There is no sugar coating it; blocked drains are every homeowner’s arch nemesis.
Have you never had to deal with one? Well, not only are drain blockages inconvenient and messy, they can snowball into bigger problems if left untreated for too long, warns Central Florida Kissimmee Management team. That is why it’s important to understand what to avoid flushing down your drains so you can avoid a drainage disaster.
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What are the Signs of a Blockage?
While they might feel entirely unpredictable, going unnoticed until the worst case scenario, there are some key warning signs to look out for in the lead up to a blocked drain.
Slow Draining Water
This can be one of the hardest warning signs to detect at first, but it indicates that there is something restricting the water flow in a pipe. The slower the water drains, the larger the block might be, which is why it is important to pay attention when the sink or bathtub starts to drain more slowly than normal.
Similarly, if the water level in your toilet bowl is rising or not draining as quickly as it usually would, there is a high chance you’ll be dealing with a blocked toilet in the near future.
Gurgling Noises
If your drain starts sounding like your stomach after skipping breakfast, you most likely have a blockage in your drainage system. Gurgling noises suggest that there is no clear path for the water to travel through, implying that there is something blocking the way.
Unusual Odours
This is usually the most obvious of the warning signs as unusual smells are impossible to ignore for too long. When food scraps, greases and oils, or other kitchen waste become stuck in the pipes, they eventually begin to degrade and emit an unpleasant odour throughout your home.
What Are the Causes of Clogged Drains?
Tree Roots
Water is the major source of nutrients for trees, and their root systems have become skilled at detecting it in any form, making your water pipes and sewage system common targets. Even the smallest crack in the pipes can result in a root infestation.
But why is this such a big deal if it is so common? When roots infest your water pipes, they form thick clumps of netting that catch oils, food waste, and other foreign objects that have made it down the drain. This results in a significant blockage in the drain, slowing water flow and often leading to further pipe damage.
So, the next time you’re looking to do some backyard landscaping, it is always a good idea to conduct some research first. There are certain trees and shrubs that should never be planted near your plumbing system.
Cooking Oils and Grease
Rinsing leftover fats and oils down the kitchen sink is basically second nature, but they are one of the most common causes of blocked drains.
They might go down the drain as a liquid, but fats and oils solidify as they cool, causing a thick coating to form on the walls of the water pipe.
While they might go down the drain as a liquid, when fats and greases cool they solidify causing a hard coating to form on the walls of the water pipe. Not only can this coating cause a clogged pipe on its own, it can also trap other food scraps being rinsed down the drain, notably coffee grounds.
Toiletries
Those flushable wipes are not as flushable as you might believe. In fact, if it’s not toilet paper it shouldn’t be flushed, no matter how many times the advertisements claim it’s 100% drain safe.
Though you might be lucky enough to dislodge some of these items with a plunger, they often find their way further down the pipe where they build up, causing you unnecessary grief.
Hair
If you usually let your hair wash down the shower drain, you could be in for a shock when the water eventually slows or stops draining entirely.
An accumulation of hair strands, whether short or long, acts similarly to a root blockage in that it creates clumps of netting that obstruct water flow. However, as hair strands are so fine, these nets can become so dense that no water can pass through, resulting in an overflow.
Repairing a Blocked Drain
You might be looking into some DIY remedies, and while hot water, bicarb soda, or even drain cleaners can help to alleviate the immediate issue, they won’t completely clear the blockage. The best solution is to contact your local plumber.
Depending on the cause your plumber may be able to remove the blockage using a water jetter or drain snake. But in some cases, the pipe may have cracked or burst due to the pressure build up. In the past this meant the plumber would have to dig up and replace the pipe, but modern technology has introduced pipe relining, which is the non-invasive alternative for pipe repairs.
In any case, a professional plumber will be able to identify the cause and have you back on track to fast water drainage and better smelling pipes in no time.
