The Top 10 Causes Of Every Blocked Drain

Dripping tap? Burst pipe? Faulty hot water system? While all common household and commercial plumbing problems, there’s something you our local plumbers faces even more often, every single day. It’s the pesky blocked drain in Sydney – and the main reason it’s so commonplace is that the list of things that causes a stubborn clog is so long and diverse.

Worse still, every blocked drain needs fairly instant attention, and not just because a backed-up sink or other fixture is so annoyingly disruptive. Every blocked drain can also cause that foul smelly drain, bring sewage, bacteria and other nasties too close to those you love, and cause one heck of an expensive mess.

And in the worst cases, an ignored blocked drain can disguise or cause an even bigger, messier, more expensive and unhealthier plumbing problem.

So what causes all of these blocked drain headaches, anyway? It’s a long list, so let’s get on with it.

Why Is my Drain Blocked?!

1. Grease

You know what we find down kitchen sinks more often than anything else? Grease. And fat. It comes from food, and in the bathroom soap and other residue, and then collects, conglomerates and solidifies.

2. Hair

A strand may be nothing, but when it rolls into a giant ball, hair can really bring a drain to a standstill.

3. Object

Believe it or not, people flush nappies, huge clumps of paper and just about everything else down there – including Barbie Doll heads.

4. Tree litter

We’d always rather find a Barbie Doll head causing the clog than a tree root because that’s a more serious repair. But you’d be amazed how much leaf, plant and tree debris can actually cause a blocked downpipe or a stormwater drain blockage.

5. Workmanship

Did you get a bad feeling from your last plumber? Unfortunately, your instincts may have been correct, because bad workmanship – including poor installations – is a leading cause of all sorts of plumbing problems.

6. Scaling

Unfortunately, most plumbing pipes are susceptible to something called pipe scaling – when mainly mineral deposits from the water build-up on the inside of those pipe walls. A clear sign of one of these sorts of mineral or organic drain blockages might be the presence of blocked drain-loving drain flies, so keep an eye out for this tiny and unhealthy critter.

7. Deterioration

Another unfortunate phenomenon is run-of-the-mill pipe deterioration – especially if your home or premises is getting on in age. Joints come apart, weather changes, pipes shift, corrosion occurs, breakages happen.

8. Slopes

Another cause of drain blockages can be due to nothing more than the angle of your pipes because plumbing systems rely heavily on mere gravity.

9. Overload

Even if everything is laid properly and professionally, another regrettable fact is that plumbing systems can become overwhelmed with the workload. This is especially true after a lot of rainfall or a rogue storm.

10. Pipe type

Not all pipes are made alike. For instance, yours might be made of copper, cast iron, plastics or even clay – and all of them have their vulnerabilities, including brittleness, corrosion, susceptibility to cracking, crushing or collapsing.

Bonus Read: How to Unblock a Drain Fast? Check These 6 Steps!

Affordable Plumbing Solutions can fix it!

No matter what caused it, Affordable Plumbing Solutions can fix it – affordably! Yes, a lot can go wrong with your drains and plumbing, but when you have a reliable and professional local Sydney plumber who can even respond in an emergency, there’s no need to fret about your next blocked drain. Call the friendly team at Affordable Plumbing Solutions today.