A slow-running drain can be an annoying problem for homeowners, and if you don’t handle it properly, it can quickly lead to bigger issues that cost you more money on water and energy bills. There are plenty of things that can cause slow-running drains, including hair, grease, and soap residuals.
Here are five causes of slow running drains and how to fix them so your drains start to run smoothly again.
1. Clogs Due to Hair
Most of the time, the slow drain is caused by the build-up of hair in the pipes. If you find that your drain is clogged with hair, try pouring boiling water down the drain to clean it out. This will break up the hair, making it easier to vacuum or wash down the drain with a plunger.
If all else fails, call an expert plumber for more help. The main cause of slow running drains is things people put in their drains, such as food items, hairspray, and soap residue. It’s important not to pour these items down the drain as they will clog your pipes over time.
2. Blocks Due to Kitchen Scraps
You may notice it or not, but there are a lot of things going down your kitchen sink. These include food waste, fruit waste, meat, napkins, etc. These items can then block your drain.
Kitchen garbage disposals help get rid of the waste before it clogs up your drain or other sewer pipes in your home. However, you should still be careful about what you put down your disposals. Don’t overstuff it by putting too much food into it, as this will cause it to clog.
3. Mineral Deposits in Pipes
Not only do hair and food cause clogs in your drain, but the minerals present in your water can also lead to drain blockage. Hard water contains certain minerals which are harmful to the existence of your plumbing system. Over time, these minerals in hard water can build up on the inside of your pipes.
This buildup will eventually clog them and cause them to slow down or stop draining altogether. The only way to fix this is to schedule drain cleaning by an expert plumber and have them remove the buildup with chemicals or by physically scraping it off with a wire brush used for cement levelling.
4. Tree Roots
Tree roots growing in the drainage system are another cause for slow draining. Tree roots will often wrap themselves around loosened pipes, causing further blockages in the plumbing system.
Roots can also get into cracks in old concrete walls, weakening them over time and making it easy for roots to go through the basement of your house.
A great way to prevent tree roots from harming your plumbing system is by sealing up any cracks in old concrete walls before they get larger. This will allow them some room to grow through and will also prevent serious damage to your plumbing system.
Preventing these risk factors will help you enjoy a healthy plumbing system with no worries.
