5 Common Causes of Blocked Drains and How to Prevent Them

Blocked drains are a source of frustration which can cause a disruption in your daily life. They can cause flooding, bad smells and even health risks. If they are not addressed promptly blocked drains could cause serious problems in the plumbing system, resulting in expensive repairs or replacements.
Key Takeaways
- Blocked drains can disrupt your day-to-day routine and result in problems with water, bad smells, and even health risks.
- The fat, oil and grease build-up can clog the pipes’ walls causing blockages; avoid pouring grease down the drain. Alternatively, use soap and hot water for cleaning dishes.
- Tree roots naturally grow into the ground searching for nutrients. This can cause massive damage and completely block pipes and cause flooding. It is important to regularly maintain trees near drainage systems by pruning them.
- The flushing of non-biodegradable products like wet toiletries, wipes, etc. can result in nasty smells emanating from toilets or bins. only use toilet paper to flush down drain.
- Hair
In this article, we’ll explore five reasons for blocked drains and what you can do to prevent them from happening.
Cause 1: Grease, Oil and Fat Buildup
Fat, grease, and oil could appear as harmless substances to dump down the drain but as time passes, they build up in the pipes’ walls the pipes, which causes the pipes to become blocked. As a result it is impossible for water to move freely through the drainpipes. It is best to avoid spilling grease in the drain, or utilize soap and hot water while cleaning dishes, as this helps break down grease-based substances.
Cause 2: Tree Roots
In time, the tree roots naturally extend into the ground in search of nutrients, which leads to them expanding toward underground pipes. Once they are inside the pipes, tree roots can cause substantial damage and even block them, causing flooding. It is therefore essential if you are near trees to regularly monitor the growth of your trees around drainage systems, by trimming them on a regular basis.
Cause 3: Unwanted items
It’s easy to assume that flushing non-biodegradable things like the wet wipes, sanitary towel and so on. will not cause any major problems in the long run however, if too many of these items are flushed into toilets, they can build up, pushing other items aside and which can result in nasty smells emanating around toilets/bin areas too! Always be aware of what should be flushed and what shouldn’t (i. the only toilet papers should be flushed).
Cause 4: Hair
Additional Information
- Why Your Business Needs Periodic Drain Inspection and Cleaning
- When to Schedule a Professional Drain Cleaning Service
- Efficient Plumbing Techniques for Dealing with Blocked Pipes
- Prevent Expensive Repairs with Regular Drain Maintenance
- Clearing Blocked Pipes: An Exhaustive Guide for Plumbers
- The Ultimate Guide to Pipe Relining: How to Select the Perfect Material
- Understanding CCTV Drain Inspection and the Benefits for Your Home
- Unblock Your Drains with This Do-It-Yourself Guide That is Simple to Follow
- The Benefits of Unblocking Blocked Drains for Your Business
- Instant Fixes for a Clogged Drain: Tips and Tricks