Clogged drains can wreak havoc on your home’s plumbing system, preventing water from flowing smoothly and causing bad smells, backed up water, and corrosion on your pipes. If your home has any of these symptoms, it can require drain cleaning services, but the best way to keep your plumbing system in excellent condition is to avoid clogs outright. Keep these common causes of clogged drains in mind to avoid costly and annoying issues down the road.

What Causes Drain Clogs?

1. Stringy Materials

Hair, animal fur, and dental floss can infiltrate your drains fairly easily, but once they are in there, they tend to clump together and cause issues for your system. The knotted strings are prone to catching other substances trying to work through the drain and can result in the need for professional drain cleaning.

2. Oil, Grease, & Fat

When in the kitchen, never pour hot oil, grease, or fat down the drain, as this can cause serious issues for your plumbing. While they may go in as warm liquids, they can quickly congeal and block the water from being able to flow freely through your septic system.

3. Feminine Products & Cotton Swabs

Always dispose of feminine products and cotton swabs in the garbage — not your home’s drains. The cotton used in these items expands as it works through your system and can cause major blockages that will clog your drains; since they don’t dissolve, it will require some kind of drain cleaning procedure.

4. Cat Litter

By design, cat litter is designed to absorb moisture and clump up, which makes it very dangerous for your home’s pipes. Much like cotton products, cat litter needs to be thrown away rather than poured down any of your home’s drains.

5. Paper

Even disposable paper products can cause drain clogs if too much is put in your pipes. Avoid putting too much toilet paper into your system, and never flush napkins or other paper products down your drains. These are designed to absorb liquids, which can cause them to expand in the pipes and prevent your water from draining properly.

 

If you’re noticing any signs of backed up drains, schedule professional drain cleaning immediately before the problems become exacerbated. The expert team at A A & A Drain Cleaning in Dalton, GA, prides themselves on being able to keep your drains flowing smoothly by using professional grade drain cleaners to clear out your system, and they can even provide grease trap cleaning to ensure your home’s septic system is working perfectly. Call them at (706) 226-1267 to request an estimate, or learn more by visiting them online today.