Blocked drains can be a nuisance, leading to slow drainage, pooling water and unpleasant smells. Severely blocked drains can also cause damage to your pipes if the issue isn’t fixed, but what causes blocked drains in the first place?

Knowing more about what causes blocked drains can help you avoid the issue in the future, so read on for some of the most likely culprits.

Grease and fat

It’s tempting to pour leftover fat and cooking oil straight down the sink, but these substances can quickly build up and clog your pipes. Fat, grease and oil attach themselves to the inside of pipes and block water from passing through, so add them to your food bin or dispose of them in a sealed container.

Hair

Humans lose around 50 to 100 hairs a day on average and this can quickly build up and clog your drains. A hair guard over the plughole can catch any loose hairs before they get washed away and reduce the chances of a blockage. You should also regularly remove hair from the plughole (unpleasant we know), but prevention is better than cure!

Leaves and outdoor debris

Blocked drains can occur both inside and outside your home, so regularly remove any leaves, twigs and other debris obstructing your outdoor drains. General garden maintenance can also reduce the chances of a blockage, so trim back trees and shrubs and regularly rake up any dead leaves. 

Foreign objects

Blocked toilets are usually caused by flushing ‘foreign objects’ and this includes anything that isn’t human waste or toilet paper. Don’t flush anything else down your drains, including cotton buds, sanitary items, wet wipes, kitchen towel and cotton wool.

Food scraps

Many people rinse their plates in the sink before washing up or putting them in the dishwasher, but could this be harming your drains? Get into the habit of scraping any leftover food into your bin (or food waste bin) before rinsing. The odd scrap isn’t going to cause any harm, but porous foods like pasta and rice soak up a lot of water, which can cause them to expand and get stuck in your pipes.

If you’ve got a blocked drain in your property, get in touch with the experts at Aqua Rod South West for professional drain clearance. We’re available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so you can be confident that we’ll be there when you need us most. We’re fully equipped to solve problems both big and small, from a blocked sink, to a more serious sewer blockage. If you want to stay on top of your drain maintenance, we also offer regular pipe inspections and maintenance services, so give us a call today or contact us online.

Published by: David Parkes on: July 13th 2021