Pakistan’s sanitation systems are starting to become more and more sustainable – something that is bound to increase now that the country’s financial position is expected to increase with the discovery of the largest oil reserves near Karachi.

Although Pakistan has seen significant increase in the number of people (58% of the population) who have access to basic sanitation, only 36% get access to fresh water sources, Pakistan still has a way to go to fully rectify its sanitation systems.

Plumbing in Karachi plays an important role in keeping your place clean and hygienic. This stands to reason that poor sanitation can lead to inconvenience and invite numerous diseases into your home, shop, mall, or office. Proper plumbing maintenance tips such as the ones mentioned below can help you reduce this risk significantly and ultimately lead a healthier life altogether. 

Many times, the main problem with sanitation systems arises due to poor maintenance of sewage and fresh water plumbing at homes or offices. Following are some tips to help you maintain plumbing pipers properly and keep your pipes clean in Karachi and continue proper sewage.

Use Strainers

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One of the major culprits that lead to clogged pipes is hair (for washrooms) and food particles (for kitchens). Avoiding this is easy by simply making sure you use strainers on top of your drains. These strains can accumulate such objects on top so that you can pick them up with your hand.

Make sure you keep cleaning these strainers, though. If you don’t, it can drastically increase the chances of some debris finding its way into your pipes and causing clogs.

Avoid Dumping Oil Into Your Kitchen Sink

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If you are experiencing slow or no drainage in your kitchen sink, it could mean there is a grime build-up in your kitchen plumbing – a direct result of oil or grease being dumped into the drain. 

Although it might seem as if oil flows through your pipes seamlessly, it couldn’t be further from the truth! Since oil is insoluble in water, some oil drops stick to your drain pipes’ walls and form grime – something that you can’t get rid of easily.

Avoid Washing Away Debris Into Gutters

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When washing kitchens, washrooms, terraces, or garages, there is bound to be debris in the shape of hair, dust, small rocks, leaves, egg shells, flour, or sticks.

If you don’t have a strainer on top of your drains, make sure you collect this debris before washing everything away and throw these items in the dust bin instead!

Insulate Your Pipes

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Those of you who live in a cold climate should insulate your pipes as thoroughly as possible with heat trapping insulators. This is to prevent water from freezing within the pipes, which can not only take hours to thaw but also cause pipes to explode!

While for freshwater pipes, one common trick is to keep water dripping overnight so that the movement doesn’t let water freeze, the same doesn’t work for sewage.

Insulation keeps sewage pipes’ heat stored within, allowing the pipes to stay warm despite the cold outside.

Any leaks in the insulation can render all your efforts and money useless, so it is advised you only hire professional plumbers in Karachi to insulate your plumbing for you. For guaranteed quality service, we recommend you hire expert plumbers from Kam Kaj for this task, and any other plumbing services you might need.

Avoid Chemicals For Clearing Clogs

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While using chemicals seems like an easy way to open clogs, you should avoid them as much as possible. This is because as much as acids and bases attack clogs along their way, they also attack your pipe’s linings, drastically affecting your plumbing’s integrity and damaging pipes, resulting in leaks or breakage.

Use Enzyme-Based Cleaners

We recommend enzyme-based cleaners instead of harsh chemicals for your pipes, regardless of whether they are PVC or metallic. These cleaners use natural bacteria that break down sludge that causes clogs, leaving your pipes clean and unaffected along the way. 

Remember to leave an opening for hot air, though, or it could deform your PVC pipes!

Although these enzyme-based cleaners aren’t as famous commercially in Pakistan, they are usually available with expert plumbers in Karachi.

Home-based Maintenance

You can use ingredients available in your kitchen to clean your drains out. Although not as potent or quick as chemicals, home-based drain cleaners do a decent enough job of keeping your pipes clean if used regularly. To do so;

1. Take one cup of baking soda 
2. One cup of vinegar 
3. Mix the two in a bowl or flask. Be careful, since this mixture is caustic.
4. Pour this mixture down the drain.

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We recommend you do this once every month to remove any clog-causing materials from your pipes!

You can also use plungers to dislodge minor clogs within your sewage system. However, plungers often work on clogs close to the drain head.

Professional Help

In cases of major clogs or leaks in you plumbing system, you might be better off calling a professional. These clogs can’t be treated with any at-home mixture or even chemicals. Examples include tree roots, big rocks, tree branches, or other hard debris. Tree roots or branches in your system are usually also accompanied by leaks in the plumbing. 

Professional plumbers in Karachi have a number of techniques they can use to remove clogs such as plumbing snakes and hydro-jetting. They can also repair plumbing systems using heat guns, PVC thread makers, and other useful tools.

You should get your plumbing inspected all the way from overhead water tanks to underground sewage twice every year – once before and once after winter – to ensure smooth water flow, and in turn, hygienic living. Whether you want to get your plumbing repaired, want to install a new water tank, or are looking to lay a new plumbing line for your washing area, hire expert plumbers from Kam Kaj today for timely, quality service, and make your life a lot more easier!