Common Causes of Drain Clogs

Do you suspect you’re dealing with clogged drains and pipes in your home? If you answered yes, take some small solace in the knowledge that you’re certainly not alone: one of the most common problems that professional plumbers like those at Frank Gay Services deal with are drains that have become completely clogged.

Addressing the causes of drain clogs

Just because clogged drains are a typical occurrence, though, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take them seriously. Water that gets blocked up in your pipes due to a clogged drain can eventually cause you a whole slew of problems: flooded floors, reduced water pressure, and completely backed-up pipes are just a few that come to mind.

Doesn’t sound fun, right? We didn’t think so.

Luckily, there are plenty of tips you can follow to prevent the headaches that come with a clogged drain in your home. And for your convenience, the plumbing pros at Frank Gay Services have put together a list of the biggest tips to keep in mind to help you keep clogged pipes at bay for as long as possible.

If you’re a homeowner living in and around the Orlando, FL area, then read on to discover the most common causes of clogged drains and the best ways to prevent them!

Cause #1: Soap Residue

Many bar soaps leave behind a little bit of residue every time you use them, and that then finds its way into your drain, where it can start accumulating until it gets thicker and harder.

This film is responsible for the buildup of scum that we commonly see in shower drains. If you’re dealing with a shower drain that seems like it’s always getting clogged, chances are good that it’s because of the type of soap you use.

Consider switching to liquid soap to prevent soap scum from clogging your shower drain and potentially your home’s plumbing pipes. Liquid soap doesn’t create the same kind of thin film that bar soap does, and it doesn’t leave behind scum in your shower drain, either.

If you’re dead set on sticking with a brand of bar soap you love, we suggest that you regularly clean your shower drain to reduce the risk of backed-up pipes. If you’re not sure how to do this yourself, the pros at Frank Gay Services are happy to lend a hand to keep water freely flowing through your drain.

Cause #2: Food waste and oils

Many U.S. homeowners have a garbage disposal readily available in their kitchens and are used to getting rid of the waste left behind in the sink by simply rinsing it down the drain.

But before you push the garbage disposal button and say goodbye to food waste in the sink, you should know about the things you should NEVER dump down the drain. Always resist the urge to get rid of fats, greasy food, and oil by putting them down your garbage disposal. Doing that is just asking for drain problems and a backed-up sink.

The reason for this is that food oil, fats, and bigger pieces of food waste don’t get broken up properly by your garbage disposal. Instead, they either get lodged somewhere down your drain or harden completely and prevent your water from flowing normally. Be particularly careful about putting fats and oils down your drain since, once they’re down there, they’ll likely stay there permanently and never get broken up into smaller particles.

Cause #3: Mud, Dirt, and Debris

Coming inside from a long day spent ankle-deep in the dirt? Whether you’ve been playing sports, mowing your lawn, or simply taking a stroll along a nature path, you’re likely going to track dirt, debris, and mud inside your home. And where is all of that gunk going to go when you hop into the shower? You guessed it: right down the shower drain.

Keep in mind that when you track in mud after coming inside, you’re probably also bringing things like weeds and pebbles with you as well, which can sometimes find their way into your shower drain. If that happens, not only can they cause clogs, but they can even cause damage to the inside of your plumbing pipes if they’re lodged for long enough.

If you suspect this is the case, Frank Gay Services’ expert plumbers can help flush out your shower drain. Otherwise, it’s only a matter of time until all of the mud and dirt you’ve tracked into your shower causes you serious plumbing issues that can’t be fixed overnight.

Cause #4: Hair

This is probably the most common cause of clogged drains. Hair that’s become tangled around a drain is one of the most common culprits responsible for backed-up plumbing pipes. Thankfully, it’s also incredibly easy to prevent hair from clogging your drain.

If you or someone in your family has long or curly hair that’s likely to tangle itself around a drain, we highly recommend that you invest in a drain cover to keep hair at bay. Drain covers are cheap, easy to find, and even easier to dispose of. You can purchase drain covers at your closest hardware store and get them set up around your drain in just a couple of minutes.

Already have a drain that’s got hair tangled around it? Commercial drain-clearing products can help to clean out your drain and get rid of pesky hair that’s gotten all tangled up. If that doesn’t work, contact the professional plumbers at Frank Gay Services—we can quickly take care of the issue for you.

Cause #5: Toilet Paper

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention things that clog your toilet, too. It’s surprisingly common for too much toilet paper to clog up a toilet — a clogged toilet can’t flush very well, and a toilet that doesn’t flush very well leads to backed-up pipes.

An easy way to prevent clogged toilets due to toilet paper is to simply use less. Be of how much toilet paper you’re using and try to only flush as much as your toilet can reliably break down. If you try to flush too much paper at once, it can clump up and get lodged in your toilet pipes.

Still Experiencing Drain Problems? The Team at Frank Gay Services is Here to Help

Although we haven’t listed every cause for a clogged drain, we’ve tried to cover the most common causes we see on a day-to-day basis. So, if you’re still experiencing problems with a clogged drain, it may be time to contact a team of professionals.

Are you still experiencing clogged drains in your home? If you’re living in the Orlando, FL area, the plumbing pros at Frank Gay Services are ready to put their years of experience to work for you. We’ll inspect the drains in your home to quickly get to the bottom of what’s causing your problems and offer solutions to your issues.

Need to schedule an appointment with us or learn more about how we can help? Give us a call today at (407) 279-3270.

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