Whilst we may not always think to appreciate them, our drains are integral to our lives! They carry our water and waste, allowing us to live comfortably in our homes. But what happens when our drains don’t operate properly, leaving us with a blocked drain? Where do the blockages come from, and what can we do to avoid them? Let’s discuss!
If our drains are clogged either partially or completely, the water will redirect itself. This redirection can cause issues such as backups, flooding, slow drainage or low pressure, impacting your home and causing anything from minor headaches to major damage for you to deal with, depending on the problem.
What are the common reasons for a blocked drain?
TREE ROOTS
When planting trees or buying property with trees, we tend to forget how deep their roots go, and how widely spread they can be! Tree roots are widely known for their ability to block drains, and the first signs of this happening is a gurgling sound in the pipes. Trees are living things, so naturally they seek out water. A periodic video inspection to check out your pipes by the Plan B Plumbing experts is always a good idea!
FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS
If you can avoid it, it’s always best to not flush feminine hygiene products down the drain. These products are not biodegradable and contain fibres that have the capacity to clog the drains! If you do flush them, they can build up and attract other clogging agents, leaving you with a big problem.
FLUSHABLE WIPES
Whilst they are touted as ‘flushable’, these wipes are often detrimental, and can block your drains! Home and commercial plumbing systems have the capacity to accept and process water, human waste and biodegradable toilet paper, and that’s about it Try to avoid these where possible!
FAT, OIL AND GREASE
One of the biggest ENEMIES of plumbing – fat, oil and grease are not friends with your drains. All 3 can build up and cause blockages. Fats are sticky, binding themselves to the inside of your pipes where they can build and build until there is a complete blockage. The garbage bin is a far better place to dispose of your fats, oils and grease! If you leave them to cool, you can either throw out the solidified fats, or transfer them to a disposable container to throw away.
HAIR
HAIR! We can’t help it naturally coming off our heads, however it can accumulate to the point of total blockage. The best way to prevent this is to protect your drains with screens, and cleaning out the hair as much as possible – disposing of it in the garbage bin! A good tip if you can see hair dangling or accumulating in/from the drain is to use tweezers or pliers to pull it out.
Whilst it’s good to know where potential issues with your drains can come from, it’s great to have an experienced plumber to rely on for advice and checkups to ensure you don’t run into big problems down the line! The experts at Plan B Plumbing can help you with preventative checks as well as any big issues you may run into. Based in Oakleigh and servicing South Oakleigh, Chadstone, Glen Iris and surrounding suburbs, you can reach out for assistance today!
