If you are a landlord, you have to deal with a lot of different big and little issues, and at some point, you may have to deal with blocked drains. To minimise the hassle in advance, there are several issues you may want to consider. Take a look at these tips:
1. Outline Expectations in the Lease
Some blocked drain problems can be caused by tenants. For instance, if your tenants flush feminine hygiene products down the drain or pour old fry oil in the sink, that may clog the drain. If you have to call out a plumber to deal with the issue, you may end up incurring unwanted expenses.
To avoid that, you may want to outline who is obligated to cover these types of expenses, in the lease. In particular, you may want to stipulate that the tenant has to cover the cost of blocked drains due to occupant activity, whilst you will cover blocked drains due to other issues.
2. Check Drains Between Tenants
Ideally, you should make a note of the condition of your property before each new tenant moves in. If the tenant also signs that slip, you have a record of the state of the place, and that can make it easier to hold the tenant responsible for damages.
As part of that process, you may want to make sure that all the drains are working. Consider going through the property with the new tenant, and checking how bathtubs, sinks, showers and toilets are driving. If any drains are slow, make a note and consider addressing the issue.
3. Consider New Drain Covers
To prevent clogs, you may want to put new drain covers on the showers and sinks in the property. Consider permanently affixing covers so that your tenants cannot easily remove them. Make sure that the covers prevent any large items from slipping in the drain.
4. Look Into Preventative Root Maintenance
One of the biggest threats to drains are tree roots. To estimate how the roots of your trees look under the surface, imagine that the roots are about the same size as the canopy of the tree. This doesn't hold true for all species of trees, but as a general rule of thumb, it can work.
If your trees are getting ungainly, you may want to put in root barriers. A specialist can help you with that. The barriers prevent the roots from growing into walking paths and pipes.
5. Get to Know a Plumber
If you own several properties, you may end up dealing with issues related to drains on a regular basis. Consider finding a plumber who you like, who also has experience in blocked drain clearing. Then, you can call that professional any time you have a blocked drain.
