Tips On How to Prevent Blocked Drains

Tips on How To Prevent Blocked Drains

There’s little else worse than having a blocked drain, wherever it may be in your home – kitchen, bathroom, or a sewer drain in your yard. It’s a significant issue that can cause havoc in your home and likely indicates a more burdensome problem.

 

Why Is My Drain Blocked?

There are many reasons drains become blocked, and in this article, we look at the most common reasons issues occur. These range from pouring cooking oils down the sink to using too much toilet paper. By being mindful about the measure you take around your home, you can avoid blocked drains altogether.

 

1. Food

When food washes down your sink, whether easily or with some difficulty, not all of it decomposes. It causes a build-up and becomes lodged in your pipes.

 

2. Foreign Objects & Debris

It’s not unusual for children to flush toys down your toilet, or rings and other small objects washed down your drains. This becomes a particular issue when the pipe opening is smaller than the item and stops water flow because it gets stuck.

 

3. Hair & Soap

In bathroom drains, there is often a build-up of soap and hair. Shampoos and conditioners cause the strands to be greasy and difficult to disintegrate.

 

4. Cooking Oils & Grease

Many people are unaware that pouring cooking oil and grease from food hardens when it meets the cool pipework. It causes an obstruction, and water cannot flow as usual.

 

5. Too Much Toilet Paper

Most people have experienced a toilet clog because of too much toilet paper. If you use an excessive amount of toilet paper, it won’t flush successfully and cause a blockage.

 

6. Trees Roots

Once a tree root starts growing near or inside a drainage pipe, your drainpipe’s integrity is compromised and likely to crack.

 

Tips on Preventing Blocked Drains

There are a few things you can do to help prevent your drains from clogging. It will require adjusting some of your routine practices and thinking carefully about what is poured down your pipes.

• Use a container for greasy products or cooking oils and dispose of them in your bin. Never wash it down a sink.
• Use a strainer for catching food items rather than letting them fall into the sink and down your drain.
• Never flush anything other than human waste, water, and toilet paper down the toilet. Consider how much toilet paper you’re using.
• Dispose of rubbish in your rubbish bin, not in your sink.
• Other items to not put down your drains include paper towels, coffee grounds, paint, cat litter, household cleaners and more.

 

Safe Unclogging Agents To Clear Your Drainpipes

There are a number of options that claim to unblock your drains. Some of these items do harm rather than good as certain harsh chemicals can cause your plumbing to weaken.

If you do need a solution to clear minor blockages, an environmentally friendly choice can be made, using the following household ingredients:

• Vinegar – 1 cup
• Baking soda – 1/2 cup
• Boiling water

 

All you need to do, once you’ve collected the ingredients, is first:

• Pour the boiling water down the drain.
• Pour both the vinegar and baking soda following the water.
• The drain then needs to be covered with the plug.
• Let it sit for approx. 10 minutes.
• Add boiling water again.

We recommend being as safe as possible, which includes wearing kitchen gloves to protect yourself from being burnt. The vinegar and baking soda cause a chemical reaction that releases the blockages.

 

Keep Your Drains Flowing

It’s essential to note that a drain can function well if it’s well-maintained. When improper items are disposed of irresponsibly or unintentionally, you experience blocked drains. You don’t always notice these issues easily because they can start as small leaks.

All it takes is a change in how you do things or spending more time caring for your drains, which may mean getting your hands dirty. However, the more you do now to take careful measures, the more you’ll save financially by avoiding significantly blocked drains.

It’s essential that when you experience a blockage, especially one that isn’t cleared easily that you call your local plumbing service. Once a professional blocked drains plumber manages it, it will solve the issue.

Problems with blocked drains should never be ignored. When left they continue to worsen and can cause damage not only to your drains but to structural elements of your home if you have consistent leaks.

If you want to know how we can help you with your drains, whether to clear a blockage or for regular maintenance, contact our team, and we will manage your plumbing concern.