On the rare occasions when British weather isn’t overcast and gloomy, our first thoughts fall onto suncream, outdoor fun, and probably the sleepless nights we still haven’t recovered from.
But if the extreme heat waves are affecting you, chances are that they’re also affecting other aspects of your life, including your plumbing. With the UK’s older housing, especially, outdated systems may be more susceptible to harm from the heat, and it’s important to know what to look for.
Blockages during dry spells
Under the scorching sunshine, the ground tends to harden and contract as its moisture evaporates. This, in turn, affects piping as the ground contracts around it, leading to tighter pipelines.
Additionally, tree and plant roots may invade cracks in your drain pipes in order to locate moisture. This can quickly turn small issues into major problems – but not if you’re vigilant.
Getting a CCTV drain survey Nottingham, such as those provided by www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/nottingham/, can help identify these issues before they happen, by feeding a tiny camera down your drains to locate potential problems. This prevents those tiny seams from becoming gaping and costly chasms.
Smells and stress
You’ll often notice that, on warmer days, there are stronger smells coming from sewage systems. This is because the trapped organic matter in these drains decomposes faster, leading to gases being released into the open.
In your home, this may lead to foul odours finding their way up drainpipes and into your rooms. This can easily be remedied, but make sure to keep your eyes – or nose – open.
Extreme heat can even cause pipes made of clay or PVC to expand and contract, which may destabilise them by loosening joints.
Prevention is key
Ideally, these issues should never arise, provided you take the right precautions. Monitoring your drains in advance can help prevent major issues from happening and potentially highlight weaknesses in your system.
For instance, your drain system may be damaged, but can easily be repaired. In other instances, it may be prudent to replace old and faulty systems to prevent larger-scale damage to your home.
