5 Common Causes of Blocked Drains and How to Prevent Them

Blocked drains can be a nuisance that could disrupt your everyday life. They can lead to flooding, bad smells and even health risks. If not promptly dealt with blocked drains could cause serious issues in your plumbing system, which can lead to costly repairs or replacements.

Key Takeaways

• Drains that are blocked can interrupt your routine and can result in problems with water, bad smells, and even health issues.
• Oil, grease and fat accumulations can stick to the walls of pipes, leading to obstructions; try not to pour grease down the drain or use soap and hot water for cleaning dishes.
• Tree roots naturally extend in the ground to find nutrients which may cause significant damages and blockages to pipes that can lead to flooding. Regularly maintain the trees surrounding drainage systems by pruning them.
• Wet wipes, sanitary towels and so on. could cause unpleasant odors emanating from toilets or bins. be sure to use toilet paper to flush down drain.
• Hair

In this article, we’ll look at five common causes of blocked drains and the best way to avoid them.

Cause 1. Grease, oil and Fat Buildup

Oil, grease, and fat might appear to be harmless substances to dump down the drain however, over time, they begin to accumulate over the insides of pipes, causing obstruction. If this happens it is impossible for water to move freely through the drainpipes. The best solution is to refrain from spilling grease in the drain, or use hot water and soap when cleaning dishes as it helps break down greasy substances.

Cause 2. Tree Roots

Over time tree roots naturally expand into the soil in search of nutrients, which results in them growing toward underground pipes. Once inside these pipes tree roots can cause massive damage and may completely block them, causing flooding. It’s important therefore if you have trees in the vicinity that you regularly maintain their growth around drainage systems by pruning them in a regular manner.

Cause 3: Items that are soiled

It’s easy to think that flushing non-biodegradable items like wet wipes, sanitary towels and so on. won’t cause any significant problems in the long term, but when too many of these items are flushed in the toilets, they’ll in the accumulation of other items, thereby that block pipes. This can cause unpleasant odors to emanate around toilets/bin areas too! Make sure to remember what should be flushed away and what should not (i. e only toilet paper is to be flushed).

Cause 4: Hair

Additional Information

• Discover the ideal plumber for your clogged drain situation
• The Ultimate Guide to Pipe Relining: How to Select the Perfect Material
• The Benefits of CCTV Drain Inspection: Beyond Unclogging Pipes
• Top Tips for Keeping Your Drains Clog-Free
• Plumbers' Secrets for Clearing Clogged Drains: An In-Depth Guide
• Say Goodbye to Blocked Drains: A Decade of Proactive Steps for Your Home
• Blocked Drain Emergency? Here’s What You Need to Know About DIY vs. Professionals
• Say farewell to blocked drains with the best solutions
• Self-Help Approaches for Unclogging Clogged Drains in Your Home
• CCTV Drain Inspection: Find Out How it Helps Pinpoint Root Infiltration in Your Pipes