Causes of Shower Drain Clogs And How A Drain Cleaning Service Deals With Them | New Orleans, LA
Photo By skynesher at istock
If the water in your shower, toilet, or kitchen is taking more time than usual to go down the drain, then you’re probably facing a clogged drain. A clogged drain can be a headache and can lead to messier problems if not attended to in time.
Though quick DIY hacks can get you short-term relief, it’s wiser to call a drain cleaning service for a more permanent solution.
What Causes Clogged Drains?
Human Hair – This is possibly the leading cause of your clogged bathroom. Hair buildup around the surface prevents water from passing through the drain. Hair washes down the drain while you bathe or wash your hair.
This hair also serves as an area of bacterial growth as the soap scum and grime stick to it. Hair buildup over time can lead to serious blockage.
Soap and Shampoo – Soap scum is another reason for blockage in drains. When soap mixes with hard water, it creates a white or gray, creamy glaze. Aside from clogging your drains, it can also coat the bathtubs, showers, and sinks. As mentioned, this soap scum attaches to the hair, making it the worse enemy of your bathroom drains.
Due to the soap, it easily sticks to the inner surface of the drain. Scum buildup over time narrows down the drain passage, restricting the flow of water. This soap scum is difficult to remove once it turns into a solid form.
Hard Water – Local tap water is hard, containing minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals can corrode your drain pipes, sticking and accumulating to the sides. Soap scum also results from hard water.
Food Waste: When you do your dishes, it’s natural that some scraps of food pass into the drain. These scraps and food particles clump together to create a blockage in your kitchen sinks and drain.
Foreign Objects –Things like wrappers, bottle caps, small toys, toilet paper, hygiene pad, etc. are difficult to pass through often clog the drain and the only way you can take them out of the drain is by calling a drain cleaning service.
The basic thing you can do to avoid a serious plumbing situation is to check for water clogging signs. Some of the warning signs that need your immediate attention are listed below.
Signs When You Should Call A Drain Cleaning Service
Water Flooding
Flooding is the most visible sign of clogged drains. A clogged drain can halt your daily activities backing up your entire sewage system. When the water can’t go down the drain or is slow to drain, you can experience flooding in your shower or toilet. This is the time, you should call a drain cleaning service for help. Excessive buildup over time might cause damage to your pipes.
Frequent Clogging
Bathroom and kitchen drains are more prone to clogging as hair, soap, food, and other items get accumulated in the drain. To prevent this, you have to clean the mess from your drains regularly. But if you’re facing consistent clogging despite your best efforts, you need a drain cleaning service to look into it.
Water Draining Slowly
Most people think that using a drain cleaner has solved their problem. But this temporary solution can cost you more in the long run. Most pipes can’t handle harsh chemicals, and their repeated use can damage your pipes.
To save on such huge costs, you need to take care of your plumbing system. Adrain cleaning service has the right tools to dislodge clogs and fix your problem permanently.
Clogging In Another Area
Heavy rains are a reality in New Orleans, LA, and can be really annoying when the leaves, stems, or debris clog your main sewage system. This apparently leads to the clogging of other drains in your home.
Most often, the frequent clogging in your bathroom or kitchen results from congestion in the sewage system. Such work is beyond your ability, and you’ll need a drain cleaning to help you remove the clog source.
Gurgling Sounds
Drain or vent clogs are the primary reason for gurgling sounds in your kitchen or bathroom. Clogs accumulated over time prevent the water and air from passing through the drains resulting in gurgling sounds. It’s a sign of partial blockage that can result in complete blockage.
In more serious situations, it could be a sign of a blocked sewer line that can affect all the drains in your house. A drain cleaning service can inspect the actual reason for these sounds.
Black Sludge
Black sludge surfacing from your drain is a clear sign that your drain needs cleaning. And, in the low-lying area of New Orleans, LA, you may find it more than often. The gross gunk is actually built-up bacteria that are living on the hair soap and food particles.
It sticks to the pipes slowing the draining water leading to a blockage in pipes. This sludge is not only gross but also a health hazard. The most efficient solution is to call a local drain cleaning service to look into it.
Foul Smells and Odors
One of the reasons you are experiencing a foul smell in your bathroom lately could be a partially clogged drain. Pollutants accumulated inside the drain surface, preventing the water from passing through. Blocked water together with scum, soap, or hair produce a nasty smell. Cleaning your drain is the only way to get rid of the foul smell.
If you see any of these signs, contacting a drain cleaning service is the best solution. The problem could be confined to a single drain or arising from your main drain. You can’t figure this out on your own and need a professional plumbing service. It can help detect the reason for clogging and offer you an immediate solution.
Call A Professional Drain Cleaning ServiceFor Clogged Drains
Undoubtedly, clogged drains can be frustrating. As soon as you experience them, call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of New Orleans for professional help. We have the expertise to handle all such plumbing jobs with ease. We will help clear the jam with the least damage to your plumbing system. Call us today at 504-229-4848 to de-clog your drains.
Priority Service