Winter is hard on drains. Leaves block gullies, heavy rain tests every pipe, and cold weather can freeze water in exposed pipes. However, a little care in autumn can prevent a lot of trouble later. This guide covers the jobs that matter most.
None of these checks needs special tools, since they only need a dry hour and some basic care. Where a job is outside your boundary or beyond your reach, we say who to contact.
Clear Leaves From Gutters and Gullies
Autumn leaves are the most common winter drain problem. They wash into gutters, gullies and grates, then pack together and stop the flow. As a result, when the next storm comes, the water has nowhere to go.
Clear your gutters and downpipes before the worst weather. Then lift the grating on any gully you can reach and scoop out the silt. Wear gloves and put the waste in a bin. For example, a bucket of wet leaves and grit is a normal find after a few weeks of autumn rain.
Watch the Road Gullies
The gullies at the edge of the road are not yours to maintain. If one is blocked, tell Cheshire West and Chester Council, because road gullies are a council matter.
If you spot a gully full of leaves near your home, report it. That helps keep water off the road and out of your garden. For more on how rain affects drains, see our post on blocked drains after heavy rain in Chester.
Protect Pipes From Frost
United Utilities, which serves much of Cheshire, gives a simple message for winter. Prepare, insulate and protect. First, find your stop tap and check that it works. Next, lag pipes in cold places such as outside walls, garages and lofts. Finally, fit insulated covers on outdoor taps.
Frozen pipes are mainly a water supply problem. However, frost can also hit outdoor waste pipes and pipes in unheated spaces. Because of this, check any exposed pipe before the cold arrives. If a pipe does freeze, thaw it gently and never use a naked flame.
Be Careful With Fat and Grease
Cooking leaves fat in the pan, and winter cooking makes more of it. Fat poured down the sink cools in the pipe and sticks to the wall, because it sets as it cools. Over weeks it builds up and narrows the pipe.
Wipe pans with kitchen paper and put it in the bin. For example, keep cooking oil in a jar and bin it when full. Our guide to preventing blocked drains in your kitchen has more tips. Wipes, even those sold as flushable, also belong in the bin and not the toilet.
Know the Early Warning Signs
Drains often give a warning before they fail. Slow water, gurgling and smells are the usual signs. They are easy to miss while the weather is bad and you are busy.
Do not wait for water to back up. Instead, our guide to the signs of a blocked drain lists what to look for. Early action is usually quicker to fix, and it keeps a small fault from becoming an emergency.
Check Outside Drains and Manholes
Take a look at the drain covers around your home. Specifically, make sure they are clear of debris and not buried under leaves, planters or snow. Water that stands near a cover can be a sign of a slow or partly blocked drain.
If you lift a cover, take care and put it back safely. However, do not climb into a chamber. If you see standing sewage, do not try to fix it yourself. Our drain unblocking team can attend and clear it.
Clean a Drain That Runs Slowly
A drain that runs slowly in autumn may fail in winter, because heavy rain adds more water to a pipe that is already struggling. It is better to clear it now than in a storm.
For example, for stubborn fat, scale or silt, drain jetting uses high-pressure water to clean the pipe wall. We compare the options in our guide to drain jetting versus drain rods. If the same drain keeps slowing, a CCTV drain survey shows the real cause.
When to Call for Help
Some problems cannot wait for a quiet day. If sewage backs up into the house, or a drain overflows and floods a room, treat it as urgent. Stop using water and keep children and pets away from the area.
Our guide to emergency drain problems lists the steps to take. For urgent faults, see our emergency drain services. Remember too that a blocked public sewer is a water company matter. Our post on who is responsible for drains in Chester explains how to tell.
Get Ready Before the Cold Arrives
A short checklist makes winter easier, since each job takes little time. Clear the gutters and gullies. Lag exposed pipes. Keep fat out of the sink. Then book a check if a drain already runs slowly.
If you would like us to look at a drain, send us the details through our contact page. Our blocked drains service covers the Chester area.
