Drain clogs happen—there’s simply no way around it. Even if you’re diligent about keeping your drains free from debris, eventually, something will get caught and collect buildup over time. And when the buildup becomes substantial, you’ll find water backing up into the affected drain. At McDonough, we know clogged drains because that’s all we do. We also know that many homeowners never think twice about their drains until it’s too late, and they’re already obstructed. We’re here to change that. Here’s what you need to know about the most common household drain blockages and what causes them:
Toilet Drains
There’s a good reason homeowners keep a plunger somewhere in their bathroom: clogged toilets are exceedingly common. Most times, you can resolve a clogged toilet drain with a bit of plunging action. If, however, your toilet clogs repeatedly and plunging doesn’t fix the issue, it’s time to bring the drain cleaning professionals.
It’s no secret that substantial waste travels down your toilet drain on a regular basis, and sometimes, this waste gets stuck along its journey. If it remains in position long enough, it will continually trap incoming debris until a severe blockage prevents movement through the plumbing system. Depending on its severity, resolving a toilet drain blockage can be a significant undertaking. Your best course of action? Leave it to the professionals.
Kitchen Sink
Even if you have a garbage disposal installed in your sink drain, there are a number of food items that can result in drain blockages given enough time. If you’re in the habit of putting these foods down your disposal, be aware that your sink will eventually back up. To lessen your chance of developing a drain blockage in your kitchen sink, avoid running these foods through your disposal:
● Coffee grounds
● Eggshells and nutshells
● Potato peels and other starchy foods like pasta
● Celery and other fibrous vegetables
● Fat, grease, or oil
● Nuts, fruit pits, and seeds
Likewise, you should never put non-food items down your disposal as they not only damage the mechanism, but they also contribute to significant drain blockages.
Shower Drain
When you take a shower, do you take measures to prevent your hair from washing down the drain? If not, you’re asking for a drain blockage. Shower and bathtub drain blockages are exceedingly common, and they’re typically caused by gobs of slimy hair that prevent water from moving through the plumbing.
You might believe your hair will wash effortlessly down the drain, but unfortunately, that’s not what happens. Rather, soap scum, conditioner residue, and various other viscous substances create buildup on the interior of the pipes that lead away from your shower drain. This buildup is quite thick and sticky, which means it traps virtually anything that comes into contact with it.
When you wash hair or anything else down your shower drain, it can become trapped within the residue inside your pipes. Over time, debris will continue building until it prevents water from flowing freely down the drain. If the drain contains substantial residue, it may require professional water jetting to ensure smooth future operation.
Bathroom Sink Drain
Bathroom sink drain blockages are notoriously common for a variety of reasons. Typically, these drains clog gradually as soap scum and oil residue slowly build on the interior of the pipe. When you shave over the sink, wash yourself, apply makeup, use body lotion, and brush your hair, bits of debris are bound to fall into the sink. Unless you promptly clean them up, generally, they’ll end up washing down the drain. When they do, they often become trapped in the soap scum buildup within the pipe.
Over time, accumulated debris can prevent water from flowing down the drain freely. Sink drain blockages may require water jetting if they’re severe, which will require the expertise of a professional. No matter how tempting it may be to pour chemical drain cleaner down your pipes, don’t do it! Harsh cleaners can cause significant plumbing damage, so unless you’re looking to pay for costly repairs, call a professional drain cleaner to clear out the drain blockage.
Mainline Sewer Drain
Your mainline sewer drain is perhaps the most important drain in your home. Because it’s not readily visible, many homeowners never think twice about their mainline drains—until they have a problem, that is. This particular drain connects your home’s plumbing system with the city connection, or with your personal septic tank if you have one.
All of the water that flows into the various drains within your home eventually dumps into your mainline drain. Once there, the water—and whatever else it contains—flows to your septic tank or the city sewer. Because this drain handles substantial water and debris traffic from your home each day, it has a relatively high propensity for clogs.
You’ll notice a clogged mainline sewer drain when water flows down one of your household drains but gradually backs up through another drain close by. Often, homeowners notice a mainline clog when they flush a toilet, and the water backs up into the tub nearby. Or, in more severe cases, water and waste may back up through a floor drain in the lower level of the home. Mainline sewer drain clogs can only be cleared with a professional drain snake or water jetting, so if you’re dealing with this issue, you’ll need to contact our team.
Related Link: https://unclogdrains.com/drain-sewer-professional-cleaning-services-company-st-paul-mn-2/
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