Drain clogs are one of the most common reasons that people need help from a plumber. They happen so frequently because a lot of typical household activities can end up clogging a drain. If you want to learn how to deal with a clogged drain and keep it from ever happening again, read our helpful guide.
What Is a Clogged Drain?
A clogged drain occurs when something goes wrong in the pipes that are meant to expel wastewater from your house. Clogs can happen in any type of drain, including your sink, toilet, tub, or shower. They can even happen in the main drain line that runs from your home to a sewer or septic tank. It is possible for a clog to entirely block a drain, but they can cause problems even before they reach that stage. Many homes end up with partial clogs that disrupt plumbing while still letting some water flow through the pipe.
You may have a clogged drain if you notice one or more of the following issues:
- Slow-moving drains
- Strange smells coming up from your drains
- Drains that don’t work at all
- Water backing up in other drains within your house
- Bubbling or gurgling noises coming from pipes
What Causes Drains to Clog?
There can be many culprits behind clogged drains. Here are the most common reasons that people end up needing to call a plumber for a clog.
Food
In kitchen sink clogs, most clogs are caused by people putting food down the drain. Even if you aren’t intentionally shoving food in the drain, residual bits of food falling off of dishes as they are rinsed can lead to a clog. Food can also cause clogs if it has been ground up by a garbage disposal. When enough food goes down the drain, a clog is likely to happen whether or not a garbage disposal ground it into a fine paste.
Grease
Another leading factor of kitchen sink clogs is grease. Grease seems like a liquid when it’s hot, so many people think they can pour it down the sink. However, as it cools, it solidifies into a messy clog. Grease drain clogs can be particularly hard to remove since they often occur deeper inside pipes.
Hair
In bathroom sinks, showers, and tubs, hair is the most common reason for a clog. When hair falls down a drain, it can turn into dense clumps that keep water from moving smoothly through the drain. Keep in mind that you can get hair-related clogs even if no one in the household has long hair. Trimming a beard over a sink can clog the drain with countless short hairs.
Excess Toilet Paper and Waste
Toilets are only built to handle a certain amount of waste material at once. If a person puts too much toilet paper or other waste matter in a toilet and tries to flush it, the toilet may clog. Different toilets will have different limits based on their design and age.
Flushable Wipes
So-called “flushable” wipes are a huge issue in modern homes. Homeowners often buy these wipes under the assumption that they are safe to flush. However, while the wipes are small enough to fit through a toilet tube, they don’t break up in water like toilet paper does. Much like flushed paper towels, flushable wipes turn into thick clumps of material that eventually create a clog deep inside your drain.
Tree Roots
Sometimes, your clog might happen due to issues outside of the house. Tree roots are surprisingly good at getting inside drains. As they seek out moisture, tiny roots can find minute gaps in your pipes and slip inside. Over time, they then grow larger and larger until your drain is filled with plant matter that keeps it from draining properly.
Foreign Objects
Every plumber has stories of the bizarre things they’ve found in drain clogs. From toys children shoved in toilets to necklaces that fell down a sink, almost any foreign item can cause a clog. Your drains are usually only built to handle water, waste, and toilet paper. Putting anything else down them, accidentally or intentionally, may cause a clog.
Broken Pipes
In some cases, the item clogging the pipe might be part of the pipe itself. If your drain pipes are crushed or broken, a nasty clog can form alongside a major leak. This often happens in homes that are under construction or yards with a lot of heavy equipment driven over a drain line.
Poor Pipe Design
Sometimes, no matter what you do, a clog can develop. Drains only work well when water and waste flow through them quickly. If you have a drain with an unusual bend or slope, it can cause slow drainage. This allows waste to back up more quickly, and clogs are more likely to develop.
How to Fix a Clogged Drain
If your drain is clogged, you’ll need to find a way to remove the clog and ensure your drain line is in good working condition. While you can remove clogs that are sitting on top of your drain with ease, clogs further down the drain line will require professional assistance. It’s important to avoid DIY fixes like chemical drain cleaners because these can further damage your drain line.
Instead, the most effective way of fixing a clog is to call an expert plumber. Professional plumbing companies will have the tools and skills needed to bust through the clog without harming your pipes. They can also assist with any required repairs like replacing a crushed drain line. Fortunately, clogged drains are quite straightforward to fix. Your plumber can usually address the clog in under an hour, and clog-busting fees are quite low.
Things You Can Do to Prevent Drain Clogs
As you can see from the list of things that cause clogs, the majority of drain clogs are preventable. There are a lot of simple things you can do to ensure that your drains run smoothly and efficiently. Start by making a habit of putting nothing but food down your kitchen sinks and nothing but toilet paper or bodily waste down toilets. You can make these tasks a lot easier by placing filters over commonly clogged drains to catch hair and food before they become an issue.
If you’re still having problems with drain clogs, take a close look at how you use your plumbing system. Things like not using flushable wipes and wiping out greasy pans with paper towels before washing them can help catch some sources of clogs. You might also want to consider removing trees that grow near your drain line or replacing outdated and poorly designed drain lines.
Contact Us Today
If you’re dealing with clogged drains or any other plumbing issues, turn to Childers Air Plumbing & Electric for drain cleaning. We provide quality plumbing services throughout Beckley and the surrounding areas. Our team also includes qualified technicians who can work on HVAC and electrical systems. The next time your home systems need repairs, installation, or maintenance, contact Childers Air Plumbing & Electric.
