A working sewer is certainly one of those things that each of us takes completely for granted until that unwanted thing actually happens - the drain gets blocked. At some point in our lives, each of us has probably faced the situation where our own drain, either in the toilet or kitchen, gets blocked. For example, you may notice when you take a shower that the water doesn't go down the drain and the shower floor drain stops draining. Another common situation is when a busy person in the kitchen turns on the tap once again and after a while finds that the water doesn't drain down the drain but remains in the sink. This is also a case of a blocked drain. But how can you prevent a blocked drain by taking action yourself? What are the most common causes of blockages in your home's drain or drains? What can you do at home to alleviate the situation, or can you? Continue reading this article to find answers to these questions and more.
Why is the drain blocked? The five most common reasons for a blocked drain
A drain blockage may not be a problem the second you notice it, but it can very quickly lead to serious water damage and a costly bill in your home's budget. No one wants unexpected costs due to a blocked drain, so everyone should be vigilant in their own homes about how they treat their drains and what they put down them.
1. Leftovers
Are you eager to put old food waste down the drain? Do you drain the leftovers on your plate before putting them in the dishwasher? Don't. Food scraps are one of the biggest reasons why your drains are clogged.
2. Fat
Christmas is a tough time for drains, as ham fat is one of the most common reasons for blocked drains in households. Other fats, such as fats from frying or coconut fat from health food enthusiasts, which solidifies at room temperature, are also common causes of sewer blockages.
3. Hair
On both the shower and toilet side, the most common causes of blockages are household members' hair. The floor drain, in particular, should be cleaned regularly to prevent clogging.
4. Sand
Surprisingly, sand and stones are a common cause of sewer blockages. Outdoor traces of pets and children being washed away should be vacuumed out and shaken outdoors instead of going down the drain.
No more blocked drains. Here are some tips to help you prevent your drains from clogging.
There can be many reasons for a blocked drain, all of which are beyond your control. It's not the fault of the tenant if the neighbour's pet snake has run away and taken up residence in your sewer! Here's another example of an unexpected guest in a toilet: a family mother terrified by a creature in an Esperanto toilet, IS 2019(https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000006289877.html). However, a snake is an unlikely cause of a sewer blockage, and there are many ways to avoid the common blockages listed above. For example, washing dishes by hand may not be the best thing for the plumbing, although it is gentler on the dishes: dishwasher detergents and tablets are designed to clean not only the pipes of the machine itself, but also the drains. So use your dishwasher correctly and you'll be cleaning your own pipes at the same time. Another tip is to manually clean the pipes in the drains that you can reach - for example, the floor drain for hair and the kitchen sink for food particles.
If the drain gets blocked and cannot be opened by home remedies, a building services professional should be called in. A plumber can often open the blockage with a hand plunger, but in severe blockages a suction truck may be needed.
