September 09, 2021
Clogged drains are one of the most irritating and common plumbing problems. There is nothing more frustrating than standing in a pool of water when you’re trying to shower or trying to get water to drain from your sink. If you often deal with clogged drains, it might be a good idea for you to become familiar with the most common causes of this plumbing problem. That way, you can more easily avoid clogged drains in the future.
7 of the most common causes of clogged drains include:
- Hair: Hair is a big culprit for clogged drains. As you wash your hair in the shower, it often falls out and makes its way into your drains, where it catches onto anything stuck inside of them and continues to build up until you’ve got a major problem on your hands.
- Grease, fat, and oil: While it might seem ok to pour liquid grease, fat, or oil down the drain, this is actually a huge mistake. Your pipes are cool, which means they can quickly cool any liquid grease, fat, or oil that you pour down your drain. As these things cool, they harden and stick to the inside of your pipes, catching any other items as they attempt to make their way through your pipes. This can quickly result in serious clogs.
- Food waste: While the name “garbage disposal” might imply that you can put just about anything down it, it is important to limit the type and amount of food scraps that go down your kitchen sink. Food waste that doesn’t break down—such as coffee grounds, eggshells, fibrous vegetables, potato skins, and bones—should always be tossed in the trash rather than placed in the disposal. Otherwise, these things can easily get caught within your pipes, forming serious clogs.
- Tree roots: Tree roots are drawn to sources of moisture, which makes your pipes the perfect place for them to thrive. Once they sense moisture in your pipes, they can continue growing towards them, then break through them, where they continue to grow inside. As tree roots grow inside of your pipes, they form serious blockages that can be very difficult to take care of.
- Flushable wipes: While they are marketed as “flushable,” flushable wipes are one of the worst things you can put down your drains. These wipes are only called “flushable” because they can physically fit into a pipe, but once inside, they often get stuck until you’ve got a major clog.
- Hygiene products: Feminine hygiene products are a major source of clogged drains. These items expand once they are introduced to the water inside your pipes, which results in them easily becoming stuck and forming major blockages.
- Mineral buildup: If your home has hard water, it is likely that you will experience clogs caused by mineral buildup at one time or another. Hard water contains minerals—such as magnesium and calcium—that are left behind in your pipes as water continues to flow. The scale can continue to build until your pipes become restricted.
How Can I Avoid Clogged Drains?
While you can’t necessarily prevent tree roots from growing into your pipes, you can be careful about what you put down your drains. By only flushing human waste and toilet paper down the toilet and limiting the items you place in your garbage disposal, you can significantly reduce the risk of drain clogs.
Additionally, you can schedule routine drain cleaning services to keep your drains in top shape. Drain cleaning is the best way to break down any clogs, blockages, or buildup within your pipes and keep them flowing freely. This service should be completed every six months or so to prevent major plumbing disasters, protect your plumbing pipes, and keep your home running smoothly.
Call EnviroSafe Today!
The plumbing pros at EnviroSafe offer comprehensive drain cleaning services, including conventional drain cleaning and hydro jetting.
Our drain cleaning services cover:
- Kitchen sink drains
- Bathtub and shower drains
- Bathroom sink drains
- Toilets
- Sewer drains
Learn more about how our team can take care of your drains and prevent major clogs by calling us at (856) 208-5108. We look forward to serving you!
