We’ve all been there. You turn around to flush the toilet and suddenly everything is coming back up. Or you’re trying to take a shower but standing in three inches of water. Clogged drains happen to every homeowner, and for such a minor issue, clogs can be a huge inconvenience.
The Bacon team is here to shed some light on why it might seem like every time you turn around there’s another clog your way. Most homeowners know that paper towels and sanitary napkins shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet, but there are other, sneakier culprits for clogged drains you might not know about. Below are six surprisingly common causes of clogged drains.
Soap
Soap is perhaps the most surprising of all the sources of clogs. It’s used to clean your dishes, hands, and clothes, so why would it be an issue for your drains? Well, the issue arises in the type of soap you may be using. Bar soaps might have really neat patterns and fun objects molded inside, but your drains aren’t as thrilled by them.
Have you ever washed your hands with a bar of soap and noticed a sticky or slimy film that just won’t wash off? That film forms from the minerals in the water reacting to the chemicals in the soap, and it can be a big issue for your drains. Reside from bar soap can get stuck on the inside of your pipes and collect other dirt and debris that travels down there. The easiest way to avoid clogs from soaps is to switch to liquid soaps around your home.
Toothpaste
Like soap, toothpaste is a household necessity. That being said, it is a gloopy mess, especially in the hands of children. It can be difficult for anyone to keep every bit of toothpaste in the tube or on the brush, and sometimes, globs get all over the sink! If you find any toothpaste in the sink or need to wipe some off your child’s chin, you can save your drains from clogs by disposing of the toothpaste in the trash rather than washing it down the drain.
Kids Toys
Children play with their toys in unique, imaginative ways, but the toilet drain isn’t meant for anything other than waste and toilet paper. Have you ever seen that scene from Monsters Inc. where Sully tries to flush Boo’s toys down the toilet to get rid of them? It’s a great way to show kids that not everything belongs down the toilet!
Tree roots
For older homes, tree roots pose a serious risk to your sewage pipes. Pipes from the 70s were often made out of clay, which is much more susceptible to damage from roots. If you live in an area that’s dense with trees and keep experiencing backups, a tree root might be the issue.
Cotton balls & Q-tips
Surprisingly, the Bacon team finds cotton balls and Q-tips in toilet clogs constantly. Homeowners are misled into thinking these items are similar to toilet paper. The sturdy materials of Q-tips and cotton balls, however, prevent them from being broken down like toilet paper, and they will quickly clog up your drains.
Cat litter
Cat litter clumps are just waste from your cats, so they can all be flushed down the toilet, right? Nope, don’t do it. Septic systems are made to filter and manage human waste, and cat waste has parasites and microbes that can’t be filtered in our system. Plus, cat litter is basically tiny rocks, sand, and even plants, depending on how fancy your cat is, which can cause extreme strain on your septic system.
Your garbage disposal might seem indestructible and your toilet resilient, but one foreign object down your drain could cause a huge headache for you and your plumbing. When it comes to your drains, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Our expert plumbers will always be ready to handle your toughest clogs.
