Clogged Drains: Common Causes and How to Avoid Them

Clogged drains may start off as a minor annoyance, but they can quickly turn into a larger issue. Drainage problems are one of the most common issues homeowners face. Luckily, most clogged drains can be easily fixed if they’re caught early enough. However, it’s even easier to prevent clogged drains in the first place. Considering that, let’s take a look at a few common causes of clogged drains and ways you can avoid them.

1. 1. Food Remnants: If your sink does not have a garbage disposal, you should not dispose of any food remnants left on dishes by putting them down the drain. In order to prevent food causing a clogged drain, you can simply scrape off any remaining food into the garbage before washing the dishes. However, if you do have a garbage disposal, you should still be careful when disposing of certain foods. It’s important to make sure your disposal is working properly before putting any food remnants down the drain.

1. 1. Grease: Many people choose to dispose of grease leftover from cooking by pouring it down the kitchen sink. Unfortunately, grease can harden within the drain and can lead to a clogged drain if enough grease accumulates in the drainage system. With that in mind, it’s important to collect all cooking grease in a disposable container and be placed in the trash once it hardens.

1. 1. Bath products: Bath products, like soap and bath salts, can easily contribute to problems requiring drain repair. Products like soap can build up within the drains after being used over and over again. Because of this, it’s important to ensure any products that will make their way down the drain are completely water-soluble. This will ensure they will break down within the pipes and won’t cause clogged drains.

1. Hair: Hair is one of the most common causes of a clogged drain. When showering or washing hair in a sink, hair can easily fall out and get trapped in the drain pipes. To prevent this from happening, a drain plug or hair catcher attachment should be used in any necessary showers, tubs, or sinks. Furthermore, it’s important to clean the drains to remove any hair that made its way down there on a regular basis.

While toilets may account for 25% to 30% of a household’s water use, clogged drains are one of the main problems homeowners should keep an eye out for. If you try to fix the clog yourself and pour harmful products down the drain, you may cause more harm than good. So if you do experience a clogged drain, it’s important to contact an experienced plumber