The  Most Common Causes of  Blocked Drains

Blocked drains are the most common “Emergency” Call Outs we receive at Abacus Affordable Plumbing.  Although Blocked drains are common, they are extremely annoying and frustrating for the property owner.  Although the blocked drains are treated, sometimes the underlying cause goes untreated, only to rear it’s head again in the future.

Foreign objects or debris is one of the causes of blocked drains

Blocked drains can occur when you get a build up of materials such as soaps, hair, foods and they become caught between the drainpipe and the pipes that flow underneath.  Initially these materials will not fully block the drain, but over time they will collect and gather in size, eventually stopping the water from escaping freely, and causing the drain to block.  Fats and grease are in the most part preventable, try not to rinse gluggy stuffs down the kitchen sink, scrape fats, grease and minor food particles into the rubbish bin prior to washing the item.  Unfortunately when it comes to hair and soaps, they are part of every day life, every time we wash our hair, a certain amount will go down the drain. (Little Tip, if you have hair lying in the bottom of your shower, do not deliberately wash down the drain, gather and bin it)

Toilets regularly block up due to too much toilet paper, sanitary items and even nappies being flushed down them. Young children often find toilets a huge source of fun and amusement. They have been known to flush toys, full rolls of toilet paper, toilet brushes etc.

Heavy rains or storms is one of the causes of blocked drains

Over the course of time, our gutters and down-pipes can collect dust, leaves and other objects that will be washed down during rain and storms, causing them to clog and not allow the water to fun away freely.

Gutter overflow in a really heavy storm, can simply be caused by the volume of water, our gutters and down-pipes are only large enough to carry a certain amount, they will overflow when the volume is simply too large. This can lead to all sorts of problems with water back flowing under inside the eaves and roof cavity.

Try to keep your gutters and down-pipes free of debris, this will allow the water maximum flow, giving you the best chance of avoiding overflow in heavy rains or storms.

Broken pipes is one of the causes of blocked drains

If a pipe is broken and  the water cannot flow freely it may collapse, causing the drain to block.  Broken pipes can be caused by  poor installation, age and tree roots.

Tree roots can cause enormous damage underground and these types of blockages may require detailed investigation of underground pipes to identify where the problem is occurring.

Underground pipe repairs can be disruptive and costly depending on how difficult it is to access the problem area.

Drains become blocked for a variety of reasons, so it is important to understand what the underlying cause of blocked drainage is.

Blockages can build up over time and you may get some early warning signs that there are some obstructions to the water flow. These include gurgling sounds after you flush a toilet, the water level in your sink or bath draining slowly, and bad smells from sinks or drains.

Some blockages can be easily cleared using a plunger; however treating the symptom may not address the underlying causes of drain blockages. If you have ongoing drainage problems or need to repair or lay drains, the best practice is to call a plumber. Using a professional plumbing service will ensure the job is done properly and save you money in the long run. Call your local plumbing service and get a quote.