What causes blocked drains?

What causes blocked drains?

If you’ve ever experienced a blocked drain before, you’ll understand just how frustrating it can be. When drains become blocked, they restrict water from being able to flow freely within your drainage system. This can cause your sink, shower and toilet to drain slowly, leaving dirty water behind. If they are left untreated, blocked drains can cause leaks, and in severe cases, burst pipes. The longer you leave a blocked drain, the worse the problem gets and the more likely you are to experience more serious and expensive complications. As plumbers on the Mornington Peninsula, this is something we see too often. So, what exactly can cause a blocked drain? What can you do to avoid blocking your drain in the future? We’ll discuss this and more, in today’s article.

Tree Roots

Tree and plant roots are one of the most common causes of blocked drains. As a tree grows, its roots grow with it, extending out below the surface of the ground. Typically, a tree’s roots will grow as wide as the branches it has above the ground. This root growth is something that many people may be unaware of, and is often forgotten about when people plant trees on their property. As they grow over time, the roots can come into contact with your drains. Some roots are particularly strong and may break right through the side of your drain as it grows out. This causes a blockage, and will require some professional repairs. To prevent this issue, ensure that you plan carefully when planting trees and other plants around your house. Consider how big they might grow, and how much space you’ve given them.

Oil and Cooking Grease

Cooking grease is formed after cooking fatty foods, such as bacon, sausages or any other greasy food. This grease along with other oils and fats should never be poured down the sink. As these substances cool down, they begin to congeal and harden which will ultimately block your drain. If the problem is minor, there are many drain cleaners available to purchase that can remove the blockage. However, if there is an excessive amount of grease and fat built up within your pipes, you may need the help of a water jet or a high-quality drain snake. If this is the case, you should contact a professional blocked drains plumber on the Mornington Peninsula to unblock your drains. To prevent this issue, you should never pour grease, oils or fats down the drain. Instead, wait for it to cool down before throwing it in the rubbish bin.

Hair

If your shower drain is blocked, hair is the most likely culprit. This is usually an issue for those with longer hair, as it will often fall out during a shower or when you are brushing your hair. Thankfully, hair is one of the easiest blockages to remove. You can purchase a drain snake from a hardware store, using it to fish down into the drain and remove the blockage. There are also many drain cleaners available that are specifically designed to break down hair. If you have tried both of these methods and the drain is still blocked, it could be time to contact the professionals. To prevent this issue, you can brush your hair once you get out the shower. You can also install an inexpensive drain catcher which will prevent hair from entering your drains in the first place.

Foreign materials

Toilets are meant for waste and toilet paper only! As blocked drain plumbers on the Mornington Peninsula, we have seen our fair share of foreign materials that have ended up in a drainage system. Children are often behind these foreign materials, throwing their toys or some other objects into the toilet and flushing it. This is a major causes of blockages and can damage your drainage system fairly easily. Other foreign materials include toiletries such as sanitary items and make up wipes that are not designed to be flushed. If the blockage is minor, you may be able to clear it with a plunger, but for more serious blockages you may require a drain snake or water jet to clear it. Ensure that you teach your children what they can flush down the toilet top prevent these issues from occurring again.

Natural debris

A build-up of natural debris within your pipes is particularly common after large storms. During the heavy rain, sewerage and drain pipes can become overloaded with excess rain water, leaves, soil and other sediments. This will generally have to be cleared out by a professional plumber, usually with a hydro jet or a high-quality drain snake. At HRA Plumbing, we also offer CCTV drain inspections on the Mornington Peninsula to diagnose the issue and determine the best way to fix it. As this debris occurs naturally, it can be hard to mitigate the issue. The best way to prevent natural debris from entering your drains is to keep your garden and your gutters tidy and clear.

HRA Plumbing – Blocked drain plumbers on the Mornington Peninsula

If you’ve tried to clear your own blocked drain to no avail, it could be time to get in touch with a team of professional plumbers on the Mornington Peninsula. At HRA plumbing, we have fixed hundreds of blocked drains in Mount Martha, Mornington, Red Hill, Rosebud, Hastings and surrounding suburbs. We clear the blockage, identify the cause and reline your pipes to ensure the issue doesn’t arise again. With over 15 years of experience, we’re well-equipped to get your drains unblocked as soon as possible. If you need assistance with blocked drains on the Mornington Peninsula, we’re here to help. Visit our contact page to speak to one of our blocked drain experts today!