Common Causes of Clogged Drains in Homes
Clogged drains are among the significant plumbing problems homeowners encounter. They often cause inconveniences and headaches and can occur at any time. Learn the common causes of clogged drains and how to prevent them to keep your plumbing in excellent condition.
Foreign Objects
Only two items should go down in your toilet drain: toilet paper and human waste. Any other item, such as wipes, diapers, dental floss, condoms, and feminine hygiene products, wreaks havoc on your drains. Although some wipes are labeled as flushable, they can lead to clogs since they don't break down when flushed.
Similarly, sanitary products and diapers are cotton, which sucks vast amounts of water and grows in size as it holds water. As a result, a clog is inevitable since little or no water can pass through the drain. Therefore, watch out for what you flush in your toilet.
Food Waste
Food waste is often a big enemy of drains and leads to expensive blockages. Most foods contain fat and grease that attaches to the inside of the pipes and clogs them gradually. Coffee grounds and tea leaves are notorious for clogging drains since they do not disintegrate quickly.
A good way to dispose of leftover food scraps is to set up compost. Alternatively, consider putting your food remains in the trash. Also, pay attention to any liquids that go down the drain to decrease the chance of a blockage.
Hair
With time, hair can build up in your bathroom drain and result in slow drains or clogs. The only way to prevent this clog is to ensure that hair does not get into the drain. Consider products like drain screens that trap hair before it gets into the drain. Also, clean hair brushes over the trash can, not sink.
Soap and Toothpaste
Most soaps and shampoos have high levels of grease or fat. The fat merges with water minerals to form soap scum in your pipes, often resulting in clogs. Keep your drains clog-free by learning the ingredients in your soaps and shampoos. Choose plumbing-friendly soaps, and invest in pipe pressure cleaning to remove soap buildup.
Similarly, toothpaste scum can combine with other items like hair in your drain to cause clogs. Also, it may form a thick film inside your drain and block it. Rinse toothpaste with lots of water after every brush.
Overloaded System
Apart from the items that go down the drain, clogs may emanate from an overloaded system, especially septic systems. The septic system should be correctly sized to meet your household's size and the amount of wastewater you generate. An undersized septic system may become overwhelmed and result in slow drains and backups.
Trees Roots
Although trees around your home have numerous benefits, like cleaning, cooling the air, buffering noise pollution, and increasing property value, they can pose significant threats to your drains and plumbing.
Naturally, trees are drawn to moisture and water. If your sewer pipes are broken or leak, a tree's roots can grow towards this nourishing source. As a result, the roots chock your pipes and damage them further, resulting in nasty clogs and backup in your home. Homeowners with many trees in the vicinity should watch out for tree root invasion in their plumbing.
Countless things can cause clogged drains, from simple things like hair and soap to more complex things like an overloaded system and root infiltration. Fortunately, with adequate care, you can prevent clogged drains, keep your plumbing functioning, and avoid huge repair bills.
If you have clogged drains in the San Fernando Valley, contact Express Plumbing & Drain Service . We offer drain cleaning services that prevent clogged drains and preserve the function of your drains without harming them. We have 25 years of experience and the proper tools and knowledge to care for your drains.
