A clogged drain is one of the most common plumbing issues that residents of Norcross, Georgia face. Clogged drains can lead to sewage backup, corrosion, and flooding. You can prevent clogged drains if you understand what causes them.
If your drains are clogged, avoid do-it-yourself drain cleaning methods. These can damage your plumbing system. Instead, rely on the experience our technicians at Bardi Heating, Cooling & Plumbing have cleaning drains in Norcross, Georgia.
The Trouble With Hair
Drains clogged by hair are one of the most significant plumbing issues experienced in North America. When hair clogs your drains, it inhibits its ability to drain water normally and can lead to hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in damage.
Maybe you’ve wondered why hair clogs your drains. First, it’s almost impossible to avoid dropping hair down the drain when you take a shower, wash your hair, or even wash your face or shave over the sink.
Although it might not seem like it when you look at one strand of hair, human hair is very strong, especially if you have hundreds or thousands of hairs knotted together. Humans have a lot of hair, whether it’s from your head, face, or other body parts. Add to that any fur from pets that you bathe in the sink or tub, and you have the makings of a massive clog.
It can take years for a severe hair clog to develop in your plumbing network. And most people don’t think about the hair they allow to go down their pipes until an expensive clog develops, leading to flooding or other damage.
Oil deposits from your skin, soap, and other sources create a sticky surface on your plumbing pipes. Over time, oily deposits, and solid items, like your hair, are trapped.
Add drain guards that can catch the hair to ensure your drains are hair-free. Clean your drain guards regularly. Do not use commercial drain cleaners, as these could damage your plumbing. Instead, rely on the professional drain cleaning services we offer at Bardi Heating, Cooling & Plumbing.
Getting Dirt Out of Your Drain
When something is dirty, it’s natural for people to go to their sink and wash it. Most people believe that drainpipes will wash away all kinds of material. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Excess dirt can build up along your pipes, clogging your drains. This dirt can combine with greasy substances and hair, blocking your pipes. When this happens, you will need a professional drain cleaning service to help remove dirt or clay that has built up in your lines.
You can prevent unwanted dirt and debris from getting into your pipes by rinsing or removing excess dirt and mud from your body or clothing before letting it go down the drain. It’s a bit of extra work, but you will be thankful you did it when you avoid troublesome plumbing clogs.
Mineral Buildup
Calcium buildup on water drainpipes is challenging to diagnose and fix. Calcium is common in homes, especially if there is hard water or water with high potassium, magnesium, or calcium content. When left unresolved, mineral buildup can cause pipe corrosion or blockage.
Once calcium and other minerals are allowed to build up on your drainage pipes, it is tough to remove them without completely replacing the lines. One of the best ways to prevent mineral buildup is to have a plumber install a water softener. Water softeners remove most minerals from the water that travels through your pipes. Suppose calcium or other mineral buildup has already taken place. In that case, the technicians at Bardi Heating, Cooling & Plumbing can help you descale the pipes, replace pipes, or take additional steps to remove clogs caused by mineral buildup.
Clogs Caused by Food Waste
When you wash dishes in the kitchen, it is typical for small pieces of food to go down the drain and into the drainpipe. Unfortunately, not all the food that enters the drain can travel freely through the pipes. Many food products, especially those with a high fat or oil content, will cling to the inside of your pipes, creating globs of fat or a thick paste.
Some of the biggest culprits include tea leaves and coffee grounds. These foods are naturally biodegradable but won’t break down in the water. Eggshells can create a base for clogs to form with their sand-like consistency. This is also true of fibrous foods, like artichokes, corn husks, onion skins, and celery.
Pouring grease down the drains is the worst thing a homeowner could do if they want to avoid blocking drains. When the oil cools, it creates a fatty glob that coats the walls of your drains. This is also true of flour, as it makes a pasty substance when it encounters water and traps food particles in your drain.
With some care, you can avoid drain clogs caused by food. However, if your kitchen drainpipes are already blocked, talk to our technicians at Bardi Heating, Cooling & Plumbing and let us provide you with trustworthy, reliable drain cleaning services.
Soap Can Cause Blockages
Soap is probably the last thing you think about when it comes to blockages in your drains. After all, soap, especially dish soap, is used to remove grease, oil, dirt, and food debris.
However, soaps are made from minerals and fats. These can accumulate over time, leading to soap scum or soap residue. Soap scum can clog your drains.
Soap is sticky and can easily combine with hair, food particles, or minerals, severely clogging your drains. You can minimize clogged drains by opting for a soap-free wash. Professional plumbers may use a pressure washing system to remove traces of soap scum so you can return to using your kitchen, laundry, or bathroom drains again.
The Problem With Cat Litter
As you clean your cat’s litter box, it might seem obvious that you would flush the excrement down the toilet. If the toilet can handle human feces, why not a little cat feces too?
The problem is with the pieces of kitty litter you are flushing down the toilet. Cat litter is made up of bentonite clay. When you introduce this clay into your plumbing, the moisture from the pipes will cause the clay to expand, thereby blocking the drain. With time, the clay will harden inside your drainage pipes. The litter eventually becomes the same consistency as cement inside the pipes.
It’s not uncommon for homeowners to experience sewage backups and broken pipes because of choosing to flush cat litter down the toilet. Avoid flushing cat litter down the toilet at all costs. However, all is not lost if you’re dealing with a drain stoppage from cat litter. The technicians at Bardi Heating, Cooling & Plumbing have the tools and experience to free up your drainage pipes or replace them if necessary.
Working with Norcross HVAC and Plumbing Professionals
At Bardi Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, we are a family-owned HVAC and plumbing company proud to have NATE-certified technicians and experienced plumbers working on your project. We have an A+ Better Business Bureau rating and are committed to excellence.
Our services include HVAC installation, replacement, maintenance, and repair. We offer toilet, faucet, and plumbing repair and the installation of traditional and tankless water heaters. We are proud providers of leak detection, drain cleaning, and sump pump repairs. Contact Bardi Heating, Cooling & Plumbing today to see the complete attention we give to our jobs to ensure they are done right the first time.
