Plumbing blockages to drains and pipes are costly, time-consuming, and messy. When drains, sinks, or pipes back up, the resulting damage can cause total havoc for homeowners, leaving a stinking, unhygienic mess and damage to overall plumbing systems. With regular checkups, you can identify common plumbing problems which you can easily solve yourself. Drainage issues account for at least 10% of all plumbing problems yet are also some of the easiest plumbing problems to prevent. Sure, when the worst happens, you can call on the professionals for emergency repairs and unblocking. Emergency plumbers see and fix many scenes of destruction caused by blockage issues! But it makes sense in the long run for homeowners to take a preventative approach and implement options that avoid blockages in the first place, saving you time, cash and hassle in the long run. In this blog, we look at 5 of the more common blockage issues and how to avoid them in the first place.
In the UK, waste pipes that remove waste liquids are larger in size than supply piping. They also need to be fitted to include a downward slope of at least 20mm in every meter. This allows waste to drain away quickly. Hand basins are fitted with 32mm waste outlet pipe whereas showers, washing machines, sinks, and baths have 40mm piping. Waste pipes from toilets are 110mm in diameter. Plumbing fitted in this way will drain quickly and without fuss. However, when pipes or drains become blocked in some way, it’s usually a result of debris or some barrier or obstruction forming within the pipe – often over time. Such blockages come in many shapes, sizes, and smells. Let’s consider some of these:
5 Most Common Plumbing Blockage Culprits:
1. Oil, grease, and fat
Oil, grease, and fat cause serious issues with pipes and drains. Grease and fat that seem to pour so easily down the sink soon solidify further down the pipe. You may have seen horror pictures of so-called “fatbergs” lurking within the UK sewerage system. Domestic pipes and plumbing are also suspectable to such fat buildups on a smaller scale – as solidified oil and grease clog around other debris. When this buildup happens, it can cause an unpleasant odor. Keep the unwanted smell at bay by following these fresh-smelling bathroom tips.
2. Hair
Hair buildup is a common form of blockage in shower, basin, and bath drainage systems. Hairs can become tangled just behind the plug hole or within the trap. You may also find hairballs and hair tangles clog pipes further down the system. Hair blockages then become a ready-made dam, catching and holding soap scum, and grease to form a messy and smelly blockage.
3. Nappies, wipes, and sanitary products
The UK Sewerage system usually copes well with toilet paper and human waste flushed away. Anything else you may be tempted to flush is likely responsible for plumbing blockages. Wipes, nappies, and sanitary products are too bulky and can easily swell and absorb fluid once in the drainage system. Luxury 4-ply quilted paper can increase the overall amount of toilet paper you flush. Cotton buds and cotton wool do not break down and dissolve in the same way as toilet paper and can easily cause blockages.
4. Food waste
Over time, even small amounts of food waste that accidentally make it down the plug hole can cause blockage. Food waste from plates and pans can easily make it down the sink when you empty the washing-up bowl, particularly if food waste is not properly scraped from plates. Coffee grounds, swilled and easily rinsed down the sink, can build up in drains and cause blockages over time. Investing in high-quality kitchen sink models is a smart move to avoid damage and leakage.
5. Leaves and tree roots
Garden and outdoor drains can become blocked by fallen debris, often in the form of fallen leaves. Tree roots, also, can be problematic. Drawn to seek out sources of water, tree roots make their way toward drains, leading to cracked pipes and pipework where roots have infiltrated the system.
How to Prevent Piping Blockages
So, we know the likely suspects when it comes to plumbing blockages and drains obstructions. Nobody wants a sudden pipe bursting, house flooding, toilet blocking, sewer backing up, and the sink drain blocking that calls for emergency plumbing. The question is, then, how do you avoid and prevent blockages in the first place? Let’s look at 5-top-tips:
1. Don’t delay
If you notice that water is taking longer to go down the plug hole, it’s time to take preventative action. Don’t delay action. Slow-draining sinks are a classic sign that blockages lurk beneath the plug hole. Leaving things without any investigative action may mean a simple clean and fix becomes a far more complicated job.
2. Use the bin
Be careful about what you pour or flush into sinks and down toilets. Don’t flush anything down the toilet except human waste and toilet paper. Never pour oil into the sink. Don’t be tempted to take the shortcut of rinsing food debris at the bottom of the washing-up bowl down the sink. Instead, use the bin to dispose of items or waste that is not suited to the sink or drain. Coffee grounds can easily be added to home compost and should never be washed away down the sink.
3. Hair snakes are your friend
As part of your bathroom deep clean, look to regularly unclog plugholes and pipes from hair buildup. A helpful cleaning hack for this job is to use a domestic hair snake, hair sink remover, or sink cleaning brush. Purchased easily from online retailers or local hardware shops, hair snakes are essentially long and flexible pieces of wire or plastic with groves or bristles that hair snags onto. You simply push the hair snake down the plug hole, allowing it to bend round pipework, and give it a gentle wiggle and twist before removing – usually, with a clog of hair attached, that can easily be binned. Used regularly, this is a non-chemical, eco-friendly way to keep pipes clear and clean from hair and the resulting soap scum buildup.
4. Fit filters on sinks
Sometimes known as drain screens, filters that sit within plug holes can be a cheap way to prevent pipe issues. Again, purchased from online retailers or local hardware stores, a filter allows you to catch and tip any debris into the bin to stop waste from going down the sink into the pipework.
5. Degrease and clean sinks, drains, and pipes regularly.
Keeping onto any grease and soap scum build can help with overall pipe and plumbing maintenance. There are plenty of industrial chemical-based options available. Many people find more eco-friendly traditional cleaning methods effective, including good old-fashioned bicarbonate of soda sprinkled down plugholes, followed by a cup of white vinegar. Monthly cleaning of pipes and drains in this way will help pipes stay clear. And don’t neglect outdoor spaces as part of drain cleaning. Clear leaves and debris away and – if you do spot tree roots close to external drains, seek advice.
So, if the worst does happen and you face a plumbing blockage, seek professional help in the form of a reputable emergency plumber. In the meantime, keep on top of the pipe and drain maintenance and preventative practice to avoid pipe blockages from creating home havoc.
The writer is Elizabeth Shields.