What Makes Drains Clog and How a Plumber Helps

Clogged drains are frustrating. When your kitchen sink is clogged, you can't prepare meals or wash dishes. If the tub is clogged, you can't bathe. A clogged toilet is especially aggravating since you can't use your toilet or it might flow over when you flush it.

Some clogs build slowly and give you time to call a plumber before the drain stops working. Other clogs happen fast, and you might need emergency help to get your drains flowing again. Here's why drains clog, how a plumber helps the problem, and how to prevent future drain clogs.

Causes of a Drain Clog

Drain clogs are often the result of putting things down your drain that you shouldn't. Food, grease, and tough paper products can easily get stuck and cause a clog. Grease builds up on the walls of the drain as it solidifies when it cools off. Be careful about what you put in your garbage disposal and toilet since these items find their way to the sewer drain and can cause a clog.

Additionally, don't flush swabs, wet wipes, or feminine hygiene products. Instead, only flush toilet paper that dissolves right away. And keep in mind that sometimes, drain clogs are caused by tree roots in the drain. Roots are attracted to the water and gradually fill the drain and clog it off.

A drain clog can also be caused by hard water scale. When scale builds up over the years, it eventually coats the sides of the drain and creates clogging. If you notice your drains getting slower to empty, that's a good time to call a plumber so they can clear the line before your drain clogs off completely.

Tools a Plumber Might Use to Clear a Clog

A plumber has a variety of tools for clearing a clog depending on the nature of the clog and where it's located. A clog in a tub might be a combination of soap scum and hair. These can often be removed with a tool that snags the hair so it can be pulled out of the drain. A small drain snake may also be useful for clearing out a drain clog near the top of the drain.

When a clog is deep in the drain, the plumber may need to use an electric drain auger to cut through the clog. This is a good option for paper and tree root clogs.

When a pipe is clogging up due to mineral scale buildup or grease, the plumber might opt for a hydro jet. This drain-cleaning tool is somewhat like a pressure washer in that it uses forceful water to scrub the sides of the pipe to get rid of anything clinging to it.

Another tool your plumber might use is a drain camera. This provides useful information about the clog and helps the plumber choose the best method of drain cleaning. In addition to cleaning out the clog, your plumber wants to protect your pipes from damage. A perk of using a camera is that the video sent back by the camera lets the plumber know the condition of the pipes.

Techniques for Preventing Future Clogs

Prevent clogs in the bathroom by putting screens over the tub and shower drains to keep hair from creating clogs. Keep a trash basket in the bathroom to dispose of paper products that shouldn't go down the toilet. Keep a large metal can in the kitchen for collecting grease so you never have to pour grease down the drain.

You may also want to practice drain maintenance by using enzyme cleaners regularly that clean clogs and make them smell fresh without harming the plumbing. If your drains seem slow or you're dealing with a clog, call Merrimack Valley Plumbing. We clean out tough drain and sewer clogs, and we can get your drains flowing again.