5 Things You Didn’t Know Were Causing Your Sink to Clog

Storms and hurricanes cause a lot of damage to Florida sewers. Forty percent of hurricanes that make landfall do so in Florida.

For most homeowners, that is a fact of life, but it is hardly the only problem faced by Florida sewers. If your sink won’t drain, and there was no storm, you have a different problem.

If you are experiencing a clog in your sewer line, chances are you will need a plumber. Plumbers are licensed and bonded and have experience in taking care of these things.

Sink Won’t Drain

If your sink won’t drain, it means something has stopped the water from flowing out. This is called a clog and can be caused by a lot of different things. From food waste to debris and objects, a lot of things get flushed down our drains.

Some things that you might think are safe to flush down a drain aren’t. Here is a list of five things that you may have already put down your drain, which could be causing you problems.

1. Coffee Grounds

They seem small, and it is hard to believe that they could cause a drain clog. The reality is that particulate matter, like coffee grounds, can cause a lot of havoc. When they are wet, coffee grounds become very sticky, and water doesn’t pass through them well.

They can act as a glue, forming a barrier, and then catching other things that might be safe to put down a drain. When this happens, the clog starts to form and can be challenging to clear. It will often take a snake in order to clear out the problem.

2. Grease and Cooking Oil

There is a myth that hot grease can even be good for a drain. This is not true.

Grease solidifies as it cools and creates an impassable barrier. Even oil used in hair treatment can cause a clog in your drain. As this grease builds up, it slowly seals off the pipe and catches other debris.

Pouring hot water down your drain won’t fix the problem, it won’t stay hot enough to liquefy the grease. A clog made from grease requires a snake or hydrojet in order to break up and move down the line. Grease and oil should always go into the trash.

3. Flushable Wipes

It would seem that their name is a bit misleading. Flushable wipes are put down drains all the time, and they cause clogs all the time. The wipes can even damage equipment further down the pipes if they do make it through.

The wipes can form a barrier, if any other substance, like the root of a tree, or a tiny crack in the pipe exists. This creates a barrier that gathers everything else that goes down your drain. Wipes can also be very hard to clear as they bend and wrap instead of shredding or breaking.

Instead of flushing wipes consider throwing them away. Or, better yet, don’t use them and use wet toilet paper instead. This will prevent you from having to shell out the money to have a clog cleared later on.

4. Cotton Balls

Cotton balls seem completely fine when you look at them. When they get wet, they absorb water and become very slimy and smooth. The reality is that cotton is excellent for wicking away water. They are impermeable and act like concrete in drains.

Every now and then, you may lose a cotton ball down a drain, or perhaps one goes into the toilet. This won’t seem like a big deal, but when you have a sewer back up, you are going to see the cotton ball come back. This is also true of feminine hygiene products that use cotton as a material.

Cotton and feminine hygiene products should never be flushed. They should be thrown away and kept very far from any drain. This is the only way to protect your house plumbing against them.

5. Human and Animal Hair

If you have long hair, or someone in your family does, you see it all over. Many breeds of dog and cat can shed an incredible amount. Combine these two factors, and there is going to be hair everywhere, even if you can’t see it.

If you clear your hairbrush, throw away the excess hair you pull out of it. Don’t allow hair to get near a drain when you can help it.

If you notice hair around your shower drain, pick it out by hand, don’t flush it on down. Hair can stay in your drainpipes for years, clinging onto any surface it rubs up against.

It can be very difficult to keep hair out of drains. This is one reason why having drain covers is a very important thing. A piece that will catch the hair before it is flushed down will save you a big headache down the road.

Plumbing and Clogs

If you have an instance where a sink won’t drain and live in the Miami, Florida area don’t worry. Eco 1 Plumbing offers drain and sewer cleaning and repair. A trained plumber can get your clog taken care of fast and easy.

Plumbers get called out to take care of clogs all the time. From simple matters to more complex sewer line replacement, they have experience taking care of all of it.

Clogs in Your Plumbing

Having a clog can ruin your day, and it can make a mess. When sewers are clogged or a sink won’t drain, whatever gets flushed comes right back up. This can lead to expensive water damage restoration and damage to your sewer pipes.

What comes out of sewers is not sanitary. Bad smells, bacteria, and mold are all possible outcomes from a sewer back up. You can’t prevent every clog, but you can take steps to ensure that you are at less risk for them.

Clogs will happen, but the goal is to limit how often. Read our reviews and contact us if you have a sink that won’t drain or any other plumbing issue.