First off, let’s tell you what a U-bend actually is.
A U-bend, or a P-trap (what it is also known as), is an instrumental part of a water waste disposal. It acts as a barrier against the foul and unpleasant smells that drift up from the sewers. It’s not pleasant and it’s not healthy for you, so that is why the U-bend was invented. It traps the odours and sends them back to where they came from, or even better, kills them off. Simple, yet effective.
For it to work effectively, like all appliances it requires regular maintenance. To do this grab your trusty bucket, and line this up directly under the U-bend. Once in position, it will be safe for you to loosen it up, preferably with a wrench if you have one handy.
Instantly you will be presented with standing water so be prepared for that to pour out of the loosened U-bend. Next remove any debris that you can see, it’s important to have it ‘clean as a whistle’ for it to work at its maximum capability once again.
To clean the exposed drains, use a snake pipe or a homemade tool, such as a coat hanger; this always does the trick. Re-assemble everything, grab your ‘to do’ list out and tick off ‘cleaning the U-bend’ from your jobs.
Sinks are the simplest U-bends to clean out, but what can drive you around the bend is toilets and baths. That’s when we recommend you get in touch with us – so we can dispatch our expert engineers to safely check, clean and in some instances fix the problem.
We’re here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you require some expert advice or require a home visit.
You can reach us on 0800 849 8099 or through our ‘Contact Us’ page.
