8 Common Causes of Clogged Drains (and How to Solve Them)

It’s never a good day when you come home to clogged drains that smell, overflow, or gurgle. No one deserves dealing with drain problems and standing water when you can call the plumbers in Tyler, TX, at The Mink Plumbing for help.

We can stop your clogs at their source and offer professional drain cleaning, but there are also a few things you can try on your own to help alleviate minor problems and symptoms. Here’s where to get started.

1) Grease Build-Up

It’s tempting to pour grease down the drain, but once it dries, it hardens and sticks to your pipes. It also sticks to everything else that goes down the drain, from food particles to hair. Before long, you have a stubborn clog that can’t be dislodged with a plunger or consumer chemicals like Drano. In fact, the grease can just hold onto the Drano and lead to bigger issues or damage your pipes.

It’s easy enough to store your grease in a jar and throw it out as it gets full. Or you can toss it every time you cook.

2) Food Particles

Even if you have a garbage disposal, it’s not meant to take care of big chunks of food. Your food particles can build up and create clogs or stick to grease and other particles. A big enough clog can also damage your pipes and cause a leak. All of your food should be thoroughly scraped into the garbage and you should avoid letting it slide down your drains. If it does go into your sink, thoroughly run your garbage disposal.

3) Soap Scum

Soap scum is slimy and sticky, and like grease, it can start a collection of its own in your drain area and pipes. Even if it doesn’t make it into your pipes and sticks to other buildup, soap scum easily gets lodged into the joints and crevices of your drains and forms clogs. You can try pouring a few quarts of hot water down your shower or bath every few weeks to keep soap scum at bay.

4) Hair

A few hairs may slide down your pipes from time to time, but over time they accumulate and create a blockage. Hair is also a magnet for soap scum and other debris that can trap water and lead to bacteria in your sinks. A mesh trap over your drain can keep hair and other particles from going into your pipes. You should also wipe away any hair sitting on your drain after every shower or bath.

5) Grime and Dirt

Whether you have kids and pets or just enjoy working in the yard, it’s easy to end up with dirt and grime in your drains. Whether you’re washing your hands in a sink or using a floor drain, dirt and mud quickly clog drains and create stubborn blockages as it sticks to other particles. Avoid washing dirt down your drains by hosing them off outside or removing as much as possible with damp paper towels and throwing them away first.

6) Diapers and Wipes

Homeowners already know not to flush diapers down toilets, but that doesn’t mean curious toddlers won’t do it anyway. Some wipes are also advertised as flushable or biodegradable, but that’s never entirely accurate. They can and will still clog your pipes and wreak havoc on your septic tank.

7) Tree Roots

Tree roots growing into your pipes and septic tank are an unseen problem that can create serious clogs. They can even cause sewage to back up into your home’s drains. The team at The Mink Plumbing offers sewer line repair in Tyler, TX, including a trenchless sewage repair option that leaves behind less mess and need to dig as much.

8) Foreign Objects

It’s not uncommon to get calls about foreign objects that went down the toilet or sink drain. Whether it’s a Lego, toy, bouncy ball or earrings, things can fall into drains without meaning to. Don’t wait for help! Call the expert plumbers in Tyler, TX at The Mink Plumbing. We’ll remove the object and make sure your plumbing is in good working order. Otherwise, the object could compromise your plumbing and lead to costly repairs.

Call The Mink Plumbing for Drain Cleaning in Tyler, TX and Drain Clogs

Clogged drains can be a nuisance and even a serious problem, but we can help. The plumbers at The Mink Plumbing can handle simple to complicated issues that need immediate attention. We’ll get there as soon as we can to look over the problem, go over options, and offer upfront pricing. We’ll get to work and keep you updated to the progress. Our goal is to get you back to your day as soon as possible and alleviate the plumbing stress. Call us today to schedule an appointment!