Blocked drains at home are one of the things you don’t want to encounter—they’re inconvenient and can be nasty! That’s why you want to prevent them as much as possible. Before prevention occurs, you need to know the things you need to be aware of the most common reasons blocked drains occur first!

In this two-part post, we’ll discuss the common causes of blocked drains and how you can prevent them.

Fat

Do you have the habit of letting fat go down the drain? Unbeknownst to many homeowners, fat shouldn’t go down the drain, even if they’re in liquid form. However, unless you can totally separate fat from foods and human waste, by all means, do so. But we know that’s impossible.

So it’s all about prevention. An effective way to prevent blocked drains is to use fat-free soaps for showers. Another thing is not to flush down food scraps and use a drain strainer to prevent residues from entering your drains.

On the other hand, if your drain is already blocked and you suspect it’s due to fat, you can use warm water and vinegar solution. You can also use caustic cleaners that can help eliminate stubborn and hardened grease. Leave it for an hour and then drain it with warm water. If these methods don’t work, a plumber is the best solution.

Grease

Grease shouldn’t be confused with fat because it’s only a by-product of fat. Usually, grease forms around the pan after frying fatty foods. When you pour it down the drain, it can stick to the inner lining of the pipes that can block the passage over time; hence, a blockage.

Dispose of grease properly, and should you accidentally spill grease, flush hot water down the drains. You can use the same solution to eliminate fat in your pipes.

Hair

We know, pulling out a bunch of hair from your drain is gross. But sometimes, you have to do what you got to do. And consider yourself lucky if you can still pull it from the drain because it will be difficult to do so in some cases.

You can prevent hair from accumulating in your drains by brushing your hair before you hit the shower. Doing so will help lessen the hair fall. If it’s difficult to prevent it completely, make a habit of gathering fallen hair and throwing it into the rubbish bin instead.

Deal with blocked drains due to hair by using a cup of bleach and pouring it into the drains. Also, at least once a month, clear your drains with hot water. You can use a drain snake or a bent wire to hook the fallen hair as well.

Conclusion

We still have more information to go, but these are the most common reasons behind those blocked drains. Preventing and clearing them is pretty easy—you can even do them by yourself. However, if it becomes too complicated and it seems like the blockage doesn’t want to go away, it’s best to call a plumber to fix it instead.

A plumber can also identify other issues that may compromise your plumbing system in the future. Look out for the second part of this post! We’ll see you there.

Designa Plumbing can help take care of your blocked drains in Adelaide, and we’re available 24/7. We use the latest in CCTV drain camera technology and hydro-powered hydro-jetting to unclog your drains efficiently. Contact us today!