You come to rely on the drains for your property, to work as you need them to. Most of the time, this will be the case. However, problems can occur that have an adverse effect on drains and cause them to clog. Some of these issues develop over time until you notice a difference. If your sink or shower is taking longer than normal to clear, or your toilet is not clearing when you flush, you need to deal with the problem as soon as possible.
We are going to look at why drains clog in the first place. We are also going to discuss methods of unblocking them, so they return to normal working condition.
What causes a sink or shower drain to block?
Blockages in the drain of a sink or shower are generally caused by products that have been washed down the drain. This is why it’s a good idea to invest in drain guards for your home; to help prevent blockages from forming in the first place.
Different products cause the problem, depending on where the drain is located. The drain from your kitchen sink is likely to become blocked by oil, grease and leftover food which attach to each other and become lodged. A blockage in the drain from a shower is likely to be due to a build-up of soap remnants, dead skin and hair.
Infographic created by Tunnel Vision Pipeline Services, a CIPP lining company
What causes a blockage in a toilet?
Remember that a toilet drain is not designed for larger items to be flushed down. This could be a toy that your child has decided to flush, or it could be something as simple as flushing a larger than normal amount of toilet roll. If this sort of bulky item is flushed is can become trapped and cause a blockage.
A blocked toilet is definitely no fun; you need to try and remove the blockage as soon as possible. The best way of doing this is by using a plunger. If this does not work you may want to try using a drain snake. If you do not want to invest in this tool, or you do not have the confidence to use it, get in touch with a plumber to help.
If you want to try and avoid blockages in the drains of your home you should use drain guards. You should also try and make sure that bulky items are not flushed down the toilet. If a blockage does happen, hopefully our advice will help you to clear it.
Visits: 347
Ugggh, mine always tends to be hair in the shower!! Makes me insane lol!!
That’s one awesome *perk* about having a maintenance supervisor for a hubby – anything gets clogged, broken or fall’s apart – I have a built-in handyman to take care of the problem ha ha ha!