Are you getting tired of dealing with clogged drains in your kitchen or bathroom sinks? Although a clogged sink may not seem like a big deal, it will become a severe plumbing issue in the future if it’s not fixed correctly. If you choose to ignore a drain clog in your house, it will begin to negatively impact the flow of water in your pipes.
In addition, a severe drain clog may cause other types of issues including water damage, pipe deterioration, and sewage backups. To help you maintain the drains in your house, we have compiled a list of the 6 most common causes of clogged drains and how to prevent them.
Hair
Hair is a frequent culprit of drain clogs in your shower or bathroom. Once hair is flushed down your drain, it becomes stuck to grease and soap in your water pipes. The best way to prevent this type of clog is to invest in strainers for your sinks and bathtub. If your hair is negatively impacting the performance of your kitchen sink, you should consider installing a garbage disposal to eliminate blockages in your drain.
Food Scraps
If your kitchen drain becomes clogged once or twice a month, this may be a sign that you’re flushing too much food down your garbage disposal. Although a garbage disposal is engineered to process food scraps and eliminate obstructions, you should not be pouring a large amount of food down the drain. To avoid a clogged sink, do not flush coffee grounds down the drain. Since coffee does not disintegrate easily, it will create blockages in your water lines.
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Tree Roots
As your water and sewage lines become older, it is not uncommon for small cracks and holes to form. This will cause a small water leak to form beneath the ground in your yard. If you have a tree on your property, its roots will begin to grow towards the leaking pipe in the dirt. Tree roots will begin to wrap around the exterior of your water and sewage pipes. Once the roots gain access to the inside of your pipe, they will grow and obstruct the flow of water. A frequent indicator of a tree root invasion includes 2 to 3 clogged drains in your house. Each of the drains that are connected to the damaged water line in your yard will be impacted.
Soap & Shampoo
There are various types of soaps and shampoo that feature high levels of grease. Once the grease from your soap is flushed down the drain, it will blend with the minerals in your water. This will cause limescale to form in the interior of your pipes. To avoid a clogged sink and a costly repair, we recommend becoming familiar with the ingredients in your soap and shampoo. You should purchase soaps that are easy to flush down the drain to avoid plumbing issues.
Toilet Paper
If you need to use a lot of toilet paper, we recommend flushing it in two cycles to avoid a clogged drain. To fix a clogged toilet, grab a toilet plunger to break apart the toilet paper in your sewage pipes. On the other hand, it is not always possible to fix a clogged toilet on your own. In some cases, your toilet may be able to receive water but not flush it. Immediately call a licensed plumber in your area to unclog your drain. This will help prevent damage to the sewer lines behind your walls and beneath the ground.
Calcium & Magnesium Buildup
Do you live in an area with hard water? This type of water contains an excess amount of calcium, magnesium, and other types of minerals. Once you flush hard water down your drain, a large amount of limescale may begin to form in your pipes. As your pipes become older, they may start to become clogged from the large amount of calcium and magnesium in your water supply. The best way to prevent clogged drains and sinks in areas with hard water is to invest in a water softener system.
Plumbing Services Near You
The licensed plumbers at WM Henderson have the equipment and skills to resolve all types of drain clogs. To pinpoint the source of the issue, we will utilize a small camera to inspect the interior of your water and sewage lines. Next, we will eliminate the blockage to restore the flow of water in your kitchen or bathroom. In addition to drain cleaning, our team of contractors also provides other types of plumbing services such as water heater repair, sump pump installation, and water line replacement. From heating, cooling, to plumbing, our team is able to restore comfort to your home. WM Henderson provides trustworthy HVAC and plumbing services in areas of Pennsylvania such as Broomall, Conshohocken, West Chester, and Coatesville. Give us a call by phone at (484) 206-8594 to receive help.