Clogged Drain
Why does a Drain Plug?
Household drains can clog or back up for numerous reasons ranging from weather to the layout of plumbing pipes in the water system. Drains in the bathroom and kitchen will plug for different reasons.
Bathroom Drains
Bathroom sinks are the receptacle of hair, soap, toothpaste, and other debris which meld together into gunk. The gunk builds up and water begins to drain slowly. Eventually, it will fill the sink and stop draining.
Kitchen Sink Drains
Commonly become blocked because of grease. Hot grease, bacon fat, cooking fats, solidify in the drain as they cool. Bits of food, coffee grounds, soap scum add to the problem.
Toilet Drains
Anything other than human waste and toilet paper has the potential to clog this drain. Some common offenders include: tissues, wipes, napkins, diapers, cat litter, hygiene products, and dental floss.
Weather
When the weather turns ice cold, drains that are located on an exterior wall can freeze. It’s not a common issue but it can happen, particularly in unheated areas.
Plumbing Pipes
Flat spots or bows in the drain piping system will cause backups because the water can’t flow properly through the pipes to the fixtures and into the drains.
Tree Roots
Most of the calls Plumbtech Plumbing Inc. receives about plugged drains are due to tree roots. Trees and shrubbery can grow into the underground drain system outside the house. This happens because the underground roots are looking for water and there is a ready supply of it on the inside of the drain. When too many roots grow into the pipe, the drain clogs and it backs up into the house.
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Plugged Drain Alert
In addition to the visual aspects – slow draining water, water backing up into the sink or toilet – there may also be a funny, strange, weird, or bad odour. The smell may or may not give a clue to what is causing the clog.
Location, Location.
Locating the drain that is creating the problem means a little detective work. Is it one drain that plugs or more than one? If more than one drain has an issue, the blockage is likely in the main drain, the drain that all of the other drain pipes feed into.
Lights, Camera, Action!
Plumbtech Plumbing Inc. has a mini camera that can capture what’s going on inside the drain. Attached to a cable, the camera, which has an attached light, sends a picture back to a screen that is monitored by a plumber. The plumber can then determine the source of the problem within the pipe, where it is located, and, if it is outside, buried underground, it can also reveal the depth of the blockage.
Plugged Vent Pipe
If a plumbing vent pipe in the roof becomes blocked, it will affect the drains. Vent pipes can become blocked by animal or bird nests, leaves, and other debris. A bird may also become trapped in the pipe and, unable to get out, will contribute to the clog. Snow is the most common reason a vent pipe will plug.
Prevention
Keep drains clear of food, grease, hair, paper-type products other than toilet paper, including wipes. Keep ‘garbage’ where it belongs, in the trash, not down the toilet. Run hot water through the sink and bathroom drains to help keep them clear. Schedule a regular drain cleaning with Plumbtech Plumbing by calling 705-722-7209.
Call for Backup
Call Plumbtech for any backup of water issues, whether it is into a sink or toilet. A backup means there is a blocked drain somewhere in the plumbing system. Schedule a regular drain cleaning with Plumbtech Plumbing by calling 705-722-7209.
Blocked Sewer Line
If further measures need to be taken to clear an issue with the sewer line, such as a disintegrating or broken drain pipe, Plumbtech Plumbing can arrange for excavation contracting and/or the replacement of waterlines, sewer and storm drains if necessary.
In An Emergency
Plumbtech Plumbing maintains a 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week service especially for emergencies. Call (877) 705-7209.
