5 Habits That Can Result in Blocked Drains

Blocked drains are the scourge of any household. Whether it’s a shower that is filling up with soapy water or a toilet that won’t flush, a blocked drain can cause a variety of problems in the home.

Those problems can range from simply a foul smell to contaminated water. You might even find yourself dealing with potential health issues caused by bacteria growth. A blocked drain even has the capability of compromising the structural integrity of your home if left untreated for too long.

A drain blockage can occur in a number of ways. Some may be somewhat out of your control to an extent. Tree roots, for example, can penetrate broken pipes and keep growing. This can stop the flow of waste or storm water.

However, there are just as many causes of blockage that are the result of human activity. So, here are five habits to break that can help prevent blocked drains – and a plumbing emergency – in your home.

1. Flushing More Than Just the 3 Ps Down the Toilet

Flushing anything down the toilet that doesn’t fall into the “3 Ps” category – those being pee, poo and (toilet) paper – can result in your drains and pipes clogging and blockages occurring. This is, in fact, one of the biggest causes of blocked drains in the home.

The great TP shortage of 2020 saw blocked drain plumbers retrieve all kinds of unflushable products that found their way down the toilet bowl, including baby wipes, nappies and female hygiene products. These items typically are incapable of flushing properly – yes, even those marketed as “flushable wet wipes” – as many are made of cotton and plastic that do not break down.

Disposing of these products in the bin, rather than flushing them down the toilet, will go a long way towards preventing a blocked drain in your home. Be aware, though, that using too much toilet paper can also cause drain blockages.

2. Disposing of Food Scraps Down the Kitchen Sink

When you’ve just finished dinner and want to clear the plate for washing dishes afterwards, it’s often very easy to just scrape off the food leftovers down the drain.

It’s a bad idea, however, and one you should stop. Now.

These food remains accumulate in the U bend of your kitchen sink pipes. As they build up in your drain, they restrict the flow of water and eventually cause it to stop.

And often the only way you find this out is the hard way – when your filled kitchen sink doesn’t drain away. Instead of scraping off your food scraps down the kitchen sink, same goes with emptying out any coffee grounds as well, clear them away in the bin.

3. Getting Rid of Cooking Oil via the Drainage System

Have you heard the saying “oil and water don’t mix”? It’s just as true in the kitchen as it is when you hear about an oil spill in the ocean.

Disposing of any leftover cooking oil down the kitchen sink does your plumbing no favours whatsoever. Once the cooking oil cools in your pipes, it solidifies.

Combine viscous, solidifying oil with food debris in rapidly narrowing plumbing pipes and you’ll be dealing with a complete blockage or broken pipe before you know it. The best way to dispose of used cooking oil is to pour it back into a container, seal the container and put it in the bin.

4. Poor Maintenance = Drain Blockages

Inconsistent or poor drain maintenance can lead to blocked drains. What do I mean by drain maintenance (or draintenance, if you prefer)?

Just make sure you keep your drains clean and clear. This means keeping your shower drain free of hair and soap residue. It also means keeping the kitchen sink free of food particles. It’s actually pretty simple too.

For example, pouring boiling water down the drain can help to loosen and possibly even dislodge any buildup of soap and hair in the shower. Do this once a week and it can help prevent the possibility of encountering blocked drains in your home. Alternative options, especially if hot water alone won’t suffice, can also include:

• Natural drain cleaner products
• Half a cup of baking soda and vinegar
• Toilet plunger
• A hired DIY drain snake
• Hydro jet cleaning by a professional plumber

You can also try chemical-based caustic cleaners; however, they can potentially do damage to your drainage system. They can also potentially cause health problems if you don’t use them safely. But by not maintaining your plumbing, even with simple boiling water, the potential for clogged drains is likely to increase.

5. Emptying Kitty Litter Down the Drain

We love our pets and always want the best for them. For cat owners, this includes providing them with fresh kitty litter roughly once a week.

Many people tend to dispose of used cat litter by flushing it down the toilet. They believe it to be the most convenient option. In that moment, it might be convenient from a timeliness standpoint. However, from a plumbing standpoint, it will likely become highly inconvenient.

Once cat litter makes contact with water, it immediately clumps together. So, if it’s flushed down the toilet or emptied in the kitchen sink, it’s going to clump and solidify in your plumbing system. Once again, you’ll find yourself with a stubborn clogged drain.

Like food waste and cooking oil, the best disposal method is to empty the used cat litter into a biodegradable bag and throw it into the bin.

What to Do When You Have a Blocked Drain

If you’ve tried all the known methods for clearing blocked drains, from pouring baking soda and vinegar down the hole to using a drain auger or wire hanger and nothing has worked, it might just be time to call a blocked drain plumber. They have the training, experience and the tools to clear a blocked drain with relative ease. Both indoor and outdoor drains.

By examining everything from your blocked toilet to your tree roots and sewer and stormwater pipes, they can diagnose the problem and offer the most appropriate solution. Such solutions for severe blockages could be anything from the use of high-pressure water jets to pipe relining, or pipe replacement as a last resort.

All in All …

A blocked drain plumber offers a range of options to help with clearing a blocked sink drain. However, the best way to avoid a blocked sink or clogged toilets is to be more mindful of what you put down your drain hole. By changing your habits now, you can prevent the need to call someone who specialises in unblocking drains later.

Please note: This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.