Some drains can become blocked in any season because of changes in people’s lives and the weather. To figure out what kind of clog you have, you need to know what kind of drain it is. Sewage or stormwater, which is it?
The blocked drains inside a home cause the most trouble and inconvenience. These drains are used for the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry. These will be hooked up to your sewer and will flush away.
Significant blockages will require the assistance of a plumber to remove them. A few simple maintenance tips may also help you avoid the blockage. Kris, from Ironclad Plumbing Blue Mountains, explains some of the reasons people often get drain blockages at home.
1. Food and Fats
Fats and food are known for clogging pipes, especially in the winter. Food scraps should never be flushed down the toilet. They should be put in a bin. Foods like rice and pasta get bigger when they get wet. This can cause your sink or toilet to become clogged up.
Fats are not good for your drains or the shared sewer system either, and they can clog them. It is called a “fatberg” when oils and fats that have been washed down the sink turn into a solid mass in the drain. When fats go down the drain, the cold weather solidifies the fats. They mix with wipes and other solids to make an enormous fat mass.
These fatbergs are bad for our sewers and can cost us a lot of money to get them out and fix our waste management systems. Don’t flush fats and oils down the toilet if you want to avoid an expensive repair. A tip to get rid of fats and oils – allow them to harden, then scrape them into the bin, not in your toilet.
Hot water can also clean plates with some oil left on them. When dishwashing liquid goes down the drain, it will spread out a small amount of oil. Drain cleaner and boiling hot water should be used if you think your sink is clogged up with fat. You can also use bicarbonate of soda and vinegar with this natural cleaner.
2. Hair or fur
Many things can cause clogs in drains, including human hair, animal fur, and other stringy stuff like dental floss. This is especially true for drains in the shower and in the laundry, as well as in the bathtub.
It’s particularly problematic since it can tangle, interact with other particles such as soap and grease, and adhere to various portions of the drain. In our experience, many of the most intractable blockages involve hair, particularly in bathtubs, showers, and bathroom sinks.
3. Solid objects
While flushing little solid things down the toilet is preventable, it is sometimes unavoidable with children. Kids are naturally interested, and you cannot keep an eye on them 24 hours a day.
If you are aware that your child flushed a toy down the toilet, there is no reason to panic yet. It may pass through your drains. However, if the bowl overflows following a flush or if you observe that the fixtures are unable to drain water, a blockage has occurred.
The only method to blow the clog will be using a jet rodding machine. Perhaps an electric eel or drain snake can retrieve the item.
4. Sanitary products
You should never flush your feminine hygiene products down the toilet, including tampons and pads. These items can cause a major sewer blockage because they are impermeable to water and can slip around other items in the sewer.
5. Tiler’s grout or concrete
One of the most common causes of drain blockages is grout and cement. When these materials harden, they can form a tight seal that doesn’t allow water to pass through. This can lead to backups and clogs that are difficult to remove.
How to Fix Blocked Drains
In some cases, the only way to fix the problem is to hire a professional plumber. However, there are a few things that you can do to try to prevent drain blockages caused by grout and cement.
First, be sure to use only non-abrasive cleaners on your drain. Abrasive cleaners can damage the surface of the drain, making it more likely for grout and cement to adhere.
Second, avoid using drain cleaners that contain harsh chemicals. These chemicals can eat away at the grout and cement, causing them to break down and clog the drain. If you do have a drain blockage caused by grout or cement, don’t despair. There are a few ways to remove it yourself. One way is to use a plunger to try to break up the blockage. Another way is to pour boiling water down the drain. This can help to soften the material so that it can be flushed away. If you’re still having trouble, it’s time to pick up the phone and call a licensed plumber.
Salman is a prolific environmental writer, and has authored more than 500 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. He is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management, sustainability and conservation all over the world.
Salman can be reached on salman@cleantechloops.com
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