Blocked drains aren’t the nicest problem to have in your house. People can feel frustrated when they find their sinks, bathtub, toilet, and shower draining slower than normal. You could be experiencing a problem with blocked drains. What causes blocked drains, and why do they keep happening:
Causes of Blocked Drains
There are several reasons this could happen, one of which could be a sign that severely damaged pipes may need replacing, and added blockages could make things worse. So it is essential to identify these causes so you can take the necessary steps to prevent them from happening again:
Cooking Oil
Cooking oil comprises triglycerides, three fatty acids joined to a glycerol molecule. When cooking oils cool and harden, they can become solidified in your pipes. This makes them difficult to remove and can cause clogs.
Food scraps
Food scraps are a common cause of blocked drains. They can attract pests and contribute to a bad smell in your house, which is unpleasant and aggravates allergies and asthma.
Food scraps can also cause blockages that require professional help to unblock. A build-up of food in your waste disposal unit or drainpipe could lead to the pipe bursting or flooding your house if you don’t deal with it quickly enough.
Mineral build-up
A mineral build-up causes blocked drains. If you use old or rusty pipes or have hard water in your area, this could be an issue. An excellent way to prevent mineral build-up is changing showerheads every few years.
Soap
The first thing to do is check your liquid soap. Soap is a detergent that breaks down fats and oils. Using a lot of soap to clean your dishes or yourself can build up in the drains and pipes, causing blockages.
Hair
Hair is made of keratin, a strong protein that can get caught in your drain. Your hair will typically get stuck in the trap, the U-shaped pipe beneath your sink that collects water and other debris before flowing into your sewer line. However, hair can also become trapped in the pipe or joints where pipes meet each other.
Cat litter
Your drains are clogged. You go to the kitchen sink, and a mountain of cat litter is on top of the drain. The culprit is likely cat litter: it can cause blockage when it gets stuck in the drainage system by clumping together and forming a solid mass.
Toiletries
The toiletries you dispose of in your toilets are not designed to be flushed down the drain. In fact, doing so can cause costly damage to your plumbing system.
If you want to prevent blockages in your pipes and drains, it is important that you only flush the waste products that are designed for flushing. For example, toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissues and baby wipes should all be disposed of in the trash can instead of the toilet bowl.
Foreign objects
Hair can get caught in the drain, clog it up and cause blockage. Other common sources of foreign objects include baby toys, food particles, and clothes dropped down the sink. The easiest way to prevent drains from becoming blocked is to ensure that you don’t put anything down on their way through your pipes.
Natural debris
Natural debris is the most common cause of blocked drains. For example, if you have a lot of leaves, twigs or branches in your gutter, they could easily be washed into your drain by rainwater. You should try to clear out this debris as soon as possible if you think it’s causing a problem.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has provided you with all the information you need to prevent blocked drains. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your local plumbing service to help you with this issue.