EMERGENCY SERVICEs

In the plumbing world, one of the most common issues that we come across is a clogged drain. Between the variety of items that go down a kitchen drain and the amount of hair that finds its way down the shower drain, it’s genuinely no surprise to us how often drains end up clogged. In today’s blog, we are going to touch on four reasons that drains clog.

Hair

The biggest culprit of clogged drains is easily hair. If you have thick, luscious locks of hair, then you’ve likely experienced a clogged drain once or twice in your life. Even though drains seem like they’re able to handle loose hairs down the drain, it’s incredibly easy for them to clump and catch with other items in the pipes. Over time, the more that finds its way down the drain, the larger these clumps and catches become. After a while, water has a tough time passing through the pipe because the buildup of hair is creating a clog.

Pro-Tip: The best way to avoid clogs in your shower drain is by placing guards over your drains. While this won’t guarantee clog-free drains, it will lessen the chances of clogs.

Food

Another item that is often put down the drain and is capable of creating a clog is food. Because there is a garbage disposal in most sinks, we feel that our drain is capable of handling any food that finds its way down there. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Rather than letting food build up in your sink, try and get as many large pieces as you can and dispose of them instead.

Aside from that, there are certain food items that many people are surprised to learn damage their pipes. Coffee and tea bags are two of the most common items that people put down their drains, and they absolutely should not be. Both items clog easily and can ruin your pipes. Any type of leftover oil or grease should also be thrown in the trash and never put down the drain.

Pro-Tip: When cooking and washing dishes, put a drain strainer over the drain, and let it catch any of the leftover scraps. Once you’re done, pull the strainer out, and toss the remnants.

Soap

An item that you can find near just about every drain: soap. While that may be the case, most people are surprised to hear that soap is actually an item capable of clogging a drain. The reason that soap is capable of creating a blockage is because it often has some sort of grease or oil component in its list of ingredients. Most of us would recognize this factor as the soap scum that gets left behind after use. When this part of the soap makes its way down your drain and into your pipes, it manages to catch other items and create a blockage. While there’s no real way to completely eliminate the chances of soap creating a clog, maintenance can help you avoid them.

Pro-Tip: Switch to products that are soap-free but still provide you with a clean finish. If you don’t find any soap-free products that you like, make sure to keep up on your maintenance and get your pipes cleaned regularly.

Dirt

Another common item that finds its way down the drain is dirt. This can be a frustrating item to see on the list given that water is intended to help you clean off any dirt. While a few pieces of dirt here and there aren’t going to do too much damage, the large chunks of dirt and sand can increase the chances of a blockage. Not only are they tougher to break down, but they are more likely to get caught on any items that are already stuck in your drain.

Pro-Tip: If there are large clumps of dirt or sand on your clothing or the items that you need to rinse off, do your best to scrape them off before you wash them. This will lessen the chances of them getting clogged in the drain.

Contact Dash Drains

The team at Dash Drains provides quality plumbing services to the Beverly area. From snaking your pipes to more challenging tasks like grease trapping and septic tank cleaning, our team has years of experience and can ensure you’re pleased with your results. If you find yourself with a clog in any of the drains in your home or business, contact our team, and we’ll get you taken care of in a timely manner.