6 Common Causes of Drain Clogs

Clogged drains are among the most common plumbing issues in domestic properties. Clogged drains can cause corrosion, flooding, and, in extreme cases, sewage backup.

Therefore, you'll save lots of money on repairs if you can prevent clogs from happening in the first place. Understanding what causes blocked drains is the first step in preventing the problem. 

Below are six of the most common causes of clogged drains.

1. Fats, Oils, and Grease (F.O.G.)

Most of us think water will just rinse everything away. Nevertheless, as fats and oils cool down and solidify, they accumulate in your drain. Thus, F.O.G causes blockages that eventually prevent water from flowing. 

To dispose of grease and oil, pour them into a disposable container and throw them in the trash. Moreover, before rinsing your pots and pans, wipe them with a paper towel to remove any excess F.O.G.

2. Hair

Hair, animal fur, or other stringy stuff, such as dental floss, can make clogs more likely. The most likely places for this kind of clog are the shower, bathtub, and bathroom sink.

Hair is especially problematic to pass down drains since it can knot up and combine with substances such as soap scum to form thick clogs in parts of the drain.

To prevent any hair from washing down the drain, use a hair strainer drain guard. Make sure you clean the drain guard regularly. In addition, good hygiene practices, like sweeping hair from sinks and cleaning hair brushes over the trash, can help.

3. Paper Products

Towels and toilet paper are the only paper products that should go down the drain. Even so, too much toilet paper can also clog your drains.

Putting paper products like facial tissues, paper towels, napkins, wipes, and other paper waste down the toilet causes clogs and backups. The paper products are too thick and don't easily break up when flushed. You can prevent damage to your pipes and flooding in your home by throwing your paper products in the trash.

4. Food Waste

Food chunks and bits should never end up in the drain. The chunks, which can be sticky, stringy, sharp, or hard, can get stuck in the drains and build up over time.

Even if you have a garbage disposal in your sink, you should know that the disposal does not work with all kinds of foods.

Get rid of food waste by setting up a composting pile. You can also use a drain plug or cover to help keep food scraps out of the drain.

5. Tree Roots

Tree roots can pose a big problem because our pipes are mostly underground. Living things seek moisture, which is why water plumbing pipes attract tree roots. Especially if one pipe gets a crack or suffers from other kinds of leaks. 

The tree roots will grow larger inside the pipe, preventing water flow and damaging the pipe.

The problem with preventing clogs in your pipes caused by tree roots is that it's impossible to see the roots growing underground. When you plant trees and shrubs, consider where the drains run.

6. Cat Litter

Clay and silica are the main ingredients in kitty litter, which absorb moisture and form clumps. The clumps create large clogs inside your pipes.

Therefore, you should never flush kitty litter down the toilet or wash it down a drain in the house. Instead, put the litter in a bag and throw it away in the trash.

The key defense against plumbing disasters is to know what causes clogged drains. You can also hire a professional plumber to clean the drains yearly to keep your pipes clean and healthy. As a result, your plumbing system will perform better.

Contact us today for expert plumbers who provide solutions to all your plumbing problems.