3 Common Reasons Why You Have A Clogged Drain
Interior plumbing has been around since 2500 B.C. That means that humans have been plagued by plumbing problems for a very long time, and continue to be. Fortunately, we are not in the Neolithic Era any longer when it comes to technology and plumbing services. However, the plumbing problems of today are many of the same ones we have always had.
The notorious clogged drain is among the major annoyances of homeowners, and this problem is one that occurs a lot more often than many people think it does. Although simple clogs are usually not a big problem if you don’t have your drains cleaned it can lead to additional problems that may cause your plumbing service needs to be more serious than just getting a leaky faucet fixed. Let’s look at the reasons why you may have a clogged drain.
Reasons For Blocked Drains
Hair and soap
These are two of the main culprits of clogged bathroom and shower sink drains. It may not seem like a lot, but the constant buildup of soap and hair creates blockages that water is barely able to trickle through. Soap scum is created by hard water, soap chemicals, and hair, so one way to monitor any build up and catch the problem early is to stay aware of your drain speed.
Grease and food
Kitchen sinks tend to take a lot of abuse. Just because they wash down grease, food, and gunk from your dishes, doesn’t mean the kitchen drain is invincible. Food particles and grease collect together and form gelatinous masses over tie that sometimes become so large that a plunger suction is required to unblock them (this happens very commonly in commercial sinks in the beverage and food industry). Before bombarding your kitchen skin try to get as many of the chunky particles into the garbage as possible.
Old pipes
This problem is rarer, but still is a real thing that can happen. Old pipes that have even tiny cracks can be more vulnerable to many different intruders while buried underground. Some tree roots grow into pipes and end up clogging them and cause a lot of confusion after every type of drain clog remedy is tried with no success. This is now accounted for by plumbing services, but it is good to know what your home’s history is. Older houses with older structures are more likely to have these types of problems, so calculate your risks in advance.
Drains usually don’t get much attention, and they continue to faithfully perform their jobs every day. Keeping them clear and staying on top of things is as simple as just occasionally apply hot water and drain clearing chemicals.
If you notice a bathtub, shower, or sink is not draining as fast as it normally does, or water is starting to pool, you now know the things that might be causing it. Keep your drains cleared, since faithful maintenance can help to prevent plumbing repair from being necessary for as long as possible.
