Maintaining a home isn’t easy. One needs to cater to multiple tasks like cleaning, dusting, and many more. Amongst all these tasks, the most significant one is checking water drains for blockages.
Unfortunately, every homeowner faces the issue of blocked drains at least once in their entire life. From debris to household waste, anything can be responsible for a blockage. Even cleaning wipes can cause massive blockages.
That is why keeping drains unclogged is a tough job but still a necessity. It might seem like a minor inconvenience at the start but becomes a nuisance with time. Therefore, homeowners should avoid circumstances that hinder the smooth drainage of water.
What are the Most Common Reasons for Water Drains Blockage?
Here are the top seven reasons why water drains in homes get blocked or drain water slowly. Once you know about all of these, you can find a timely solution and save yourself from unwanted troubles.
Water Drains Blockage due to Hair
One of the biggest reasons behind blocked drains is hair. We all have our share of hair fall, and these hair strands get washed away into the drain pipes. Within a pipeline, hair strands combine with sticky substances to form clogs.
In case of blockages, people use bleach and acids to clear the path. While individuals may be able to repair minor drainage problems themselves, more complicated situations might require the assistance of an professional emergency plumbing service. They will use several tools to remove long strands of unwanted clogged hair.
Still, one should be careful while bathing so that such an issue doesn’t occur. Try to install guards to catch hair before it enters a drain or brush hair before showering.
Toiletries can Lead to Clogging
Every emergency plumbing service provider will tell you that toiletries are a prominent reason behind water drain blockages. From baby wipes to tampons, condoms, sanitary napkins, tissue rolls, and paper, all of these items do not belong in a drain. Even if you don’t notice any issues at the start, there will be problems later on.
Instead of pouring tissue papers and wipes into a sink or a toilet, throw them in a dustbin. Most of the pipes installed in any home have a width of 10 centimeters. With such a small width, it won’t take much time for toiletries to create blockages.
At times blocked pipes cause sewage to rise into your backyard. It will create a horrible mess and cost you a lot of money. So, avoid disposing of toiletries into drains.
Grease and Fat are Equally Responsible for Blockages
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Another reason for the blockage of water drains is grease or fat. You might think how. Well, this is crazy but true. Here’s the deal, oil or grease are both sticky. So, when you throw such things into the sink, they start sticking to the inner surface of the pipes.
It reduces the width of the pipeline and makes drainage slower. Moreover, these sticky substances get attached to anything that passes down the drain.
With time the situation worsens, and the pipe becomes completely blocked. If you think your drainage lines are not functioning accurately due to grease, flush hot water into the drain. However, calling for professional plumbing services is the best choice.
Food Waste can Create Serious Problems
Always remember that food particles should not be thrown into kitchen sinks. Instead of sinks, use trash bags or composting piles to get rid of left-over food. Items like tea leaves don’t decompose quickly, so don’t wash them away. Similarly, greasy snacks might solidify within pipes and block the entire structure.
Homeowners who are not attentive to such details end up with blocked drains. It won’t only slow down the drainage process but also leads to sewage backup and expensive repairs.
Foreign Objects
Plumbers find several foreign objects within the drains of your home. These can be:
- Small toys
- Toothbrushes
- Washcloths
- Dental floss
Small size objects do not block the entire drain at once. Over time, when more objects start accumulating in the drainpipe, they disrupt the natural water flow.
You might not have thrown such things into drains intentionally, but they cause serious clogs, so you need to avoid them at all costs. Bathroom items should be stored safely in cabinets and away from the reach of children. A child’s mistake could cost you thousands of dollars.
Tree Roots, Twigs, and Leaves
Having beautiful trees in your backyard or on your property seems like a lovely idea. However, sometimes these trees become the prime reason behind clogs and blockages. Old tree root infiltration is common in many households.
The warm and fertile drains are an ideal home for tree roots. Whenever trees find cracks or holes in sewer pipes, they start to grow within them. It causes blockages because the entire pipeline is infested by the root. In such scenarios, only an efficient plumber can save your drainage pipe.
Similarly, wherever there are trees, there will be leaves and twigs. Leaves falling off from trees are washed away into drains. With passing time, these leaves turn into organic material which blocks off sewage pipes.
Dirt
Dirt particles can get deposited in drains and block off the path for water. Thus, one should pay attention to anything covered in dirt. For example, if you feel your clothes have excessive dirt, get rid of them before washing them. There are chances that dirt particles might not pass out from the drain. Instead of taking a chance, keep yourself and your house protected.
Conclusion
A clogged drain can create havoc in any home. From corroding pipes to flooding, a house owner could experience multiple problems if the issue is left untreated. If you wish to save yourself and your family from all sorts of troubles, get professional plumbers to fix your clogged pipes.
No one can match the skills of an experienced plumber. It is better to keep these common reasons in mind so that you can prevent such situations in the future. Don’t let a clogged pipe ruin the beauty of your home.
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