Clogged drains are one of the most common plumbing issues that most homeowners faced and sometimes, it can be a costly and time-consuming problem to fix if not addressed properly.

It may start as a minor issue but can quickly escalate into a major problem and will require professional help. If you ignore the clogged drain in your home, it will start to negatively impact the flow of the water in your pipes and may cause severe issues like water damage, sewage backups, and pipe deterioration.

Preventing your drains to clog, starts with recognizing what are the causes of it. Below are the most common cause of clogged drains and how you can prevent them.

Common Causes

HAIR

Hair is a big culprit for blocking drains in your home. Though human hair seems to be delicate to cause any major blockages, it can bind with other materials and substances like grease to form clogs and stop the flow of water passing through it.

An average of 50-100 per day humans shed their hairs, so it is not so surprising that some of those will end up at the bottom of your sink or the bathtub. We can’t avoid our hair from coming out from our heads, but we can try to protect our drains from it by ensuring that all our drains are protected with screens.

Moreover, sweeping the hairs out of the sinks and cleaning your hairbrushes on the trash can, can help prevent hair from creating blockages in the future.

How to Fix Blocked Drains from Hair?

A small amount of hair on your drain can be removed by pulling it out to avoid it getting worst. You can also use a drain cleaning device named “drain spider” to help you remove the hair from the drain. However, using heavy chemical drain cleaners is not advisable as oftentimes, it will lead to pipe corrosion.

TREES

Trees are resilient as they will find any way they can to access any nearby water source. Even the smallest cracks or leaks in the underground pipes can allow tree roots to work their way in. Once it finds its way into the pipe, it can cause extensive damage that may eventually lead to clogged drains.

How to Fix Blocked Drains from Tree Roots?

Clearing tree roots from your pipes can be a difficult task and may probably need excavation, pressure jet cleaning, or trenchless repair. To properly diagnose a root invasion of your home’s pipes, you’ll likely call in a professional and reliable plumber to fix this problem.

To avoid this kind of problem, take good care of your pipes and drains, and avoid planting trees in areas that could overlap with your pipes.

FATS, OILS, AND GREASE

Fatty substances like oils and grease can clog your drains quicker than anything else. Like hair, these can build up in your kitchen sink over time and can block your drain and pipes. It’s important to know that these substances don’t leave the pipes as easily as you would expect.

How to Fix Blocked Drains from Grease Build-up?

Avoid washing fats, grease, and oil down the drain as much as possible. Practice pouring these substances into a disposable container and then toss them in the trash can.

TOILETRIES

As more people get into the practice of disposing of toiletries down their drain, bigger problems are being created in our pipes and sewers. You should never flush down items even if they are labeled “disposable” in the toilet. These types of items are not meant to go down there as they can wreak havoc on your home’s plumbing system. They become immersed with water and absorb moisture, resulting to enlarge and quickly block all the access of the water to your drains and pipes.

Here are some common examples of toiletries:

  • Tissue Paper
  • Sanitary napkins
  • Cotton swabs & cotton balls
  • Bandages
  • Baby wipes/Hand wipes
  • Diapers
  • Tooth floss

Most of the time, these kinds of items can be simply got by using a plunger. But if ignored, they can cause moderate to severe issues down the line.

How to Fix Blocked Drains from Toiletries?

Toiletries should be taken out of the garbage bins. Avoid the urge to flush these toiletries and make sure to put them in the designated bins.

FOREIGN OBJECTS

From children’s toys to food build-up, and other foreign materials, it will eventually clog up in the drain and prevent water from flowing freely. Intentional or not, these kinds of materials should not be flushed or washed down the drain.

How to Fix Blocked Drains from Foreign Objects?

Keep watch of your children who might flush these objects down the toilet. Make sure that you threw food scraps and waste properly, rather than trying to wash them down in the drain. Lastly, be careful not to accidentally drop anything that can cause drain blockage.

There are lots of things that can cause your drains to clog, the best way to fix them is to prevent them from being clogged in the first place. But if your home is already experiencing blocked drains, don’t hesitate to call our team here at Caccia Plumbing. We have access to heavy-duty equipment that can easily break up clogs and properly clean your drains, pipes, and even your sewer lines that are experiencing build-ups.

We are committed to making sure that your drains are fully functioning again, so your home can operate back to normal. Simply give us a call or schedule online today!