Everyday Household Activities that Cause Blocked Drains
As a plumbing emergency that often builds up slowly, blocked drains can wreak havoc throughout your home. At first, you might notice that your water is taking a little longer to drain. After a short while, gurgling sounds and odd smells should start to raise alarm bells. Before you reach the stage where you need to call an emergency plumber, you may want to learn more about what causes drains to block in the first place.
Inappropriate flushing
Most plumbers will tell you that only human waste and toilet paper should go down the toilet. Items such as makeup wipes, baby wipes, cotton pads and kitchen towel paper will eventually cause your drains to clog. If there are children in your household, it's probably worth discussing what they can and cannot flush. For example, they may feel as though the toilet is the best place for sanitary towels and tampons, but such items can wreak havoc with your drainage.
Disposing of kitchen waste the right way
When you're in a rush to clean your plates after a long day and a heavy meal you may accidentally expose your pipes to drain-ruining materials. To ensure you're disposing of kitchen waste the right way, you should:
- Scrape plates thoroughly before washing them, as food debris will gather and cause a clog.
- Avoid disposing of large volumes of fat and oil. Place them into a container and throw them out with the trash.
- Either dump coffee grounds in the garden or flush them down the toilet. They're abrasive and can damage your pipes if you continuously pour them down the kitchen sink.
Finally, when you do wash your plates make sure you're using the right type of detergent or soap. Adequate detergents will break down remaining oil and grease on the plates, which then prevents blockages further down the line.
Don't neglect the area outside your home
While many people worry about what the drains inside their house are doing, few consider the outside. Outdoor drains are vulnerable to debris, foliage and other organic matter, especially when the weather is bad. To avoid yours becoming clogged, consider installing devices such as gutter guards, which you can use to catch debris before disposing of it. You may also want to consider using drain guards and watch out for foul smells that indicate a blockage.
If your drains do block and start causing a significant problem, consider contacting an emergency plumber. The sooner they attend your property to address the matter, the sooner your drains will start flowing freely again
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