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We’ve all been there: your kitchen sink takes that little bit longer to drain, you stand in a pool of water while you shower, your toilet looks like it’s giving you a present every time you flush… Your drains are clogged. Drain stoppage occurs for a variety of reasons, ranging from cooking oil to action figures. Ready to learn more about the factors that influence your drains?
Hair is one of the most common contributors to drain stoppage in your bath, shower, and bathroom sink drains. Hair from washing your hair or shaving can easily build up in your drains and impede water flow. Hair also knots itself around other clog contributors like grease and soap scum which essentially glues it to the drain walls.
If your drains are backed up with hair, you can try to plunge them to remove the clog however if clog is more stubborn, you may have to call a professional plumbing company so they can use devices such as a plumber’s snake to dislodge the blockage.
To prevent stubborn hair clogs, you can use a strainer drain guard on each of them, make sure you clean the strainer at least once a week to ensure effectiveness.
Soap residue, or soap scum, is a double whammy. Not only does soap build up on the walls of your drains, but it also acts as glue for hair, dirt, and other materials. Over time, soap build-up decreases the diameter of your drains.
Soap buildup is best tackled with pressure cleaning. To prevent future soap scum buildup, use soap-free washes and schedule regular plumbing services to keep soap scum from building up and preventing your drains from draining.
Surprised? Although it’s easy to think that you can wash as much of it down a drain as you want, dirt can cause drain stoppage. It builds up just like soap to coat the walls of the drain, and can even get stuck in bends in the piping.
Dirt clogs require drain cleaner or cleaning auger to be broken down.
To prevent dirt buildups in the future, shake off as much dirt as you can outside. Before cleaning shoes, hit the soles together to dislodge the majority of the dirt.
If you’re watering plants in your sink or bathtub, try to limit the amount of dirt that tips out your pots. Use a strainer drain guard to prevent excess dirt from heading down your drain.
Many people believe that rinsing oil and fat with hot water prevents clogs and blockages but sometimes this is not the case.
Grease, fat, and oil solidify inside your pipes can prevent any water flow. Hot water might help momentarily, but it often just moves the blockage further down your drains.
Small grease clogs can sometimes be broken down by a solution of detergent and hot water, but it’s always better to call in a professional to resolve the issue for you. In the future, instead of rinsing excess oil and fat down the drain, throw it away. Use a paper towel to wipe up small amounts of oil, and allow larger amounts of grease or fat to solidify before throwing it away with the trash.
And finally… Action figures. Lego. Rubber ducks. Any small object that should not be flushed is bound to cause a blockage! Other common drain stoppage culprits include jewelry, earbuds, and feminine hygiene products.
The trouble with these objects is that they never break down or dissolve. Once they’re in your drain, they’re there to stay. And since toilet
If you have young children or even curious pets, teach them that toilets are not for toys. Finally, only flush human waste and toilet paper. Wet wipes? No. Food? Also no! Being careful to not flush any unflushable objects is the best way to look after your drains.
Are you tired of your bath taking so long to empty? Or is your kitchen sink spitting up old food? Let Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric come to your rescue!
With nearly 40 years of experience serving the homes and drains in South Florida, we know how to keep your drains happy and clear.
Contact us today at 561-391-1048 for drain issues, professional plumbing services, and more!
