Nobody likes dealing with a clogged drain. Instead of washing down the drain, dirty water sits at the bottom of your sink, shower, or tub. A clogged drain is not only inconvenient, but it also allows bacteria to grow on these surfaces that you touch on a daily basis. As you head to your nearest Ace Hardware to pick a drain snake or some drain cleaner, it’s a good idea to look into the most common drain clogs to prevent them in the future.
Here are the three most common reasons for a clogged drain.
Hair
This is a big one, especially for bathroom drains. If you have anyone with long or even mid-length hair in your household, you know that finding hair in the drain is a common occurrence. Even if you are diligent about cleaning your hair out of the drain after you shower or making sure not to wash hair down the sink, some still gets through. Over time, that hair builds up and forms a clog in your drain. Corrosive drain cleaners will help to break up the clog, but a drain snake will be the most effective tool.
Grease and Food Waste
Kitchen sinks are where you’ll find the really icky stuff. Any food waste or grease that you wash down your kitchen sink will collect and form a clog. Grease, in particular, causes problems for drains. Cooking grease is liquid when it’s warm, but once it cools, it congeals into a solid and coats your pipes, making them smaller. You should always collect cooking grease in a can or jar and then throw it away rather than washing it down the drain.
Soap and Mineral Build-up
While you can do your best to avoid washing hair or food down the drain, there are some things you can’t avoid. After you wash your hands or shower, or wash the dishes, the soapy water that goes down the drain leaves residue in your drain and pipes. If you have hard water, the minerals in your water will do the same thing. Over time, the residue builds up and can clog your drains and pipes. Using drain cleaner will help clear out the clog. A water softener can also help reduce clogs from mineral build-up.
