The Most Common Causes of Clogged Drains (and How to Prevent Them)

Clogged drains are a frustratingly common household nuisance that can disrupt your daily routine and even lead to costly plumbing repairs. Understanding the most frequent causes of these blockages is the first step in preventing them. Freedom Drains is here to shed light on the most common culprits behind clogged drains and offer practical, effective prevention tips to keep your plumbing flowing smoothly.

Common Causes and Prevention Strategies:

• Hair: Hair is a major offender, particularly in bathroom drains like showers and sinks. Strands of hair easily bind together, intertwining with soap scum, shampoo residue, and other debris to create stubborn blockages that can be difficult to dislodge.
  
  • Prevention:
    • Drain Strainers: Invest in high-quality drain strainers for all your bathroom drains. These simple and inexpensive devices effectively catch hair before it enters the pipes.
    • Regular Cleaning of Drain Stoppers: Regularly remove and clean drain stoppers to remove accumulated hair and debris. Use a small brush or tool to remove any buildup.
    • Enzyme Cleaners (Use with Caution): Consider using a hair-dissolving enzyme cleaner periodically. However, it’s crucial to use these products with caution and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Avoid using harsh chemical drain cleaners, as they can damage your pipes.
• Soap Scum: Soap scum, a combination of soap residue, minerals from hard water, and body oils, can build up over time, especially in areas with hard water. This buildup restricts water flow and can eventually lead to complete blockages.
  
  • Prevention:
    • Switch to Liquid Soaps: Liquid soaps tend to produce less soap scum than bar soaps.
    • Use Less Bar Soap: If you prefer bar soap, try using less of it.
    • Regular Flushing with Hot Water: Regularly flushing your drains with hot water can help dissolve and wash away some soap scum before it builds up. A mixture of hot water and vinegar can also be helpful.
• Food Waste: Disposing of food scraps down the kitchen sink, even with a garbage disposal, is a recipe for disaster. While garbage disposals can grind up some food waste, they aren’t designed to handle all types of food and can contribute to clogs if not used properly.
  
  • Prevention:
    • Use a Garbage Disposal Sparingly: Use your garbage disposal only when necessary and avoid putting large amounts of food waste down it at once.
    • Run Plenty of Water: Always run plenty of cold water when using the garbage disposal to help flush the ground-up food waste through the pipes.
    • Compost Food Waste: Compost food waste whenever possible. This is an environmentally friendly way to dispose of food scraps and keeps them out of your drains.
    • Avoid Disposing of Certain Foods: Avoid putting fibrous foods (like celery), starchy foods (like pasta and rice), egg shells, and greasy or oily foods down the garbage disposal.
• Grease, Oil, and Fats: Grease, oil, and fats (FOGs) are a major cause of clogged drains, particularly in kitchen sinks. When these substances are poured down the drain, they cool and solidify, creating thick, sticky blockages that can be very difficult to remove.
  
  • Prevention:
    • Never Pour Grease Down the Drain: Never pour grease, oil, or fats down the drain.
    • Dispose of Grease Properly: Allow grease to cool and solidify, then scrape it into a sealed container and dispose of it in the trash.
• Foreign Objects: Small toys, cotton swabs, feminine hygiene products, and other non-flushable items accidentally flushed down toilets or dropped down drains can cause immediate and severe blockages.
  
  
  • Prevention:
    • Keep Bathroom and Kitchen Areas Tidy: Keep bathroom and kitchen areas tidy and out of reach of small children.
    • Proper Disposal: Dispose of all non-flushable items in the trash.

While prevention is key to avoiding clogged drains, sometimes clogs are unavoidable. If you’re experiencing persistent drain problems, slow draining, gurgling sounds, or foul odors, Freedom Drains offers professional drain cleaning services in Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. We have the specialized tools, including motorized snakes and hydro jetting equipment, and the expertise to clear even the toughest blockages and get your drains flowing freely again. Contact us today for reliable and effective drain cleaning solutions.