Whether you own your house or rent an apartment, you’re bound to experience a clogged drain here and there. Clogged drains may be a simple issue with a ton of solutions. However, it’s better if you can avoid the clogs altogether. Below are five of the most common things that could be clogging your home’s drains.
Soap Scum
The first common cause of a clogged drain is soap scum. Soap scum is that white, film-like material you see on a bar of soap after a shower. This residue is brought on by an excessive amount of minerals within the water. When water has too many minerals, it becomes “hard.”
A small amount of soap scum won’t do much to your drain. However, it can quickly become a problem when too much of it starts accumulating in your drain. If you wash your face in the sink, your bathroom sink drain may also clog as well.
Food, Grease, and Oil
It goes without saying that food going down your drain may cause a blockage. Broccoli stems, celery sticks, pasta, and coffee grounds should never go down a drain. Although most homes these days have garbage disposals, food waste can still clog your drain if it’s particularly fibrous or starchy.
Additionally, you should avoid putting oily or greasy foods down the drain, even if you have a garbage disposal. When grease and oil cool and are exposed to the air long enough, they start to calcify. Calcified grease and oil can accumulate quickly, causing backup into other drains as well.
In addition to disposing of oil or grease in the trash can, you can also prevent this by installing a grease trap under your kitchen sink and getting it maintained regularly. With grease trap services, you have that extra piece of mind that your drains are clean and without risk of blockage.
Hair
Hair is probably the most common cause of a clogged drain. The human head sheds an average of about 50 to 100 hairs a day. But for people who have longer or thicker hair, they can shed up to 200. You might not notice this in the shower because of how fast it’s washed away. You can use a drain snake or a drain cleaner to quickly dispose of a hair clog.
Miscellaneous Objects
Some clogs can occur from things you’d least expect. This is especially true when you have small children in the house. If you’re someone who is a parent to small children, you might want to keep an eye out for any toys in the toilet. Funny as that sounds, if this goes down the pipes, it can cause a blockage that may lead to your pipes bursting.
Toilet Paper
Toilet paper is designed to easily and safely go down the pipes. But overusing toilet paper increases the chance of a clog. It should also be mentioned that you should never use napkins or paper towels in the toilet.
Clogged drains may be common, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to prevent them. In addition to regular inspection, use the above-mentioned information provided here to keep your drains clear and avoid clogging.