No one ever wants to experience the troubles that come along with clogged drainage systems. However, clogged drains are extremely common. You’ll most probably encounter them once in a while in your home.
Clogs are quite smelly and slimy. They demand quick fixing since continuous use of a blocked drain without unclogging it will worsen the situation.
While it’s important to know how to unclog drains, it’s also important to know the reasons behind drain clogs. Here’re the main reasons why drains clog.
#1 Accumulated Dirt and Hair
It’s inevitable for hair to fall and end up in the drain. Research shows that an average person basically loses around 60 to 100 strands of hair on a daily basis.
While you don’t lose all those strands while grooming in your shower, most of them fall out when washing the hair. The more people your home has, the more the number of hair strands that will end up in the drain.
The hair strands will accumulate in the drain pipe over time, together with the dirt being washed off. Accumulated dirt and hair will create a clog. The clog will ultimately block the smooth flow of wastewater down the drain.
#2 Flushing Insoluble Objects in Water
Insoluble objects clog the drain easily since they can’t dissolve in water. Insoluble items that often clog the drain include wipes, floss, cotton buds, and sanitary napkins.
You can easily avoid toilet clogs by avoiding to flush insoluble objects. You should rather have a dustbin in your bathroom and throw insoluble objects in the dustbin. If you have a blocked toilet, read this DIY guide on how to unclog a toilet.
#3 Pouring Oil into the Sink
Cooking oil and grease residues easily clog the sink. The clogs may be worsened by insoluble food particles. You can avoid clogging your sink drain by allowing oil and grease to solidify and throwing them into your garbage bin.
In case your sink drain is clogged and you’re unable to unclog it, call your plumber for assistance. Maybe there’s a more serious problem within the sink drain itself. Maybe it has become damaged or was not properly designed during installation.
#4 Poor Venting
A properly functioning vent is required for water to flow smoothly in plumbing lines. Vents allow air to enter through a plumbing line as water flows through it.
The venting principle is similar to what happens when taking a drink using a straw. Basically, one end of a bottle or can is usually open to allow air to flow as you sip your drink using a straw. If you cover the open end, air won’t enter into the can or bottle, and you won’t be able to sip your drink.
Also, if you lift the straw while covering one end with your finger, the liquid within the straw won’t drain until you stop covering it. This is exactly how drains work.
For drains to work efficiently, the venting needs to be functioning properly. Poor draining will cause problems in your drain.
#5 Extreme Slope or Poor Slope
Another key factor that determines how water will flow along the plumbing line is the slope of the plumbing system. An extreme slope will lead to rapid water flow, leaving debris and waste behind.
When the debris and waste accumulate, they’ll form clogs. Similarly, if the slope isn’t enough, debris and waste will get stuck along the drain and form clogs.
The best thing to do is avoiding and preventing these situations from occurring. Nevertheless, if you ever experience clogged drains, the best thing to do is to call a professional plumber for assistance.
