Sometimes, the causes of a clogged drain in your kitchen or bathroom are obvious: you dropped tissues, paper towels, or feminine hygiene products down the drain, and now your drain is clogged. Or maybe you’ve held off on getting that mesh drain strainer for just a little bit too long, and now all that hair that’s washed down the drain during your showers is finally coming back to haunt you. While some of these may have more complicated fixes than others, they are common causes for clogged drains.
However, what happens when you’ve been careful? You have the drain strainer, you make sure to use a reasonable amount of toilet paper, and you aren’t flushing anything down the toilet that is too big for it—but your drain is still clogged.
For every well-known piece of clogged drain wisdom, there is another that you may be surprised by. Here are a few lesser-known causes of your clogs:
- Oils and large pieces of food. Unfortunately, your garbage disposal can’t handle everything you throw at it. Sometimes food is just too large to handle. And cooking oils will re-solidify in the cooler areas of your pipes, causing blockages.
- Tree roots. Frustratingly, this one is the most expensive, and the least your fault. Roots will grow into pipes to get to their water, causing leaks and blockages. Try to be aware of your pipes when planting things aboveground!
- Soap. Yes, soap. Specifically bar soap. This can leave behind a residue that, over time, builds up, causing slimy scum in your pipes. When possible, try to use liquid soap.
If you are encountering a clogged drain that persists even after you make the effort to be careful of these less-known clog causes, it may be time to call us at Top Notch Plumbing Services Inc. to get your pipes looked at.