Drains are the unsung heroes of our homes, quietly whisking away wastewater from sinks, showers, and toilets. But when they get clogged, it can quickly become a homeowner's nightmare. This blog post is intended to highlight some top causes of blocked drains and their preventive measures-

1. Hair and Soap Scum: The soothing, warm shower at the end of the day may be one of life's pleasures, but it can also lead to stubborn drain blockages. Hair and soap scum are common culprits.

Prevention: 

• Install drain screens or catchers in your shower and tub drains to trap hair before it enters the pipes. 
• Clean these screens regularly and use hair-stopping products, which can help prevent hair from forming clumps.
  

2. Food Residue: In the kitchen, it's too easy for bits of food, grease, and oil to find their way down the sink drain. They accumulate regularly and eventually clog the drainage system.

Prevention: 

• Scrape food scraps into the trash before washing dishes.
• Pour used cooking oil and grease into a container, let it solidify, and dispose of it in the trash.
• Consider using a sink strainer to catch food particles.

3. Fats, Oils, and Grease: Fats, oils, and grease can turn from a liquid to a solid when they cool down, creating a sticky, gunky mess in your pipes.

Prevention:

• Avoid pouring FOG down the drain. Instead, wipe greasy pots and pans with paper towels before washing. 
• Dispose of the towels in the trash.
  

4. Roots and Their Branches: Sometimes, tree roots branch to find water sources; sometimes, they find it in the sewer lines and end up blocking the channel.

Prevention:

• Regularly maintain your trees and consider planting trees away from sewer lines. 
• If you are sensing any root intrusion, hiring a professional to assess the condition is better.
  
  

5. Mineral Buildup: Minerals in your water supply can accumulate in pipes, reducing the flow of water and leading to blockages over time.

Prevention:

• Install a water softener if you have hard water. 
• Regularly clean and flush your pipes to remove mineral deposits.

6. Flushed Toilet Paper and Other Products: Flushing excessive toilet paper, wet wipes, and feminine hygiene products can lead to toilet blockages.

Prevention:

• Use toilet paper in moderation, and consider switching to a septic-safe or easily dissolvable brand. 
• Always dispose of feminine hygiene products in the trash.

7. Aging Pipes: Water pipes can corrode due to water courses over a long service, and the particles from corroded pipes block the channel.

Prevention:

• You should get your pipes checked regularly by an expert. 
• Replace aging pipes to avoid any extension of the issue in the future.

7. Natural Issues: Heavy rain or flooding often causes an overload of water in the sewer systems. It results in a stressful situation of wastewater flowing over your property premises.

Prevention:

• Ensure your home's drainage system is maintained correctly.
• Consider installing backflow prevention devices to protect against sewage backups.
  

Clogged drainage systems are one of the worst sources of stress. But, with small steps every day, we can minimize the headache to some extent. From proactively checking pipelines regularly to preventing unfit materials from being dumped in the channel, There are many steps to keep our drainage system healthy.