There are numerous foreign items that can get lodged in your pipes, creating a blockage in your drains. If left untreated, this build-up of extra water can cause serious damage to your home. Severe blockages can crack or even break your pipes, leading to water damage on your walls, floors and ceilings, as well as in your yard. This type of damage tends to be difficult to get rid of. You’ll have to contend with mould build-up as well, which can be quite costly to remove.
Here are some of the most common causes of blocked drains, along with what you can do to fix the problem and prevent it from happening again in the future.
Roots
Roots from plants and trees in your garden are among the most common causes of blocked drains. As the plants in your garden grow, their roots spread out farther and farther, typically extending out to the sides as far as the branches do. Many people don’t take this growth into consideration when planting trees, shrubs and other plants. Some roots are stronger than you might expect and they can punch right through the side of a pipe, leading to a blockage.
In this case, you’ll likely need to replace the affected pipe to remedy the problem. You’ll need to hire a professional to ensure the job is done right. To prevent this from happening to you, take care when adding plants to your garden, especially trees. Think not just about the size of the tree today, but also how it will grow over the next 10 to 20 years. Make sure that there is plenty of space between any plants and your property’s piping.
Cooking Grease
Cooking grease, like from bacon and other fatty foods, congeals as it cools. If the grease is inside your pipes when it cools, it can block the passage of water through your pipes as it hardens. Ultimately, the grease can block the pipe entirely.
To remove cooking grease from inside your pipes, chemical or DIY cleaners can often do the trick. For heavier blockages, though, you’ll likely need to use a water jet or drain snake to break them up. Your plumber can handle this task for you if you are unsure about doing it yourself. To avoid this type of blockage, never pour leftover cooking grease down the drain. Wait until it cools, then throw it in the rubbish instead. You can also save it to use for future cooking.
Hair
Even if your hair is short, it can still build up in your pipes overtime, though this problem more commonly affects those with longer hair. Drain cleaners can usually dissolve hair, especially those products that are specifically designed for this purpose. Snakes and hydro-jets are effective as well. To stop this type of build-up, install a drain catcher in your bathtub or shower. You can pick one up for just a few dollars at most hardware stores.
Toiletries
Personal care products, like makeup wipes, tissues, sanitary pads and similar items, can easily get lodged in your pipes, causing a blockage. These items should always go in the bin, not down the toilet. If the blockage isn’t too bad, you may be able to loosen it with a plunger, but you’ll probably need a snake or water jet for more severe blockages.
Foreign Objects
Children are notorious for trying to flush stuffed animals and other toys down the toilet, giggling with joy as the items swirl around in the bowl. As fun as this activity might be for toddlers, it can wreak havoc on your plumbing system. You’ll typically need to snake or replace your pipes to fix the issue. Be sure to teach your kids that the toilet is not a toy and that they should never put anything other than toilet paper in the bowl.
Natural Debris
Natural debris build-up problems are most common after major storms. During these times, plumbing and sewage pipes are overloaded with all of the extra rain water, and leaves, soil and other debris can get into the piping. There is not much you can do to avoid this other than keeping your garden as neat and tidy as possible. Take the time to clear out your gutters periodically as well to remove any caught leaves. Snakes and hydro-jets are usually effective at clearing these types of blockages, though some may require pipe replacement.
Trust Fluid Plumbing for Your Plumbing Needs
Here at Fluid Plumbing Services, we are always happy to assist our clients, both residential and commercial, with clearing blocked drains and other common plumbing issues. We are highly skilled at what we do and have the experience to handle just about any problem you can throw at us. We welcome you to get in touch with us to learn more about our services and how we can help you keep your drains flowing smoothly at all times. Call us today to schedule an appointment.