Common Causes of Clogs and How to Eliminate Them

Clogged or slow drains are one of the most common reasons to call a professional plumber. Keep reading to find out the most common causes of clogs and how you can eliminate them for healthier, longer-lasting plumbing and fewer problems with your drains and pipes.

Clog Causes

Food waste and cooking oils or fats are one of the most common causes for a clogged kitchen sink. Pouring fats and oils down your drain allows them to cool and congeal inside your pipes, setting the stage for a stubborn clog in the future. If your kitchen has a disposal, putting the wrong kinds of foods down the drain can cause it to jam or clog. Toilets are designed only to handle human waste and toilet paper—other paper products such as tissues, paper towels, and baby wipes can easily lodge in your toilet’s plumbing and cause a problem. Other common cause of toilet clogs include flushing garbage such as bandages, paper or plastic packaging, dental floss, feminine products, cat litter, and diapers. The drains of your tubs and showers collect organic debris such as dead skin cells, hair, and soap scum every time you bathe. Over time, these can build up inside your plumbing as well, causing a clog that slows or even completely blocks the drainpipe.

Clog Solutions

The best way to eliminate clogs is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Large amounts of food waste and foods such as pasta, rice, fat, oil, and stringy or starchy vegetables should go into the trash with other solid wastes rather than down your drain. When using your disposal, always run the cold water in the sink at the same time. Additionally, never flush any manmade product except for toilet paper down your toilet. Keep the toilet lid closed when not in use to prevent small objects from falling in and getting flushed accidentally. Placing a wastebasket next to your toilet can eliminate the temptation to flush garbage as well. Mesh drain covers can be placed in sinks, tubs, and showers to catch hair and other debris. Empty the drain covers into a trashcan after each use. You can maintain your plumbing by pouring a small amount of enzymatic drain cleaner or baking soda and boiling water down your drains once a month. These solutions will clear away any buildup to prevent larger clogs from forming without using the harsh chemicals found in caustic drain cleaners.

If you experience slow or clogged drains that you can’t handle on your own, call a professional plumber to handle the problem. You can contact a Mr. Rooter plumber for service at any time in the Santa Rosa area by clicking on our website. We also invite you to check out our blog for more plumbing information, tips, and tricks.