Clogged drains can cause major plumbing problems in your home that are costly to fix. Blocked drains can cause your pipes to crack, causing water damage to your home. In order to avoid clogged drains, you need to know the major causes of them.
Hair
Hair is the most common cause of blocked drains. Hair can bind with other substances such as grease forming clogs in your pipes. Hair builds up over time, and this problem is common for people with long hair. In order to prevent hair from locking your drains, install a guard that catches the hair and remember to clean them occasionally.
Soap
Soaps are usually made using grease or fat. The fat component in the soap fuses with minerals forming scum that blocks drains. To avoid blockage by soaps, transition to using liquid soap. You can also opt to pressure wash your pipes to remove scum deposits.
Cooking Oils
Cooking oils harden as they cool. If cooking oils cool inside your pipes, it solidifies and causes a blockage, which prevents the flow of draining water. Food items such as butter and mayonnaise can be just as bad, and items such as eggshells can stick to the hardening cooking oils. Blockages caused by cooking oils are removed through pressure washes done by a plumber. You can also recycle the oil as opposed to throwing it away.
Foreign Objects & Toiletries
Children love flushing objects down the drain such as toys, which can lead to blocked drains. A buildup of foreign objects in your piping system will block it, obstructing the flow of water. Teach your children that it is not a game to flush their toys and that they should only use the toilet as needed. You should also avoid flushing items such as diapers and cat litter, as these items do not break down in the presence of the water. The best thing is to throw such objects in the trash rather than cause a blockage.
It is possible for toiletries such as wet wipes and pads to be stuck in pipes, causing a blockage. For items such as toiletries, ensure you use a bin rather than flushing them. This type of blockage may be removed using a plunger, and in extreme cases, there is the need for a pressure wash. Using excessive amounts of toilet paper are another cause of blocked drains.
For more information, contact your local blocked drain plumber.
