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What Causes Blocked Drains: 8 Common Culprits

Clogged drains can be a massive headache and cause all sorts of problems in your home, but what causes blocked drains? In this section, we will look at 8 common culprits that cause clogs which could be lurking inside your plumbing system.

1. Fats/oils/grease (FOG)

Grease and fat can build up in your drains over time, where they solidify and eventually cause clogs.

2. Tree roots:

Roots from trees and plants outside your home can grow into your pipes, causing severe damage and blockages. This often happens when there is a small crack or hole in an underground pipe. The tree roots will grow into the pipe to gain access to the plentiful water supply leading to a root ingress.

3. Flushable wipes

Products marketed as ‘flushable’ often don’t break down in water like toilet paper does, leading to clogs and other problems.

4. Personal hygiene products

Sanitary pads, tampons, condoms and other personal hygiene products can clog drains if not disposed of properly.

5. Pipe scale

As water passes through pipes, it leaves behind a thin film of minerals which can build up over time and cause blockages.

6. Hair

Hair can easily get caught in your drains, especially in the bathroom or shower. As the hair builds up in your pipeline, it may become entwined with other items creating a large, stubborn clog.

Hair can easily get caught in your drains, especially in the bathroom or shower. As the hair builds up in your pipeline, it may become entwined with other items creating a large, stubborn clog.

7. Food scraps

Food scraps and debris can also clog your drains when you wash off plates in the kitchen sink. These scraps can get caught on other clogs and make them even worse.

8. Foreign objects

Children’s toys, clothing items, and other objects can accidentally find their way into your drains and cause blockages. Keep an eye out for any foreign objects that could cause an issue, and remove them immediately.

How to Avoid Plumbing Emergencies & Clogs

Now that you know what causes common clogs, let’s take a look at how you can avoid clogged drains and why you should never use a chemical drain cleaner in your home. Here are our top 5 tips:

1. Never use chemical drain cleaners to clear clogs

Not only can a chemical drain pipe cleaner damage your plumbing, but it can be a serious health hazard. A mum in Bristol made the news when she tried unclogging her toilet using a well-known toilet unblocker. When that didn’t work, she tried adding bleach. Adding these two products together caused a large cloud of chlorine gas filling her home and placing her and her children in danger.

The best drain cleaner that is safe for your plumbing and family is vinegar and baking soda. For the ultimate peace of mind, we recommend calling a plumber to perform a professional drain cleaning instead of reaching for harsh chemicals which may place your family in harm’s way.

2. Do not pour fats, oils and grease (FOG) down your toilet or drain

To keep your plumbing in good shape, it’s crucial to steer clear of pouring FOG (fats, oils, and grease) down your drain or toilet. These substances have a tendency to solidify when they cool down, which can lead to blockages in your pipes that require the help of a professional.

To dispose of FOG properly, let them cool first and then scrape or soak up the solidified fat before disposing of it in the trash. Additionally, you can pour any leftover oils and grease back into their original container and dispose of them in the dustbin as well. These simple steps can help prevent plumbing issues and the need for emergency drain unblocking services.

3. Install sink strainers in all of your kitchen sinks

When rinsing off plates, it is easy to wash food scraps and debris down the sink, but these particles can cause significant blockages over time. We recommend placing a sink strainer in each of your kitchen sinks to catch these food particles so you can throw them in the bin instead.

If your sink did not come with a sink strainer, you can purchase one online or pop into your nearest hardware store.

4. Use a hair sieve in all of your showers and bathtubs

A hair sieve is similar to a sink strainer, except you place these over the drain in your shower and bathtub. These simple yet effective strainers will catch stray hairs before they go down the drain and cause pesky clogs.

5. Ensure every bathroom has a small bin

It is essential to ensure all of your bathrooms have a small bin nearby where people can dispose of personal hygiene products properly. This will help you avoid any costly plumbing issues and keep your drains running smoothly.

DIY Drain Cleaning: How to Clean Drains

Keeping your drains clean is essential to the health and safety of your home. Clogged drains can cause a range of plumbing issues, from slow-draining sinks to complete blockages in your pipes. If you catch clogs quickly and clear the blockage using the methods below, you can potentially avoid a costly plumbing emergency.

How to clean a sink drain

Are you frantically searching for how to clean a kitchen sink drain online? No need to keep stressing; we know the best sink unblocker chemicals and methods. First, begin by removing any visible signs of debris and then flush the drain with a kettle full of boiling water. If that doesn’t work, you can try using a drain plunger to loosen any debris clogged in the drain. 

In the event that now of these solutions work, you can try manual drain cleaning techniques to unclog your drain by simply following these steps:

Step 1: Find a bucket and place it under the U-shaped pipe beneath your sink. This bucket will collect any water that may leak out while you unblock the drain.

Step 2: Find a wench that fits the slip nuts at each end of the pipe and carefully loosen them to remove the pipe. 

Step 3: Tip out any water that is present in the pipe and inspect it for debris or clogs. Remove any large items or clogs you find inside the pipe.

Step 4: Now, use an old toothbrush to scrub all the pipes you can access. This will ensure everything is clean and running smoothly.

Step 5: Gently rinse the detached pipe with water and then reattach it. Leave the bucket in place and slowly flush the pipes with water. If all is running smoothly, remove the bucket.

If you are not confident enough to clean out your sinks, we recommend calling Absolute Plumbing Ltd. Our professional plumbers will be more than happy to assist with an efficient and affordable drain cleaning.

How to clean a shower drain

Begin by putting on a pair of kitchen gloves and removing any hair visible in your shower drain. You may want to remove the drain cover and see if there is any hair visible that you can remove carefully. Then boil the kettle and pour a full kettle of boiling water down the drain. Wait 30 minutes and then flush with water. If the drain is still blocked, you can try the baking soda and vinegar remedy below.

How to clean your drains with baking soda and vinegar:

1. Mix equal parts of vinegar and baking soda in your drain
2. The solution will fizz and travel down your drain
3. Leave the mixture undisturbed for half an hour
4. Flush the drain with a kettle full of boiling water
5. If the drain is still blocked, you need to call a local plumber in your area to perform a drain cleaning

How to clean an outside drain

Cleaning an outside drain is integral to maintaining your home, as outdoor drains can quickly become clogged with leaves, debris, and other materials. Here are some ideas you can try to clean an outside drain:

• Remove any visible debris: Use a pair of gloves and remove any leaves, branches, or other visible debris surrounding and inside the drain.
• Clear the drain with a hosepipe: Your hosepipe is an excellent outdoor drain unblocker; simply set your hosepipe to the highest pressure setting and spray water directly into the drain to try to dislodge any clogs.
• Use vinegar and baking soda: See how to clean a shower above and use the vinegar and baking soda method, which is a safe outside drain cleaner that could help you unblock your drains. 
• Try a drain snake: If you have a drain snake or drain auger, you can try to use it to reach and remove any clogs.
• Call a professional: If these methods do not work, it’s time to call in a professional plumber who can use specialised tools and chemicals to unclog your outdoor drain.

If you’re dealing with a slow or clogged outdoor drain, these steps can help you clear the problem and get your drainage system back in working order, but remember to avoid any chemical cleaners to prevent damage to your plumbing. Often a root ingress is the cause of blocked outdoor drains, and in this case, you will need a professional drain cleaning from Absolute Plumbing Ltd’s expert team of plumbers.

Drain Cleaning: How Absolute Plumbing Ltd Can Help

If you’re dealing with a blocked drain, seeking professional assistance is critical. At Absolute Plumbing Ltd, we have extensive experience dealing with all sorts of drain issues, and our drain cleaning service can quickly and efficiently identify and eliminate any blockages in your plumbing system.

Using CCTV drain survey equipment, we can pinpoint the exact location and cause of the blockage and then employ our cutting-edge drain cleaning technology to remove it. Our drain service offers two primary methods of clearing blockages:

1. High-pressure hydro jetting: This involves using high-pressure water to blast away stubborn blockages and buildup.

2. Rotary Machine Cleaner: This specialised tool features spring-loaded blades that spin at high speeds to break up and remove blockages from your drain.

No matter what’s causing your blocked drain, our team at Absolute Plumbing Ltd is equipped to handle the job quickly and effectively, so don’t hesitate to reach out for help.

Drain Cleaning: Final Thoughts

Drain cleaning is an essential part of home maintenance, but it’s not something you should tackle on your own. If your drains are blocked, contact the experts at Absolute Plumbing Ltd for fast and efficient service. 

With our combination of CCTV drain survey equipment and cutting-edge drain cleaning technology, we can quickly identify and remove any blockages in your system, restoring smooth and efficient drainage.
No need to continue searching ‘drain cleaners near me’, ‘drain cleaner near me’ or ‘drain clearing near me’ online. Contact Absolute Plumbing Ltd now!