Blog > 5 Leading Causes of Blocked Drains

Tuesday, November 5, 2019 1:31 PM

Are you dealing with overflow issues because of a blocked drain? Talk to a plumber in Townsville today about inspecting your pipes and locating the source of the blockage.
 
Often people are unaware that their drainage is clogged, with debris building up over time until water can no longer pass through the system. Leaving blockages untreated can cause serious damage to your home or business, especially if a pipe should burst or rupture. When you consult with a licensed plumber, they can use CCTV pipe cameras and water jetters to find and correct the issue, ensuring your system works as intended. These are the 5 leading causes of blocked drains:

Hair
Hair is one of the most common causes of pipe blockages. That’s because every time you shower, hair inevitably ends up in the drain.
Over time—whether it be weeks, months or years—this hair becomes clogged along with soap scum, dirt and grime. If you do not stay up to date with cleaning your drains and removing hair frequently, you are likely to experience a blockage at some point.

There are many items on the market designed to do this, such as drain spiders, as well as household products like baking soda and vinegar that can be mixed and used solution to remove hair and grime. Should you require a plumber in Townsville, call our team to fix your blocked drains.

Grease
Many people pour cooking oil and fat straight down the drain without knowing these substances cause blockages.

That’s because fat and grease will often stick to the sides of the drain, in turn causing other debris to get stuck along with it.
This becomes an issue over time, as more and more food scraps, grime and grease build up within the pipe.

Instead of pouring grease down your drain, put it in a plastic container or glass jar, before throwing it in the garbage where it belongs. This is the best way to ensure your drainage system remains clean and clear of any blockages.

Baby Wipes
Baby wipes and other toiletries can cause serious blockages in your drainage systems. People are often unaware that these products actually absorb moisture, growing larger over time, and do not break down in water the way toilet paper does.

Disposing of baby wipes this way is not only detrimental to your pipes, it is also bad for the environment.

Toilet overflows are one of the worst plumbing issues to deal with for obvious reasons. The damage caused can be expensive to correct and a major inconvenience to your home or business. Avoid blocked drains by disposing of baby wipes in your garbage.

If you are dealing with a blocked drain, clogged pipe or overflow issue in your home or business—it’s best to contact a plumber as soon as possible.
Whether it’s a pipe that’s been installed incorrectly or something you’re doing to cause the blockage, our licensed tradesmen will come to your property, assess the situation and provide affordable solutions, delivered on time and to budget.

Call the team at Northern Plumbing on 07 4723 4441. Read our previous blog post for more information on after hour plumbing!