A blocked drain is the primary channel or tube for waste liquid or water to be directed to a diverting receptacle, diverted to an alternate purpose, flushing away, to a sewer or storm drain to be disposed of or recycled. Blocked drains occur for various reasons such as construction problems, plumbing issues, or age of the drainage system. Blocked drains are usually not the cause of major flooding but can lead to serious inconvenience and damage to your property.
Tree Roots: One of the most common causes of a blocked drain is root exposure. Roots can grow into any kind of drain including a sewer main, storm drain, or a septic tank. Root exposure can be caused by a broken tree root near your home or cause what is called a tree root break. Tree roots are very tough, long and thin, making them a formidable opponent for any system designed to let them out.
Grease Spouts/ Vesicles: Grease is another one of the main causes of blocked drains. Oil and grease, when allowed to stay in pipes for a period of time, hardens into lumps that can greatly impede the smooth flow of liquid. The longer the oil and grease stay in your pipes the harder it is to get them out. Grease also attracts other forms of blockages such as insect eggs, hair, and hairbrushes.
Baby Wipes: The liquid left on a baby wipe or bathroom tissue can be a potential candidate for causing blocked drains. Blocked drains are most commonly caused by soap residue or soap scum on toilet paper after a hot, lengthy soak in the bathtub. Baby wipes can contain oils and similar substances that can stick to pipe seals and cause blockages. It is important to thoroughly wipe down the bathroom sink and counter before using baby wipes, especially if baby is wearing a towel and it could get onto the bathroom floor. Baby wipes also contain tiny amounts of baby powder that can be washed into the toilet bowl, creating a clog.
Baking Soda: A bucket full of baking soda and water is good enough to keep a bathroom free of blocked drains. However, it is not a good thing when that same bucket gets on your skin, and then dries out your skin! You could try sprinkling some baking soda into your bathtub water as you would regular water, but be sure to rinse well afterward. An old sock filled with baking soda is another option for removing a stubborn clog in the shower or tub. Just make sure to rinse well after using the baking soda.
Blocked Drains: Blocked drains are usually caused by a change in pressure from an older water-using pipe to a newer water-using pipe. Water leaks from pipes can be minimized by putting a rag over the mouth of the pipe as it passes over the drain. This helps prevent the pipe from coming out of the drain itself. Another possible solution is to put a lid on the water-using pipe and add some earth to the top of the lid. Earth does an even better job than the rag because it helps keep dirt from getting inside the pipe.
Do you experience blocked drains every other day? It’s time to hire a professional blocked drain plumber at Locality Plumbing right away (we have the ultimate solution to your drain problems). We strive to fix your blocked drains with the utmost efficiency.
