Important Guidance on Drain Care and Preventing Blockages

The importance of properly maintaining the waste and drainage systems within your property.

Many drainage issues are entirely preventable and are often caused by unsuitable items being disposed of through toilets, sinks, showers, and baths. Preventing blockages helps avoid inconvenience, unpleasant odours, potential damage to the property, and unnecessary repair costs.

Toilets

Toilets are designed to dispose of human waste and reasonable amounts of toilet paper only.

The following items should never be flushed down the toilet:

• Wet wipes (including those marketed as “flushable”)
• Sanitary products
• Nappies
• Cotton wool pads
• Cotton budsKitchen roll
• Tissues
• Dental floss
• Large quantities or bundles of toilet paper
• Cleaning wipes

Many products advertised as “flushable” still contain plastics and fibres that do not break down quickly enough within drainage systems and are a common cause of blockages.

Bathroom Sinks

Bathroom sinks are intended for:

• Washing hands and face
• Brushing teeth
• Shaving

The following should not be allowed down the sink:

• Razor blade covers
• Cotton buds
• Dental floss
• Hair
• Excessive toothpaste build-up
• Soap residue
• Any solid objects

Where possible, use sink strainers to catch debris before it enters the waste pipe.

Showers and Baths

Hair is one of the most common causes of blocked shower and bath drains.

Tenants should:

• Regularly remove hair from shower and bath traps
• Use a hair catcher where possible
• Clean shower traps routinely
• Increase cleaning frequency where multiple occupants or individuals with long hair reside in the property

A few minutes of maintenance each week can prevent costly blockages.

Kitchen Sinks

Kitchen sinks are not designed to dispose of food waste, grease, fats, or cooking oils.

The following should never be poured or washed down the sink:

Cooking oil

• Fat from frying pans
• Grease
• Food scraps
• Rice
• Pasta
• Coffee grounds
• Egg shells
• Vegetable peelings

Fats and oils may appear liquid when hot but quickly solidify inside pipework, causing significant blockages.

Instead:

Allow oils and fats to cool and dispose of them in household waste.Scrape food waste into the bin before washing dishes.Consider using a sink strainer to catch food particles.

General Drain Maintenance

To help keep drains flowing freely, we recommend:

Weekly

• Remove hair from shower and bath traps.
• Wipe grease and food residue from plates and cookware before washing.
• Flush bathroom sinks and showers with hot water.

Monthly

• Clean waste outlets and plugholes.
• Use a suitable drain cleaning product in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Flush sinks and showers with hot water after treatment.

Suitable products include:

• Mr Muscle Drain Gel
• HG Drain Unblocker
• Buster Bathroom Drain Unblocker
• Similar household drain cleaning products

Always follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions when using cleaning chemicals.

Bad Odours

If drains begin to smell:

• Clean the waste outlet thoroughly.
• Flush with hot water.Use a suitable drain cleaner.
• Ensure sink and shower traps are being regularly cleaned.

Responsibility for Blockages

Please note that under the terms of your tenancy agreement:

If a drain is found to be blocked when a tenant first moves into a property, the landlord will be responsible for rectifying the issue.Where a blockage occurs during the tenancy, it will generally be considered the tenant’s responsibility, as the blockage is usually caused by materials introduced into the drainage system during occupation.

Should a contractor attend and determine that a blockage has been caused by inappropriate use of the drainage system, the cost of the call-out and any remedial works may be recharged to the tenant.

By following the guidance above, most drainage problems can be avoided entirely.

Kingston Berkeley 
Property Management Team