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5 Culprits Behind Clogged Pipes: Keeping Your Plumbing Flowing Freely

06/04/2024

Clogged pipes – ugh, those dreaded words can send shivers down any homeowner’s spine. A slow drain or a complete backup can bring your household to a standstill, not to mention create a real mess. But before you panic and reach for the plunger, let’s explore the five most common reasons pipes get clogged, and how to prevent these plumbing nightmares from happening in the first place.

1. Grease Gone Rogue:

We all love a delicious meal, but unfortunately, leftover grease, oil, and fats love your pipes a little too much. As these substances cool down, they solidify and cling to the inside of your pipes, gradually causing a blockage.

Prevention Tips:

Never pour grease down the drain! Let it cool and solidify, then scrape it into a trash can.
Install a grease trap under your kitchen sink to catch grease before it enters the pipes.
Wipe down greasy pans with paper towels before washing them to remove excess grease.

2. Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow (Except for Your Drain):

Hair, especially from showers and bathroom sinks, is a notorious culprit for clogged drains. It can form a hairy mass that traps other debris, leading to a slow drain or complete blockage.

Prevention Tips:

Install drain covers in your shower and bathroom sink to catch hair before it goes down the drain.
Brush hair regularly to minimize shedding in the shower.
Avoid disposing of hair removal products down the drain.

3. The Soap Scum Monster:

Soap scum, a combination of soap residue, minerals, and dead skin cells, can build up over time and contribute to clogged drains.

Prevention Tips:

Use a squeegee regularly in your shower to remove soap scum from surfaces.
Choose soaps formulated to leave less scum.
Clean your drains periodically with a commercial drain cleaner or a natural solution like baking soda and vinegar.

4. Food Fighters… Against Your Pipes:

While garbage disposals are convenient, they’re not invincible. Certain foods, like coffee grounds, eggshells, and fibrous vegetables, can be difficult for disposals to grind up and can eventually lead to clogs.

Prevention Tips:

Only put food scraps down the disposal that it can easily handle. Consult your disposal’s manual for a list of recommended and forbidden items.
Run cold water while using the disposal to help flush food scraps down the drain.
Grind ice cubes occasionally to help sharpen the disposal blades.

5. Foreign Object Fury:

Sometimes, the culprit behind a clogged pipe is a simple but misplaced object. Toys, jewelry, cotton swabs, and other foreign objects can become lodged in your pipes, causing a blockage.

Prevention Tips:

Educate children about what can and cannot be flushed down the toilet or sink drain.
Install drain covers in sinks and tubs to prevent small objects from falling through.
Be mindful of what you flush down the toilet.

By understanding these common causes and following these preventive measures, you can keep your pipes flowing freely and avoid the hassle (and mess!) of clogged drains. If you do experience a clog, there are several DIY solutions you can try, but for stubborn clogs, it’s always best to call a professional plumber.