5 Common Causes of Blocked Drains and How to Prevent Them

Blocked drains can be a nuisance which can cause a disruption in your daily life. They can result in water damage, bad smells, and even health risks. If not promptly dealt with blocked drains could cause grave problems to the plumbing system, leading to costly maintenance or repairs.
Key Takeaways
- Blocked drains can disrupt your routine and cause water damage, bad smells, and even health issues.
- Grease, oil and fat accumulations can stick to the walls of pipes causing blockages; avoid pouring grease down the drain or use hot water and soap for cleaning dishes.
- Tree roots naturally extend into the ground searching for nutrients. This can cause massive damages and blockages to pipes that can lead to flooding. Regularly maintain the trees surrounding drainage systems by pruning them.
- Flushing non-biodegradable items like wet wipes, sanitary towels and so on. can result in nasty smells that can be detected around bins and toilets; just use toilet paper to flush down toilet.
- Hair
In this post, we’ll review five common reasons for blocked drains and the best way to keep them from happening.
Cause 1. Grease, Oil and Fat buildup
Fat, grease, and oil may seem like harmless substances to flush down the drain, however, over time, they begin to accumulate on the walls of the pipes, which causes obstruction. As a result, water is unable to flow freely through drainpipes. It is best to avoid throwing grease into the drain. Alternatively, make use of hot water and soap to wash your hands when cleaning dishes as it helps break down grease-based substances.
Cause 2. Tree Roots
In time, the tree roots naturally expand into the soil looking for nutrients. This leads to them expanding toward underground pipes. Once they are inside the pipes, tree roots could cause significant damage and may completely block them, leading to flooding. It’s important therefore if you have trees nearby to maintain their growth in the drainage system by trimming them regularly.
Cause 3: Item that has been thrown away
It’s easy to assume that flushing items that aren’t biodegradable like wet wipes, sanitary towels etc. will not cause any major problems in the end, however, if too many of these items go into toilets, they can in the accumulation of other items, thereby that block pipes. This can create unpleasant smells in the vicinity of toilets or bins! Always be aware of what should be flushed away and what should not (i. it is only toilet paper needs to be flushed out).
Cause 4 Cause 4: Hair
Additional Information
- Top Reasons to Avoid DIY Drain Unblocking
- The Pros and Cons of Clearing Blocked Drains Yourself or Hiring a Professional
- Conquering Stubborn Clogs with High Pressure Drain Cleaning
- Tips and Tricks for Clearing a Blocked Pipe with Ease
- Reasons Why CCTV Drain Inspection is a Must Before Purchasing a Property
- Why Trenchless Pipe Relining is the Future of Condominium Plumbing
- Maximizing the Long-Term Benefits of Pipe Relining by Picking the Ideal Material
- Dealing with Blocked Drains: Plumbing Tips & Solutions
- Why Calling a Pro for Drain Cleaning is Safer and Smarter
- Natural Methods for Keeping Your Shower Drain Free of Blockages