Blocked drains are more than a nuisance – they can bring life at home to a grinding halt and cause serious damage to your plumbing system. Furthermore, they can also become a health hazard, as blocked drains are breeding grounds for harmful bacteria which can cause all sorts of health complaints, including nasty stomach bugs.
Consequently, if you notice that one of your drains isn’t draining water as quickly as it should, you need to see to the problem immediately because the longer the problem is left unresolved, the more difficult (and expensive) fixing the problem will be.
- Hair Build-Up
The most common cause of blocked drains in bathrooms, a build-up of hair (often combined with soap and toothpaste residue) can usually be pulled out by hand if it’s visible. However, if you can’t see the build-up of hair, you should try a drain cleaning product, and if that doesn’t work, give your local plumbing professional a call.
- Grease and Fat
A build-up of grease and fat is a common cause of drainage issues in kitchens. Any fatty, greasy product which is washed down the sink will stick to the sides and this gradual build-up will eventually cause a blockage. Try to avoid washing these substances down the sink as much as possible, use a drain cleaning product regularly, and call us if you can’t unblock it yourself.
- Plant Roots
Unlike a build-up of hair or fat/grease, if the problem with your blocked drains has been caused by plant roots, you won’t be able to fix the problem yourself. CCTV scanning equipment is the best way to identify the location of the plant roots that have broken through the piping and you may find that minor excavation work is required to access the drain and replace the pipe.
- Broken Pipes
Like plant roots which have broken through the piping, broken pipes require professional attention. Fixing/replacing broken pipes is something you need to leave to an expert plumber.
- Toiletries
It’s worrying what some people flush down their toilets. Sanitary pads, nappies and baby wipes are a few examples of the toiletries that are commonly flushed down the toilet, but this is a big mistake as these items increase in size when they absorb moisture. This causes them to swell, which in turn causes them to block drains. Don’t flush any toiletries down the loo!
These are five of the most common reasons for a blocked drain at home. While these aren’t the only common causes of blocked drains (other examples include poor plumbing installation, low water pressure/flow and blockages caused by heavy rain/storms), they’re likely to be the reason why your drains aren’t draining as quickly as they should.
At Daly Plumbing, blocked drains are one of our specialities, so please don’t hesitate to give the team a call when you notice that your drains need professional plumbing attention.
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