at all times. They carried out the work exactly as planned and on time as they agreed, to the exact price quoted. It was terrible weather and the two men working on site still got the job done and were positive and hard working all the way through. I am impressed with Cotswold Drainage and will continue to use them in the future. They are friendly, realistic, not the cheapest quote I'd had, but certainly honest and knowledgeable people. I don't mind paying slightly more for that level of service. It was stress free and good value in the long run. So when you look at multiple quotes, I'd say consider them above others due to their knowledge, honesty and workmanship.
    - John M
    - Rob Pateman
    Cotswold Drainage Ltd came out on a Saturday and spent a long time trying to clear a stubborn drain blockage. They then returned early the following week and managed to fix what could have turned into a huge, stressful job — especially impressive as two other companies had been unable to resolve it. The 6-month guarantee is a great reassurance, and the team were friendly, accommodating and genuinely made me feel like nothing was too much trouble. They will absolutely be my go-to company from now on. Highly recommended.
    - lin bill
    They provided me with a prompt and efficient service when a drain at the back of my house was blocked. The two people I spoke with on the phone and in person were reassuring and helpful. Would recommend.
    - Chris Sharp
    Reliable, professional and trustworthy. Adrian resolved the issue of a blocked drainage system, identifying the problem and taking the appropriate action to resolve it, leaving the drain free running and all blockages removed.
    - Andy Bassett
    We recently had some work done to our pump chamber which was in need of some significant upgrade. Cotswold Drainage did a great job. Their engineers were professional, knowledgeable and kept us updated on progress. The office staff were great too. Very responsive to sending out the quote and planning the work. Overall workmanship and price was spot on. Will be using them again for the annual service. Well done and thank you.
    - Lak Jaspal
      Please let us know your name.
      Please let us know your email address.
      Invalid Input
      Invalid Input
      Please let us know your message.

      Related Articles

      How to Fix a Broken Drainpipe

      I’m not sure the blockage is on my property. How can I find out?

      Most Common Causes of Cracked Drainpipes