Almost all homeowners experience normal wear and tear, as well as other problems in different parts of the house. One of the most common issues that people might face in their kitchen and bathroom is the problem with clogged pipes and drains. These clogs can be on your sink or floor drains. Sometimes, clogs in the floor drain can cause choking problems in the sink or toilet bowls.
Drain choking can also cause an annoying and unpleasant smell. There are different causes of drain clogs. We will take a closer look at some of the most common causes of this problem and how homeowners can solve it. We will also take a closer look at how homeowners can prevent their pipes from choking and clogging.
Causes of clogged drains
A clogged pipe is a very annoying dilemma that needs to be addressed immediately. It can lead to more issues like floor traps or drain choke. Water is not able to adequately clear since dirt or residue is blocking the exit. To fix this type of plumbing problem, homeowners need to have a vast knowledge of what causes these clogged drains. When homeowners know the cause of the problem, they can be in an excellent position to fix them. Listed below are some of the causes of clogged pipes.
Debris, dust, and dirt
The number one reason for the clogged floor drain is the accumulation of dirt, dust, and debris over time. If these drains are not cleaned regularly, dirt, dust, and debris build up along with other elements like grease, oil, and soap, which will form a solid material that will cause channels to clog.
Foreign matters
There are times when small foreign matters can go through pipe openings and cause choking overtime. It can range from leftover foods to small insects or things that small children were thrown in the drain, like small toys.
Oily substances
Oily substances are the most common sources of drain clogs in the kitchen. Grease and oil from dishes and utensils accumulate in kitchen pipes over time, causing serious clogs.
Pieces of soap
Soap is also one of the primary causes of blockage, especially in bathrooms and kitchens. Small pieces of soap and soap residue after washing dishes or showering can cause build-up in pipes and can lead to choking or blockage.
Hair
Hair is also one of the most common causes of blockage in the bathroom. Hairs that accumulate in pipes can lead to obstruction if it is not regularly removed.
Solving the problem of blockage and obstruction
Obstructed pipes can be very annoying and can pose a lot of problems for homeowners. But fixing this problem is not a difficult job and can be done by homeowners by themselves, without the help of a plumbing professional. In most cases, people might want to call an expert plumber to help them unclog, but they can easily make some of these remedies.
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Make sure to have the right tools
The first thing people need to consider if they want to fix these problems by themselves is whether they have the right equipment or tools for this job or not. Depending on the cause of the problem, homeowners would need various types of plumbing tools. It includes plungers, cleaning solutions, brushes, and other devices. The first thing homeowners need to do is to identify the blockage’s cause and use the related equipment to unblock it.
Homemade cleaning solution
People can create their own cleaning solution with materials they can find in their homes and try to unclog their pipes and drains. If it does not work, they can look for a more robust cleaning solution. These ingredients include lemon, vinegar, and baking soda. To make a homemade cleaning solution:
- Take one cup of regular vinegar, and add about one-fourth cup of lemon juice in it.
- In the kitchen or bathroom drain, run some boiling hot water and put one-half cup of baking soda.
- Leave it for five minutes and add lemon and vinegar mixture followed by one cup of boiling water.
- Leave it again for ten minutes and check to see if the blockage has been cleared or not.
- Homeowners might need to follow this procedure two to three times to remove the blockage of the drain. If it still does not unclog, find a more concentrated solution in the market.
Use a good plunger
Plungers are an excellent tool that can be used to remove the blockage. It can be used in combination with cleaning solutions. First, use a homemade solution or the one available in the market to help loosen the obstruction to some extent. Then use a god plunger to clear the obstacle. Do these two to three times or until the clog is removed.
Flexible coil
In some cases, plungers maybe are very effective in removing the blockage. It is usually the case where the clog is spread out too far through drain pipes. A flexible coil of wires or also known as a plumbing snake, can navigate through long tubes and remove hard-to-reach obstacles. It can break down the blockage and clear it to allow cleaning solutions and water to flow through it with some pressure.
Call professional plumbing experts
If, after using all the methods and techniques mentioned above, and you are still unable to remove the blockage of your drain pipes, it might be the right time to call a professional plumbing expert who will check the cause of the problem and use their expertise in fixing the plumbing issue.
How to prevent blockage in drains
Apart from the solutions mentioned above, there are ways to prevent this issue from happening in the first place.
Homeowners can always prevent this from happening if they regularly clean their drain. It includes taking some steps to let dirt, grime, and other foreign materials go in the pipes to prevent blockages. Clean the pipes regularly by using the cleaning solutions mentioned above. It is also a good idea to use bacterial cleaning solutions every once in a while, to clear pipes and kill germs.