Did you know one milliliter of wastewater may contain millions of bacteria? Worse, some of those, including E. coli or Salmonella, can cause diseases.
Unfortunately, germ-filled wastewater can gush out of a clogged drain line. If that occurs, you and your family can be at risk of infectious diseases.
That’s why it’s vital to clear a clogged drain immediately. However, if the blockage reoccurs, you need to determine the root cause.
To that end, we created this list of factors contributing to drain clogs. Read on to discover what they are so that you can put a stop to them.
1. Clogs in the Private Lateral Sewer
Private lateral sewers (PSLs) in the US make up a total length of approximately 500,000 miles. Most property owners, in turn, rely on those pipes to carry wastewater out of their properties. So, as a homeowner yourself, it’s more than likely you depend on a PSL, too.
Keeping your PSL free of obstructions is crucial because all your other drains connect to it. For the same reason, a clog in this pipe can result in not only one but multiple clogged drain lines.
That’s why some experts recommend getting PSLs inspected once every 5 to 10 years.
If you live in an older home or have a large family, though, it might be best to schedule an inspection earlier. For one, your PSL may be as old as your home, so it might already be failing or full of clogs. On the other hand, the larger your family, the more waste you produce and send down the drains.
In any case, local plumbers can determine if there’s a blockage or defect in the PSL. If there’s a clog, they can perform drain cleaning ASAP. They can also check for any defects in the line, and from there, repair it right away.
2. Flushing “Flushable” Items
The only things you should ever flush down the toilet are pee, poop, and toilet paper. These “3 Ps” are soft enough to disintegrate in water.
So, flushing anything else other than the 3 Ps may be the reason you keep having clogged drains. That includes items labeled “flushable,” which a study found isn’t true for at least 23 products. Those wipes didn’t break down enough to safely pass sewer systems.
3. Flushing Other Clog-Causing Items
Other items you should never flush are cotton balls or swabs and feminine pads. They may be soft, but the flush’s pressure isn’t powerful enough to disintegrate them.
Make sure to tell everyone at home, especially your kids, not to flush pet fish, either. Dead fish can cause a blockage in pipes, especially if there’s an existing clog. On the other hand, a live fish can survive, end up back in streams or lakes, and harm other aquatic species.
4. Liquid FOG
FOG means fat, oil, and grease. You may be pouring these down the drains while hot and in liquid form, but it won’t take long for them to solidify. Unfortunately, that means they can cause a massive clog somewhere along the drainpipes.
So, as long as you keep discarding FOG in that manner, you’ll end up with blocked pipes. Worse, such habits can make your main drain line clogged.
Get That Clogged Drain Cleared Once and for All
As you can see, recurring drain clogs can occur due to blocked PSLs, FOG, and so-called “flushable” items. So long as these factors exist, you’re more than likely to experience clogged drain lines at home.
For that reason, it’s best to have everyone at home avoid such improper waste disposal habits. In the meantime, get your drains thoroughly cleaned and cleared by a local plumber.
Are you looking for other tips on improving and maintaining your home? If so, then please feel free to browse our latest posts on these topics!
