Blockages in your bathroom or kitchen sink can start as minor issues but can soon become serious problems. Apart from slowing water drainage, clogged drains can cause flooding, corrosion, and sewage backup that can result in costly repairs.
Here are the most common causes of clogged drains so that you can remember them to avoid spending money on costly repairs and avoid the need to call out plumbers.
Hair
Hair is a real drain clogger, especially in the shower. The average person loses about 50 hairs a day, so imagine if all that hair from every member of your household went down your shower drain. Even after it has fallen off a person’s head, hair can endure for several years before decomposing.
Prevent hair from clogging your drain by installing drain guards and cleaning them out regularly. If your shower drain is clogged with hair, make a DIY drain de-clogging solution: pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1 cup of white vinegar.
There will be a fizzing reaction, so wait for it to stop. About 5 minutes after the fizzing, pour 2 quarts of hot water. Repeat the process until the drain is clear.
Tree Roots
Surprisingly, tree roots are a common cause of clogging your drain pipes as they can be drawn to the water seeping from even the smallest leaks or cracks. If any tree roots get into your pipes, the roots can grow quickly, obstruct water flow, and damage the pipes. Removing tree roots can be a complex process that only professionals can perform.
It’s difficult to know if any nearby plants or trees on your property can cause this, and it doesn't matter if you're in Sydney or San Francisco. Tree roots are tough, so have your water line inspected by plumbers. Check for any unusual activity in your plumbing, such as gurgling sounds from your toilet, erratic changes in water pressure, puddles in your yard, or a sudden spike in your water bills despite normal water usage.
Soap
Another common drain-clogging item is soap. When soap bars are reduced to small bits in the bath, these can easily slip down the drain and become deposited in the pipes. Any hair that falls down the drain can stick to the soap and accumulate, forming a blockage.
As soap is made from grease and animal fat, these substances can also combine with the minerals in the water and form a hard residue called soap scum. You can prevent blockages caused by bits of soap by using drain guards. Avoid soap scum buildup by using soap-free body wash instead of soap and have your pipes cleared out with a pressure washer.
Toiletries
Toiletry items are also responsible for blocked drains and pipes. Toiletries objects like toilet paper, baby products, and wrappers can cause drain blockage at any time. Although toilet paper are flushable excessive amount of toilet paper can cause problems. Some baby items, on the other hand, are not flushable, and you should not allow them to go through the drains or pipes. Baby wipes are NOT flushable and will cause trouble for you if they get inside the drains or pipes.
Food Waste
Bits of food must not go into your drains, even if you have a rubbish disposal unit. When cleaning dishes, dump the food waste into a composting bin instead. This is important for food waste like tea leaves and coffee grounds that don’t decompose quickly.
If your kitchen sink gets clogged from food waste, you can perform tasks to clean drains. Never dispose of cooking oil or grease down the drain; these will quickly solidify and bind with other food waste and cause a serious blockage. Wipe off grease from pans and throw it in the compost bin.
Plants and Dirt
Some outside elements can also be responsible for drain and pipe blockage; one must be aware of it. Trees, leaves, shrubs, and dirt are some of the external elements that can cause drain blockages.
Trees, leaves, and shrubs can enter your drains and pipes through rainwater holes and create trouble if you do not clean them frequently. Hence, try to keep your garden clear to prevent problems like blocked drains and pipes.
A Poor Plumbing System
Poor plumbing system is another complex issue that can cause blocked drains and pipes. People who apply DIY methods to save some money or hire inexperienced and cheap plumbing service providers can also face problems.
It is better to hire professional plumbing services to get 100% satisfactory outcomes. If you need a plumber in Melbourne or a Sydney plumber you can find one easy on expertEasy.
Keeping drains free from blockages requires that you use drain guards whenever possible and never throw anything that you shouldn’t down the drain. Compost your food waste and check and clean out drains regularly.
The Best Way to Fix a Clogged Drain
The simplest solution and the best for anything major or if you don't fancy getting dirty is to have a plumber fix it rather than DIY. Some clogs can be difficult to identify the location of and remedy. Plumbers have the skills and experience to ensure that the blockage can be removed without risking damaging your pipes and plumbing system.
If needed you will get a more thorough unclogging process than you could have ever pulled off on your own because they can disassemble, clean, and reassemble the plumbing system. Many plumbing services have 24/7 emergency plumbing services. However, read on to tackle it yourself.
Assessment
The first step is to identify where the clog most likely is. This can be done by identifying which areas of the home are affected by the clog. For example, if only one drain in the home is affected, then you can be sure that the clog is further down in the system from that drain, but it is not where multiple pipes finally meet and allow the wastewater to leave the home.
Of course, this is a best-case scenario. However, if there are multiple drains that are affected at once you will need to identify where each one meets before reaching a point where a drain is still working properly. This will tell you where the clog most likely exists.
Prepare the tools you need
For simple sink blockages, there are quick fixes. For others, here are the steps to fix your house drain. Once you start working, a distraction or an emergency run to the store can be quite inconvenient. So, what you need at minimum is a plunger, a screwdriver, some gloves, and it’s handy to have a pipe snake at hand.
Chemicals
If you are dealing with a clog that only affects one drain, then it is ideal to start with a chemical drain unblocking cleaner. There are countless products that are available on the market that can work to break up the material that is causing the blockage. Still, it might be safer and cheaper to initially try out a homemade solution crafted out of baking soda and white vinegar.
You may want to do some research on which product is best depending on the type of drain blockage, as there are different chemicals that are ideal for breaking up food materials and grease, while other chemicals are better at addressing blockages caused by hair and body care products.
When you use chemical drain cleaners, you must very closely follow all the directions and warnings provided on the product. These chemicals can be very hazardous to inhale, have contact with the skin, or accidentally get into the eyes. They also can react with other chemicals, so they only should be used if you have not already attempted to use a different chemical to loosen the clog. Following the directions closely is important to ensure that you do not cause harm to your health or home.
If you follow the instructions on the chemical drain cleaner and still do not get the results that you need it is time to move on to trying to use a snake to loosen the clog. If there is still fluid slowly going down the drain you will want to wait until all the liquid has gone down. This makes it safer to use the snake as it minimizes the risk of the liquid splashing into your face, eyes, and onto your skin.
Drain auger
A pipe snake is also known as a drain auger. It’s a long, snake-like object that you push down the drain in order to physically remove the clog and help it follow its course further down the drain.
You will want to estimate how far down the clog is. Plumbing snakes come in a wide variety of sizes depending on the need. In most cases, a 25-foot snake should be sufficient, but knowing what you need before you begin can help to reduce the number of trips that you will need to take to the store. Keep in mind that while this is not an expensive tool, and even though the majority of households own one, using it is not quite as simple a task as you might think.
Just like using a drain cleaner, it is important to use the snake effectively. Some will come with specific instructions on how to use it best. Others will expect that you already have the knowledge you need to use it. If you have never used one before, it is ideal to take some time to watch videos like the one below before putting them to use.
It is also ideal to be sure that you have the right personal protective gear, such as heavy-duty gloves and eye protection. This will help to reduce the chance of any type of injury while performing the task.
If, after trying the snake, you do not have any luck, it is likely best to have a plumber address the issue. If you do not have a plumber that you typically use, then you will want to take some time to be sure that the one you choose has a good reputation. Taking this step will ensure that your issue is taken care of quickly and for a fair price.
Prevention
One of the most important things you need to consider after the problem is fixed is future prevention. You would be surprised, but there is so much you can do about this. The most obvious method is to use a hair catcher. For those with long hair, this is definitely the optimal solution.
Pouring boiling water, bleach, vinegar, and baking soda down the drain from time to time as it drains slower could help keep the drains clean. Remember, just because the drain is still functional, this doesn’t mean that there isn’t a start of a clog happening somewhere down there.
