Blockages in pipes and clogged drains may begin as minor difficulties, but they may easily turn into much bigger issues, if not treated on time. Slow water drainage, corrosion, floods, and, in severe situations, sewage backup, and expensive repairs, all can be brought on by clogged drains. Understanding what causes clogged drains is the first step in preventing them. Know the top causes of blocked drains, along with advice on how to avoid and resolve them.
1. Hair
Since hair may combine with grease and other sticky things to produce clogs, it is a major cause of drain blockages. Preventing hair blockages from developing in the first place is the best method to handle them. Make sure that every blocked drain in your home has hair-catching guards and that you clean them often. Moreover, you can simply try to wrap the fallen hair during your hair wash at ease and stop them from flowing to the drain lines.
2. Soap
You might be perplexed as to how soap could clog your pipes. However, the real ingredients in traditional soap bars are fat or grease. Bath fittings and pipes get stained and clogged when the fat in soap reacts with the minerals in the water to form a hard substance known as soap scum. Switch to soap-free washing, and then pressure-clean your pipes to get rid of any remaining soap scum accumulation.
3. Dirt
While trying to wash things, dirt from your body and your clothing can accumulate and cause problems in your drains. Before washing your garments indoors, shake or rinse off any extra mud and filth from your body and clothing outside.
4. Food Wastes
Despite the presence of trash disposal in your sink, food waste should never be flushed down the drain. To dispose of food waste, create a composting pile. This is crucial for garbage that does not decompose, such as coffee grounds and tea leaves. Grease and oil are other things to avoid since they might harden in the pipes and lead to blocked drains. Instead, wipe up the oil with a paper towel and compost it.
5. Accumulation of minerals
Hard water-dissolved minerals can accumulate and produce insoluble masses that can quickly clog your drains. If hard water is an issue in your location, installing a water softener for your house is one answer. You will need to routinely descale and remove sediment and buildup if that is not a possibility. When mineral buildup blockages get entrenched, they can be challenging to clear. Thus, if your drains and pipes suddenly stop working, call a licensed plumber at once to attend to your blocked drain issue.
6. Small objects
Small items have a habit of getting into your plumbing system and causing havoc. Your toilet, drain, and sink should only be used for flushing water, toilet paper, and human waste. Any more items should be:
- Properly disposed of in the garbage,
- Composted, or
You will probably need expert assistance to get rid of any foreign matter that has gotten into your plumbing supply and is generating problems so that your plumbing may function normally once again.
7. Toilet Paper
One of the most common bad habits of people is to throw away used toilet paper in the toilet pipes every time. If you someday notice that your flush is not working properly and the wasteful water is coming up or trying to overflow the entire washroom, then stuck or clogged toilet papers in the drain pipes might be the major reason behind such issues. If you want to avoid such blocked drain problems, then you can opt for throwing away waste materials in the bins rather than the commode.
8. Tree Roots
The tiniest fissures or leaks in your subterranean pipes might encourage the growth of tree roots. Tree roots swiftly expand after they have entered your pipes, impeding water flow and resulting in pipe damage. It can be difficult to remove tree roots from pipelines and may require excavation, trenchless repair, pressure jet cleaning, or rooter service. To avoid a significant and expensive repair, examine the root systems of your trees and plants and keep an eye that there is no blocked drain problem.
Conclusion
With so many potential reasons, the best method to deal with clogged drains is to avoid them in the first place. Avoid attempting to clean drains by adding more chemicals or materials, and never dispose of anything that you should not toss down the drain. And if your blocked drain becomes an urgent situation requiring the services of a qualified plumber, call up expert plumbing service professionals for the requisite support.
