What Are The Common Causes Of Blocked Drain?
Blocked drains are caused by a variety of things. The most common causes of blocked drain may be soil eroded from the highlands, leaves, plastics or even cloth fabric that have made their way in the sewer lines or drains.
For blocked toilet drains, the most common causes of blocked drain include wipes, nappies, and paper towels, any kind of plastic and other non-degradable materials. Never flush any of these items into any of the drains you have at home because they can definitely cause clogs. Some of them that get flushed down the drain will definitely clog the drain pipes. Once the drain pipes are clogged, this may cause water to back up from the drains and may cause flooding to the home. Therefore, it is highly recommended to not flush any of these items down the drain.
The most common causes of causes of blocked drains include:
Hair, dirt, soap, oil, grease, fat, wipes and diapers, food waste, objects which were accidentally flushed, feminine products and cotton swabs, cat litter, tree roots, offset pipes, mineral build up, plants, and leaves and too much toilet paper.
Hair, including animal fur and other stringy materials like dental floss are common materials that cause clogs. These can clog the shower, the bathtub, the bathroom sinks, drains, and the laundry. They can knot up and mix with soap and grease and attach to the drain pipe system.
To remove these causes of blocked drain, you can use the plunger or a drain cleaner. However, we do not recommend drain cleaners much because they can damage the pipes. A plumbing snake can also help dislodge this clog. To prevent clogging with hair, use hair strainers or drain guards to prevent hair from going down the drain. Clear it out of hair regularly to keep it effective.
Soap, or soap scum accumulates over time. It collects in the shower, laundry, and bathroom drains. It can reduce the pipes diameter and slow water drainage and cause wastewater backup. It can mix with hair and dirt and cause clogs.
Water pressure cleaning with a hydro jetter is best in removing soap build up. It is also recommended to use soap-free body washes to avoid soap scum.
Dirt, the builds up in the drain contribute to the clogs, especially when mixed with hair, soap, and grease. A plunger, drain cleaner or a drain cleaning auger can effectively remove this type of clog. Avoid washing off really muddy clothes, shoes or yourself in the bath, rinse outside before getting into the bathroom to prevent dirt clogs.
Grease, oil and fat can cause serious drain system problems because they solidify in the pipes and cause blockages.
Never flush grease, oil, and fat in the drain. If you already have a clog because of this, try the plunger. Mix some detergent and hot water and pour it in the affected drain and flush. Plunge again and if does not work use a commercial drain cleaning solution. Always remove oil and throw in the compost. Fats and grease should be placed in a jar and thrown into the trash.
Food waste are also among the common causes of blocked drain. They usually clogs kitchen drains. Foods like tea leaves and coffee grounds should not be flushed down the kitchen sink because these do not break down. Food waste can generally be removed by plunging, plumbing snakes or drain cleaners. To prevent clogs from food waste, have a compost bin for them to avoid putting food down the drains.
Wipes and diapers can definitely clog your toilet drains if they are flushed down into it. Only toilet paper and human waste should be flushed down the toilet. Paper towels or quilted toilet paper can also cause clogs. To remove these kinds of clog, plunge and use an auger to clear it up.
Small solid objects like toys may accidentally be flushed down if the children play with them in the bath. Other objects that accidentally fall in the bowl may also fall in the drains if the drain opening does not have a guard.
Plunging and a toilet auger can help dislodge these clogs. It is also important to educate children about not using toilet fixtures when playing. Keep shower openings and drains protected by drain guards to stop small objects from falling into them.
Feminine products and cotton swabs can block drains up if flushed. Tampons are a problem because can expand 10 times their size once they have absorbed water. They do not break and dissolve in water which is why they should not be flushed down the drain.
Plunging and an auger can work to fix the problem. If not, you’ll have to call the plumber. Never flush these items down the drain because they do not breakdown.
Cat litter is made of clay, silica, and sand that create clumps and cause clogs. The best solution these causes of blocked drain is to use a plunger and a toilet snake to remove it. Don’t make the mistake of flushing kitty litter into the toilet or any drain. Put it in a bag and throw away in the rubbish.
Offset pipes that can affect the drain flow from the home to the city’s sewer system can be the reason for a clog problem. Professional plumbers are what you need for this issue. They may need to excavate the problem pipe and do major work. Sometimes you need to make an upgrade to your drain system to fix the problem.
Tree roots that work their way inside tiny cracks in your pipe, can grow and obstruct water flow and cause damage to the drain system. Professional plumbers are best to fix this problem for you. The fix might be costly especially if excavation is necessary. Always review the state of your drains and the plants or trees around them.
Plants and leaves can clog external drains. Leaves can enter the drains and clog them, especially during the fall seasons. If they are still not too deep into the drain, they can be fished out or get the pros to clean the drains for you. Always keep drain openings clean and tidy and make sure they are covered with effective grills.
Mineral build-up because of hard water can block drains with mineral deposits. De-scale pipes to remove the build-up through a professional plumber. Installing a water softener at home can also help fix the problem
Too much toilet paper can cause clogs, too. Quilted toilet paper creates blockages at most times. Use a plunger, drain cleaners or a toilet auger to remove this kind of clog. Try not to flush toilet paper down the drain if possible. If you have to flush, flush small batches over several flushes.
If our quick fixes for these causes of blocked drain don’t work, call the pros to help you out. We are glad to help you out.
If you need professional help on a blocked sewer or a blocked drain, contact the blocked drain experts on 0412 738 874 or leave a message.
Helpful details for a Blocked Drain and Emergency Plumber situation:
Triple zero – 000
City of Melbourne – Floods and Storms
VicWater
Yarra Valley Water
Victoria State Emergency Service
