Pipe blockages frequent during drought
Household and business waste pipes are more likely to block up when there are water restrictions than usual, warns Basil Biggs, owner of Biggs Plumbers and Renovations.
Fats and other deposits build up when there is insufficient flow of water through the system, he says.
In addition, the roots of trees and shrubs break into waste and sewage pipes in search of water, he says.
Biggs recommends high-pressure cleaning of waste pipes at least twice a year to avoid damage and blockages.
Home owners are advised to check to see where their waste lines are running and to ensure that they are protected from plants with invasive root systems.
He says the current drought has led to one of the highest rates of blockages he has seen in businesses and homes since he started working as a plumber in 2003.
Having worked for Drain Doctor in the United Kingdom for a number of years before returning to South Africa he has extensive experience in the unblocking of drains.
“The challenge always is to minimise the damage to gardens and paving. That’s why it is better to invest in keeping the pipes clean rather than risk having to dig them up to repair and clear,” he says.