A clogged drain can start out as a small problem, but can turn into a huge one very quickly that will require a plumber to come to your home. 
The results of a clogged drain water draining slowly, corrosion, flooding, and, in the worst of cases, sewage backup and a very costly visit from a plumber in Nassau County, FL or wherever you may reside. To prevent the expensive visit from a plumber, you need to know the signs of a clogged drain. After you read this blog post, you will know the common causes of clogged drains.
- Hair: Hair is one of the main causes of clogged drains. The reason for this is that it can bind to grease and other sticky substances to create clogs. This can happen in your home or wherever you may reside. It is a good idea to have drain guards on all of your drains and clean them out on a regular basis.
- Soap: You may not understand how soap can back up your drains in your Nassau County, FL home and possibly require a visit from a plumber to your home. The fat that is in soap combines with the minerals in your tap water and leaves a hard residue, which is otherwise known as soap scum. Soap scum stains bath fittings and then your pipes become clogged. It is a good idea to change to soap-free washes and then have a plumber do a pressure cleaning on your pipes to get rid of small amounts of soap build up that are left behind after your bathing and hand washing.
- Dirt: You may think that your drains and pipes in your Nassau County, FL place of residence are there for washing anything down them. Even though you want to get dirt off of you and your clothing, before you wash you and your clothes off in your home, it is a good idea to shake the excess dirt off of you and them before you wash them off in your home.
- Food Waste: Leftover food particles should never go down your drain, even when you have a garbage disposal in your drain in your Nassau County, FL home (or wherever you may reside). It is a much better idea to create a composting pile outside of your home. A composting pile is a proper place to get rid of food waste. It is most important that you do not put tea leaves and coffee grounds down the drain due to the fact that they do not break down. You should also be very careful about putting any foods that have grease or in them because they will become very hard and solid like in your pipes and create a blockage and then you will need a plumber to come out and clear the blockage.
- Mineral Build Up: When minerals dissolve in hard water, they will build up and will cause masses that can be dissolved and they will easily block your drains, which means that you will need a plumber to come out and unblock them. To prevent this type of blockage from occurring is to install a water softener for your home in Nassau County, FL or wherever you may reside. If it is not possible for you to get a water softener in your home, you will need to de scale and remove sediment and build up in your pipes on a regular basis.
- Small Objects: Small items can find their way into your drains and cause a lot of trouble. Only water, toilet paper, and bodily waste should go your toilet, drain, or sink. Any other item needs to be properly disposed of in your trash can, compost pile, or recycling can. If any foreign object has found their way into your drain and is causing problems, you will more than likely have to call a plumber so they can help you by removing the item from your drain and ensure that your plumbing works as it should.
- The Build Up of Toilet Paper: Putting too much toilet paper in your toilet can clog up your drain and prevent your toilet from flushing. If water can still flow through your toilet when you flush it, a plunger will help you move the toilet paper and dissolve some of it. However, if your toilet fills without draining, you will need to contact a plumber to get rid of the blockage for you.
- Tree Roots: The smallest of cracks or leaks in your underground pipes can attract the growth of tree roots. After tree roots start to grow inside of your pipes, they will grow at a very rapid pace, obstruct water flow, and cause damage to your pipes. Getting tree roots out of your pipes can be very difficult and may require a rotor service, pressure jet cleaning, a trench less repair, or even an excavation. You need to review the root structure of your trees and plants and keep an eye on the condition of your drains so you can avoid a very expensive and extensive repair.
- Toothpaste Scum: It can take a great deal of toothpaste scum to clog up your bathroom sink drain, but along with everything else that goes down your drain, it is not uncommon. Toothpaste scum is very sticky and thick. If you do not rinse it down your drain all the way, it can trap other things that clog drains such as hair. Toothpaste scum is like soap scum as it produces a thick film in your drain and sink. You can avoid the buildup of toothpaste scum by properly rinsing all of your toothpaste down your drain.
With so many different causes of clogged drains, the best thing for you to do is to prevent them from getting clogged up. You should never put anything down your drains that is not meant to go down them. If you find a clog in your drain, it is a very bad idea to use commercial drain cleaners or objects to get rid of the clog. If a clogged drain becomes emergent in nature, be sure to contact Bert Norman’s Plumbing right away to help you clear the clog.