It’s the middle of winter, it’s freezing and when it’s not snowing, it’s chucking it down with icy rain.
At this time of year, it’s not only a testing time for us to have to endure this horrid weather, but it’s a challenging time for our home too, which can struggle to deal with the intensity of heavy downpours, in turn exposing our home’s problems in January, which just after Christmas is probably the worst time to need to fork out for expensive repairs.
One issue that heavy rain exacerbates in winter is clogged drains. But according to one energy firm, you can use salt to clear blocked drains quickly and cheaply in winter.
Outside, leaves, dirt and general debris blows into our drains and causes them to run slow. This isn’t just an inconvenience, but standing water can end up causing foundation damage to a property, while excess water can seep into brickwork or nearby garage and sheds.
Inside, slow running kitchen drains can clog up and fail to work properly thanks to food bits, washing up and things that end up down the sink that really shouldn’t, like fats, milk and thick sauces.
According to energy firm Acto Energy, there is a way to unclog drains using ordinary table salt and a bit of hot water.
It explains: “Just like you, your kitchen drain may enjoy a nice exfoliation once in a while. While hot water can help loosen up debris, coarse salt actually scours the inside of your pipes, removing more material than hot water alone.
“After removing standing water from the sink, pour about half a cup (150g) of table salt down the drain before you pour in the hot water. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then flush with hot water to clear the mixture.”
If that doesn’t work, you can always fall back on tried and tested methods like vinegar and baking soda or bicarbonate of soda.
It adds: “We all know that vinegar and baking soda create quite a fizzle when combined. Well, that’s exactly what it might take to jolt loose that sticky drain debris.
“Again, remove standing water first, pour about a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by an equal amount of white or apple cider vinegar.
“The solution will bubble. That’s good! It means the chemical reaction is working. When the bubbles subside, place a stopper on the drain and wait 15 minutes. Run hot water to see if the clog has cleared and repeat if necessary.”
