Notice how your bath, toilet and sink are connected via a series of interconnected pipes? These all join to a network of horizontal pipes, otherwise known as soil pipes or waste pipes.
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What is a soil pipe?
A soil pipe removes waste (greywater) from your kitchen, bathroom and WC and transports it to an allocated drain. The system works in sync with the vents on the roof of the building to ensure there are no foul smells.
Water from your toilets, bath, shower or sink flows into a wastewater pipe, allowing the gases to escape into the atmosphere while gravity ensures the water ends up in the sewer that your drains are connected to or your septic tank.
How do soil pipes get blocked?
Unfortunately, there are a number of ways soil pipes can become blocked, calling upon the need for a repair.
Typically, soil pipes get clogged when non-flushable items are disposed of down the sink or drain – this includes fats, oils and grease in the kitchen and hair and soap scum in the bathroom.
Luckily, there are a few common signs that indicate you have an issue with your soil pipes, including:
- Toilets draining slower than usual
- Sinks, showers or baths taking longer to drain
- Nasty odours emanating from the drains
If you spot any of the above issues, don’t hesitate to contact your local drainage specialists and ask them to inspect your soil pipes. This way, they can get to the bottom of the problem.
How can blockages be prevented?
Not just a huge inconvenience for homeowners, blocked soil pipes can bring businesses to a halt.
Though it might not seem like a big deal, the simplest of blockages has the potential to escalate into something much more serious later down the line – costing you more on repairs and replacements.
Although it’s possible to reduce the risk of blockages yourself, the best way to prevent soil pipes from getting blocked is to incorporate regular inspections into your maintenance plan. This will help to eliminate the need for emergency call-outs and expensive repairs. Instead, any faults or defects will be identified before it’s too late.
In addition to having your soil pipes regularly inspected, it’s also worth contacting qualified engineers to conduct a CCTV drain survey. Using the latest technology, they will be able to take a closer look inside your drainpipes and spot any potential issues and blockages. Drawing on the findings from the survey, they can then advise on the best course of action to take – be it high-pressure water jetting or extensive repairs.
When do soil pipes need replacing?
With the appropriate maintenance, your soil pipes shouldn’t need repairing or replacing often.
However, if your soil pipes are damaged, it may be possible to have them repaired. And thanks to pipe lining, engineers can rectify the issue without having to excavate – offering a simple alternative to replacement.
If your soil pipes are damaged beyond repair, engineers will advise replacing them with new ones. This will ensure that they function efficiently (without leaking or overflowing) and potentially increase the value of your property. It will also help to reduce the need for frequent repairs, helping you save money in the long term.
If you need to buy soil pipes and fittings, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for on the Build Plumb Plastics website. They stock an extensive range of soil and waste systems and guarantee some of the most competitive prices around.
Want to know more?
If you have any questions about soil and waste pipes, or want more tips on how to prolong their lifespan, feel free to contact the experts at BP Plastics today.
Always on hand to help, they can share their knowledge and expertise – providing you with the information you need in order to make an informed decision.
You can either get in touch by calling 01255 258 525 or send an email to the team at sales@plasticdrainage.co.uk, and they’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
