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5 Common Causes of Blocked Drains

Blocked drains are irritating and unhygienic. Clogs in drains are considered to be one of the most common plumbing issues there is. Its severity can vary from a simple clog to something as major as flooding or sewage backup.

Why is my kitchen sink not draining? This is a common question most homeowners encounter. But when these questions become a frequent problem in your homes, you might have to deal with its root cause.

Here are 5 of the most common reasons why your drains are blocked in your home.

Top 5 Reasons Causing Blocks in Your Drains at Home

Clogs in your pipes and blocks in your drains can escalate into major issues if not addressed properly. As cliche as it may sound, prevention is still better than cure. Knowing what causes your drains to clog helps you avoid them, saving you from costly repairs and stress at present and in the future. Here are the most common causes of blocked drains and how you can prevent them.

Hair

Human hair and animal fur are significantly shedding on a daily basis. This hair, mixed with grease, soap, and other sticky substances can form into clumps and cause pipes and drains to clog. There are chemicals or tools that can help remove hair from your pipes and drains. However, preventing, or minimizing these clogs from happening in the first place is still the best way to go. Installing guards that can catch hair and clear them regularly can easily prevent hair from accumulating and clogging your drains.

Mineral Buildup

Water runs up and down our pipes and drains at home. They contain different minerals. Hard water, a common occurrence for most Australian residential homes, is known to have insoluble mineral masses. These minerals, when accumulated together with grease, oil, or soap can harden into mineral deposits. Once this occurs, your plumbing system can quickly clog up. More mineral build-up also reduces the flow of water in and out of your home.

Dirt

Dirt from your shoes or soil residue in your hands after gardening can all go down your drain when you wash. The dirt in your clothes when you do the laundry also goes down to your pipes. When too much of these go down your drain, soon enough, you can expect build-up and blockages. It is a good practice to shake off and rinse excess dirt and mud from your clothes and shoes outside before washing them in your sink or washing machines.

Food Waste

Food waste should go into the trash can or the recycling bin and not down the drain. However, we all know that this is not always the practice in our homes. But it is not too late to make this a habit inside your homes. Place your garbage bins in a convenient location so it would be easier to dump your food waste into the bin and not into the garbage disposal in your sink. Food waste also includes grease and oil. This common cause of blocks in your drain can be easily addressed by being more conscious of how you dispose of your food waste at home.

Soap

Why is the bathroom sink not draining? Your drain might be filled with soap gunk and build-up. Soap bars are made up of grease or fats, and a commonly used substance in your sink. Combined with the minerals found in water, soap can accumulate and create a hard residue – soap scum, that can stay inside your pipes. The longer it stays inside, the more build-up it creates, thus blocking your drains in the process.

Soap scum can stain kitchen and bath fittings too. If possible, it would be best to switch to soap-free washes to avoid too much soap build-up on your sink. Regular pipe pressure cleaning might also prevent soap buildup in your pipes. It would be a good practice to schedule annual maintenance checks with your trusted plumbing expert to address such issues in your household. Having your pipes and drains cleaned regularly prevents future buildups and can address other plumbing issues.

Why is my sink clogged?

The next time you ask this question, revisit your habits and how you use your sinks and garbage disposal at home. Most of the time, not being conscious of how you dispose of waste or the lack of regular cleaning on your drains causes your drains to get blocked. Being mindful of what goes in and out of your pipes at home gives you a better picture of how to deal with and prevent blocked drains from happening in the future.

Are your drains still blocked despite our tips and advice? Maybe it’s time to call a plumbing professional to finally get down to the bottom of this plumbing issue. Hello Plumbing Blocked Drains Repair Plumbers Sydney can help. Contact us today for a site visit or to learn more about our services.