5 Major Reasons Every Homeowner Should Know About Blocked Drains

Blocked drains can lead to major issues if not sorted out in the initial stages. You need to consider seeking the help of qualified and experienced professionals when dealing with blocked drains as with their knowledge and experience they can offer long-term solutions to this problem. Besides overflows and bad leaks, blocked drains can also lead to damage to the electrical installation system. Understanding the different causes of blocked drains can help you take the necessary precautions so that they can be avoided.

Reasons for Drain Blockage

There are multiple reasons why drains get blocked. A few of these are listed below.

Soap – Soap is used by all. You need to know that most of the soaps used these days are made of grease or fat. These two can be termed as ‘bitter enemies’ of drains. A hard residue is left in the drain pipes due to the mix of this fat in the soap and the minerals found in water. Regular cleaning of the pipes and switching to a soap-free option can sort out this issue.

Hair – This is one of the most common reasons for the blockage found in drains. Most often this can be easily ‘removed’ but when the problem persists you need to call the professional. To avoid this problem, it is better to pull the hair off the drain by making use of gloves. It is important not to delay this or else this hair gets clogged in the entry of the drain pipe and it gets difficult to sort this out.

Food Waste – You need to make sure that no food waste goes down the drain. Setting a composite pile is better for getting rid of food waste. This is more so for coffee grounds and tea leaves which do not break down. For that matter, most of the food with grease or fat needs to be handled separately as this tends to solidify and cause blockages.

Toiletries – Baby wipes and nappies also get chucked in the toilets at the time. This is a major cause of blockages. These items tend to enlarge after absorbing moisture from the drain. If not in the normal bins, you need to dispose of these in designated bins. You need to take some trouble if you wish to avoid the problem.

Tree Roots – A tree root can grow in the smallest crack in the underground pipe. Routine drain maintenance is, therefore, a ‘must’ for all homes. Roots tend to thrive on the moisture available, and the growing of these roots is problematic for the drains.

Some Tips for Unblocking Drains

There are ways and means you can attend to this problem of blocked drains. These work well only in the initial stages. You need to be an experienced professional if the blockage is stubborn. When hiring a professional, look for one that will use a special camera. What kind of camera? Keep reading to learn more. When they look at your drain, they’ll make use of a CCTV drain camera to assist them to see exactly what’s going on. Not only does this allow them to identify the problem more accurately, but it also exposes any other issues in the pipe that need to be addressed in order for the condition not to recur. Other options you can do at home, yourself include:

• Create a hook on one end of a hanger and push this past the drain cover. Fishing with this can pull out most of the nasty stuff responsible for creating the problem.
• Mix 1/3 cup of vinegar with 1/3 cup of baking soda. Pour it down the drain as soon as it fizzes. This fizzing action tends to remove the grime, hair, or gunk blocking the drain.
• Pour boiling hot water in stages down the blocked drain. This is the easiest way to unclog blocked drains and works well if the blockage is not too severe.

Finally, you might need a thorough cleaning of the pipe which is best if left to the professionals. Professionals who are experienced and qualified can sort this problem out without wasting any time and do a foolproof job so that the drain does not get blocked often.

Connect with My Four and More on Social Media!

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us

Save