The Drain Clog Epidemic - What You Need to Know
Is there anything more annoying than standing in an ever-rising pool of grimy water in your shower because the drain is clogged? Or watching helplessly as the kitchen sink overflows with sudsy water that just won't go down the drain? Unfortunately, clogged drains are an extremely common problem that most homeowners will deal with at some point.
Why Do Drains Get Clogged?
There are a few main culprits when it comes to clogged drains:
- Hair - Showers and sinks easily get clogged with hair. As hair washes down the drain, it can get tangled and collect, eventually blocking water flow.
- Grease and food - Pouring grease, oil or fat down the kitchen sink will lead to buildup over time. Food particles can also get stuck.
- Soap scum - Soap and other bath products can leave behind sticky residue that adheres to pipes.
- Tree roots - Roots from shrubs or trees near your home may make their way into sewer lines, obstructing water flow.
- Pipe issues - Old, corroded or damaged drain pipes allow debris to get caught and accumulate.
Types of Drain Clogs
Not all clogs are created equal. Here are some of the most common types:
- Partial clog - Water drains slowly; sink/tub may fill with water temporarily before draining.
- Complete clog - Water won't go down the drain at all; sink/tub keeps filling up.
- Main sewer clog - Affects the main home drainage/sewer lines; multiple drains back up.
DIY Drain Cleaning Techniques
Before calling a plumber, try these homemade solutions:
- Plunger - Place over drain and plunge vigorously to dislodge clog.
- Baking soda and vinegar - Mix together and pour down drain; the chemical reaction can break up debris.
- Salt and boiling water - Pour 1/2 cup salt down drain followed by boiling water to clear grease clogs.
- Wire hanger - Unbend a wire hanger and use the end to manually pull out hair and debris.
- Enzymatic cleaner - Use an enzyme-based foaming cleaner regularly to prevent buildup.
When to Call a Professional
DIY methods aren't guaranteed to solve all clogs. Call a plumber if:
- You've tried several home remedies without success
- Water is overflowing from drains
- Multiple drains are backed up
- You have a main sewer line clog
- Drain issues are recurring
With professional-grade plumbing snakes, high-pressure jetting equipment and superior expertise clearing clogs, plumbers have the best chance of getting your drains flowing freely again.
Prevent Future Clogged Drains
Take these steps to avoid recurring drain clogs:
- Use drain catchers and strainers to collect hair and debris
- Avoid pouring fats/oils down the drain
- Only flush toilet paper; dispose of wipes and feminine products in the trash
- Use a foaming enzyme cleaner monthly to clear buildup
- Have a plumber inspect/clear main sewer lines annually
By understanding what causes clogs and learning some simple home remedies, you can take control when drains start draining slowly. But for serious or recurring clog issues, rely on the expertise of a professional plumber to get your drains flowing freely again.
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Drain Cleaning Equipment - A Solution for Clogged Drains
Dealing with a clogged drain can be incredibly frustrating. Dirty standing water and backed-up pipes are a hassle you want to resolve quickly. Thankfully, with the right drain cleaning tools, you can clear clogs yourself and get your drains flowing freely again.
Types of Drain Cleaning Equipment
There are various types of specialized drain cleaning equipment available to both homeowners and professionals:
- Hand Drain Auger: Also known as a plumbers snake, this steel coil can be fed down a drain and rotated to scrub away debris. Best for clearing sinks, tubs and showers.
- Electric Drain Auger: Featuring a motorized rotating steel cable, this can drill through tough clogs. Often used by pros for toilet and main lines.
- Pressurized Drain Cleaners: These machines use high water pressure to scour pipes. Types include hydro-jetters and air burst drain cleaners.
- Chemical Drain Cleaners: Caustic chemical liquids break up gunk in pipes. Pour directly into drain and let sit before rinsing with hot water.
Choosing the Right Drain Cleaning Tools
Consider the location, severity and nature of the clog to select suitable equipment:
- Light Clogs - A liquid chemical cleaner, plunger or hand auger should do the trick
- Heavy Clogs - Use an electric auger or hydro-jetter machine
- Main Sewer Lines - Rent an industrial-grade power auger or call a professional
Using Drain Cleaners Safely
Read labels carefully and take precautions when using drain cleaners:
- - Wear gloves and eye protection
- - Never mix chemical products
- - Use extreme caution with caustic drain cleaners
- - Rinse skin or eyes immediately if exposed
- - Ensure proper ventilation when using chemicals
Specialized drain cleaning equipment makes clearing clogs a straightforward process. With the right tools for the job, you can handle minor and moderate drain clogs yourself. But for serious sewer line issues, leave it to the professionals.
Why Drains Get Clogged - The Culprits Revealed
Few things are more annoying than turning on the faucet or shower and watching water pool up because the drain is clogged. Drain clogs seem to happen at the most inconvenient times and can cause messy, smelly backups. Understanding what causes drains to get blocked in the first place can help prevent this nuisance.
Hair
Hair is one of the most common causes of clogged bathroom drains. The shower and sink collect loose hairs each time you wash or brush your hair. Over time, hair gets tangled and forms a mass that blocks pipes.
- Hair clogs happen more frequently in homes with multiple people and longer-haired occupants.
- Shower, bathroom sink and bathtub drains are prone to hair clogs.
Grease, Fats and Oils
Pouring cooking oils, grease and fat residue down the kitchen sink leads to buildup and clogged drains. These substances coat and congeal on pipe walls when they cool.
- Frying oils, meat juices, salad dressings, butter, lard and bacon fat commonly cause grease clogs.
- Over time, a thick layer of grease accumulates and blocks water flow.
Food
Food particles like rice, pasta, coffee grounds and small bits of vegetables can stick to pipes instead of washing down the drain. Food gets trapped and decomposes, making clogs worse.
- Garbage disposals help pulverize food, but pieces still slip through and lead to buildup.
- Avoid pouring oils, grease, dressings and sauces into the disposal to minimize clogs.
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Soap Scum
The residue left behind from bath products like shampoo, soap, body wash and detergent can accumulate on pipe walls. This sticky buildup catches other debris passing through the drain.
- Soap scum often clogs where drain pipes meet sink and shower basins.
- Using too much detergent when washing dishes or clothes contributes to soap scum.
Watch what goes down your drains to prevent gross clogged pipe backups. A little vigilance in the kitchen and bathroom can spare you major drain cleaning headaches.
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Top Culprits of Clogged Drains
Dealing with a clogged drain can be extremely inconvenient and messy. More often than not, the cause of the clog boils down to just a few common offenders that find their way into our drains and pipes.
Hair
Loose strands of hair are one of the prime causes of clogged bathroom drains. Hair easily washes down shower and sink drains but then gets tangled up into a massive wad that blocks water flow.
- Showers and bathroom sinks see a lot of hair go down the drain after grooming.
- Bathtub drains also frequently get clogged with tangled hair.
- Homes with multiple occupants and people with long hair tend to experience more hair-related clogs.
Grease and Oil
Pouring cooking grease, oils, and other fats down the kitchen drain leads to sticky buildup on pipe walls over time.
- Grease clogs commonly stem from meat fats, butter, salad dressings, bacon drippings, etc.
- The grease congeals and coats pipes as it cools after going down the drain.
- A thick layer of grease accumulation eventually blocks water flow.
Soap Scum
Residue from soaps, shampoos, detergents, and bath products sticks to pipes and combines with hair and particles to create a sticky, gooey mass.
- Soap scum often clogs at the junction where drain pipes meet sink and tub basins.
- An overabundance of soap products results in more leftover residue.
Food Scraps
Particles of food including oils, grains, and bits of vegetables get washed down the drain but have trouble passing fully through pipes.
- Coffee grounds, rice, pasta, and small food scraps commonly contribute to clogs.
- Over time, the debris accumulates and decomposes, blocking water flow.
Being mindful of what goes down your drains can help prevent aggravating clogs. Proper hair traps, drain screens, and garbage disposal use are crucial for keeping pipes clear.
Uncommon Causes of Clogged Drains
Clogged drains are typically caused by common culprits like hair, grease, and soap residue. However, there are some less obvious reasons you may find your drains backed up.
Invading Tree Roots
Roots from shrubs or trees growing near your home can make their way into sewer and drain lines underground. As the roots spread, they clog pipes and restrict water flow.
- Roots seek water sources and will infiltrate even the smallest cracks and gaps in exterior drainage pipes.
- Larger roots can entirely block drains and cause sewage backups.
- Chemical root killers can remove existing roots but don't prevent recurrence.
Pipe Corrosion
Corrosion inside galvanized steel or iron drain pipes causes buildup that narrows the pipe diameter. Rust, scale, and corroded bits then catch passing debris.
- Acidic drain cleaners speed corrosion, as can salty seawater in coastal areas.
- Plastic PVC and ABS pipes are resistant to corrosion.
- Re-piping corroded sections or lining pipes can resolve corrosion clogs.
Accumulated Debris
Even small amounts of debris add up over time. Hair, grease, and other gunk get caught on existing clogs or rough sections inside drain pipes.
- Old pipes develop internal rust, pits, and cracks that trap passing debris.
- Partial clogs compound as collected debris tangles further.
- Eventually the pipe becomes fully blocked.
While less common than daily buildup, tree roots, corrosion, and collected debris can gradually lead to complete drain blockages. Catching these issues early provides the chance for preventative maintenance before major clogging occurs.
How Amazon Prime Improves Drain Cleaner Shopping
As any homeowner knows, clogged drains happen at the most inconvenient times. When you need to unclog a sink or tub fast, having the right drain cleaning supplies on hand is a must. This is where an Amazon Prime membership can really pay off for regular purchasers of drain cleaning equipment.
Fast Shipping
One of the main perks of Amazon Prime is free two-day shipping on most items. For Prime members, drain snakes, chemical drain cleaners, plungers and other drain cleaning tools listed as Prime Eligible get delivered quickly at no extra shipping cost.
This perk is especially handy when you wake up to a clogged kitchen sink or backed-up bathtub drain first thing in the morning. Instead of making an emergency store run, Prime members can promptly order drain cleaning supplies and receive them within a day or two.
Free Returns
Amazon Prime also provides free, convenient returns on most items. This is useful when buying drain cleaning equipment like power drain augers and plumber's snakes that may need to be tested or swapped out if defective.
Prime takes the hassle out of returns. You can easily print a prepaid return shipping label and drop the item off at a nearby collection point, without having to repackage and ship it yourself.
Amazon Hub Lockers
For additional shipping flexibility, Prime members in certain areas can select Amazon Hub Lockers as their delivery option. Packages get delivered to a secure locker location where you can pick them up anytime - no waiting for home delivery.
This makes drain cleaning supplies fast to retrieve in a pinch, like if you need a plunger from Amazon while at the office to unclog the bathroom drain.
Lightning Deals
Amazon Lightning Deals offer short-term discounts on select items. As a Prime member, you get 30 minute early access to Lightning Deals on drain cleaners, drain snakes and other plumbing tools.
This lets you snap up bargains on best-selling drain cleaning equipment before the deals sell out or expire for non-Prime members.
A Prime membership provides perks like fast shipping and hassle-free returns that simplify purchasing drain cleaning gear. Sign up to make Amazon your go-to source when you need to unclog drains fast.
What Are The Most Common Problems That Drain Cleaning Equipment Can Solve??
Here are some of the most common problems that drain cleaning equipment can solve:
What Are Some DIY Methods For Unclogging Drains??
Here are some DIY methods for unclogging drains:
- Baking soda and vinegar: Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Cover the drain and let it sit for an hour. Then, pour boiling water down the drain.
- Boiling water: Slowly pour a pot of boiling water down the drain. Repeat if necessary.
- Dish soap and hot water: Boil about two liters of water and mix in a few tablespoons of liquid dish soap. Slowly pour the mixture down the sink.
- Wire coat hanger: Straighten out a wire coat hanger and use it to remove hair and other debris from the drain.
- Baking soda and lemon juice: Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1/2 cup of lemon juice. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain.
- Salt and baking soda: Mix 1/2 cup of salt with 1/2 cup of baking soda and pour the mixture down the drain. Let it sit for 10-20 minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain.
- Plunger: Use a plunger to create suction and dislodge the clog.
