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Reasons Why Your Drainage Keeps Blocking

Let’s face it, blocked drains are often an inconvenient mystery. As soon as you see bubbling and slow water drainage, coupled with a gurgling sound, you know you’re in for trouble. It is so important to not let your blocked drain go untreated. It is crucial you unblock your drains at the first signs of a blockage to prevent the build-up of grime and harmful foul odours. 

A blocked drain isn’t something that happens overnight unless an obtrusive object has entered the drain. Understanding why your drain keeps blocking, and what factors can increase the risk of a blockage can help your drains stay clear and keep water flowing.

Top reasons why your drain is always blocked

Stop fretting about how to unblock drains, and start looking into what preventative measures you can take.

1. Hair

It doesn’t matter if your hair is long or short, if enough of it gets into your drains you’re in for a bad time. For those of us who have been blessed with luscious tresses, it is important to remember that you are still losing 50 to 100 hair each day. Where are these hairs most likely to fall? In the shower, because this is where your hair is most free. While you’re showering, try to collect the fallen hairs so they don’t get swept away by water and pulled into the drain. It is also recommended that you brush your hair away from the shower to prevent clumps of knots from also falling into the drain. If brushing your hair in the shower is an absolute must, then be sure to collect these hair clumps and dispose of them in the bin – not your toilet! 

The same goes for the body and facial hair. These hairs might be substantially shorter than head hair, but they do also contribute to a build-up. If you shave in the sink, try laying a towel down to capture all the hairs that fall. While this might sound like a little bit extra effort in your grooming routine, it’s a lot less effort than spending hours
clearing blocked drains.

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2. Toiletries

Makeup wipes, sanitary products, tissues, cotton buds, and other personal care items might seem soft and ‘tissue-like’, but they do not belong in the toilet. Toilet paper has been specifically designed to break apart in water to prevent drain blockage. These other products, however, are more likely to absorb water and clump together in pipes, especially if there’s a build-up of these products being flushed down the toilet over time.

Simply keep your toilet paper in the toilet, and all other products in the waste bin and your pipes will love you a lot more… and you won’t need to roll up your sleeves or bust out the plunger.

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3. Cooking grease & food scraps

Cooking grease can be a tricky one as it sticks to our pans and then gets swept away into the sink while getting washed. Cooking grease congeals as it cools and can form into thick, hardened blobs. The best way to prevent grease from clogging your drains is to use a paper towel and wipe the grease off as best as you can before you give anything a good wash. Always remember to dispose of said greasy paper towel in the bin.

While a lot of food scraps won’t fit down your drain, there are plenty of food scraps that will, such as little vegetables or bites of food that have been left on a plate. Unless you have a garbage disposal installed, scrape any food remnants into a food waste bag for disposal. Food may not always break down in the drain, and can quite easily become lodged if there is a build-up over time.

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4. Leaves & other debris

It’s not only what you do in your home that counts! Your gutters, plumbing and sewerage pipes can become overloaded with rainwater, leaves, soil and more whenever there are big winds or a storm. Keeping your garden in good condition can prevent these items from being swept into your gutters and outdoor drains. Every now and then, check on your gutters to remove any leaf buildup that could cause havoc and blockages next time there is heavy rain.

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Looking for your local drain unblockers? Drainpro have got you covered. We are Melbourne’s leading experts when it comes to unblocking drains. Simply give us a call on 1300 620 273 and we’ll get your drains unblocked with ease. Alternatively, fill out our instant quote!

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