5 Common Causes of Blocked Drains and How to Prevent Them

Blocked drains are a source of frustration that could cause disruption to your daily life. They can result in water damage, bad odours, and even health hazards. If they are not addressed promptly blocked drains can lead to grave problems to the plumbing system, which can lead to costly fixes or replacings.

Key Takeaways

• Blocked drains can disrupt your day-to-day routine and result in flooding, unpleasant smells, and even health issues.
• Fat, oil and grease accumulation can build up on the pipes’ walls causing blockages. Do not pour grease down the drain. Alternatively, use soap and hot water to wash dishes.
• Tree roots naturally grow into the soil to search for nutrients that could cause severe damage, and also block the pipes completely and cause flooding. It is important to regularly keep trees in the vicinity of drainage systems by trimming them.
• The flushing of non-biodegradable products like wet wipes, sanitary towels and so on. can create unpleasant smells emanating around toilets/bin areas; just take care to wash your toilet paper in the toilet.
• Hair

In this post, we’ll review five common reasons for blocked drains and how you can stop 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 over time they accumulate within the wall of pipes, which causes the pipes to become blocked. If this happens it is impossible for water to move freely through the drainpipes. It is best to avoid the practice of pouring grease into the drain. Alternatively, use soap and hot water during cleaning dishes, as this helps remove greasy substances.

Cause 2: Tree Roots

In time, the tree roots naturally expand into the soil searching for nutrients which leads to them expanding toward underground pipes. Once they are inside the pipes, tree roots can cause substantial damage and may completely stop them from flowing, causing flooding. It is therefore essential if you have trees nearby to regularly monitor their growth around drainage systems by pruning them on a regular basis.

Cause 3: Unwanted items

It’s easy to assume that flushing biodegradable products such as wet wipes, sanitary towels etc. will not cause any major problems in the end, but when too many of these items are flushed into toilets, they can pile up and push others away, in the way of pipes. This could cause unpleasant odors to emanate around the toilets and bins too! Be aware of what needs to be flushed, and what shouldn’t (i. the only toilet paper should be flushed away).

Cause 4: Hair

Additional Information

• The Ultimate Guide to Drain Clearing Services
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• When to Call a Professional for Blocked Drains: A Guide
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• Why CCTV Drain Inspection is a Cost-Effective Solution for Your Plumbing Needs
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• Ensuring the Longevity of Your Business's Pipes with Regular Drain Inspections
• Discover Why Blocked Drain Jetting is the Only Solution You Need
• 10 Tricks for Keeping Your Drains Blockage-Free