Dealing With Clogged Drains in Littleton, Colorado
Plumbing fixtures are one of the most common causes of clogged drains in Littleton, Colorado. These include toilets, faucets, bathtubs, showers, sinks, dishwashers, garbage disposals, and washing machines. Water backs up into the house if something gets stuck in the pipe, making things very messy.
Clogs have several causes, including hair, soap scum, grease, minerals, food particles, and even bacteria. If one of these items gets stuck in a pipe, it can cause a blockage. Also, some everyday household items can make drains clog up faster. These include coffee grounds, tea leaves, citrus peels, meat scraps, eggshells, cotton balls, paper towels, diapers, sanitary napkins, condoms, and toothpaste.
There are several ways to unclog drains:
- Try flushing the toilet bowl to dislodge anything lodged inside.
- Use a plunger to clear the obstruction from the bottom of the tank.
- Call a plumber.
Our professionals at Drain Terrier will know precisely where to go to fix the issue. See our services links below!
Drain Cleaning in Denver and Littleton CO
Pipe Descaler
Video Sewer Inspection
Causes of Clogged Drains in Littleton, Colorado
We often think drains and pipes are meant to clean things like water and food. But it doesn’t work that way. This is because drains and pipes are designed to carry waste material out of your house. However, they can become blocked if you don’t use them properly. And if this happens, your sink could overflow, causing damage to your home.
Clogged Drains: Hair
Hair is one of the most common things that gets stuck in a drain. Hair falls into the drain when people take showers, use the bathtub, brush their teeth, or do anything else that requires water. It ends up getting caught in the drain and causes blockages. If you don’t want to deal with having to unclog your drain every few days, consider investing in some drain guards. These small plastic devices fit over the drain openings in sinks, toilets, and baths. They keep hair out of the drain while allowing water to flow freely.
Clogged Drains: Mineral Build-Up
Water can contain different kinds of minerals. Some of those minerals are beneficial, like calcium. Other minerals can build up over time and cause problems. You’re flushing away some of these deposits when you flush toilets, shower heads, sinks, and tubs. Eventually, the buildups can start clogging pipes, causing plumbing issues. If you notice a lot of limescale buildup in your bathroom sink, it might be time to call a plumber.
You can try cleaning out your drains yourself, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, it could cost you even more money down the road. Instead, hire a professional at Drain Terrier to come out and take care of the problem for you. A good plumber will inspect and identify the drain in your home that is causing drain problems. They’ll check everything from the main drain pipe to the faucet connections and ensure everything is working correctly.
Clogged Drains: Food Waste
Kitchen sinks often get clogged because of food waste. Sometimes it happens without us noticing it. But what do we do about it if you see it too late? Call a trusted plumber at Drain Terrier. We’ll come over and clean out the drains. But sometimes, they’re blocked with something else like hair or soap scum. Or maybe there are just some particles of food stuck inside. If that’s the case, we might use chemicals to dissolve the blockage. Although, this could affect your plumbing system. So don’t let food waste go down the drain even though your sink has a garbage disposer. Instead, put it into a tissue paper first and throw it away later. Then you won’t have to worry about clogging your drains anymore.
Clogged Drains: Soap Scum
Soap is one of those things we use every day without even thinking about it. We assume that our sinks, showers, toilets, and tubs work fine. And they do. However, there are some things you might not know about soap. For example, did you know that soap can build up inside pipes and cause plumbing problems? If you’re having trouble keeping your drain clean, here are five things you didn’t know about soap.
Soap is composed of fat and water. When soap gets into your sink, bathtub, or toilet, it starts to separate the water and fat components. Over time, the soap builds up in the pipes and causes clogs. Soap residue can form inside pipes and cause significant problems like slow drainage, flooding, and overflowing toilets.
Soap scum forms whenever there is too much soap in the water. As soap accumulates in pipes, it dries out and becomes solid. Then, the soap breaks down when hot water hits cold water, creating a lather. The latter is a mixture of soap and water that looks like foam. Once soap scum begins forming, it tends to stick to everything around it. This includes hair, dirt, and minerals. These substances combine and start building up inside pipes, creating clogs.
Soap residue can build up anywhere that water flows. This includes under kitchen faucets, in the shower, and the bathtub. Eventually, the soap residue can begin to plug up the entire system. Because soap scum is sticky, it can easily clog pipes and cause severe damage. If your drains aren’t draining correctly, check where the water goes in and out of the house. You could find soap scum blocking your drains.
Clogged Drains: Toilet Paper
If you use toilet paper in moderation, there won’t be a problem. But if you’re using too much, it could start causing issues.
Like most people, you probably don’t overthink how toilet paper gets into your pipes. But if you do, you’ll know that many different types of toilet tissue are out there. Some tissues are softer than others, and some are thicker than others. And some tissues even contain additives that make them less likely to clog up your drains. Here are some things to consider when choosing a brand of toilet paper.
Excessive use of toilet paper can block toilets. This causes problems like having no way to flush or clean out the bowl. If you don’t want to deal with those issues, you’ll want to ensure you keep your usage under control.
The best thing to do here is to avoid overusing toilet paper altogether. If you notice that your toilet isn’t working correctly, you might find that using less tissue helps you clear things up. You can also opt for a plunger or toilet brush to help unclog drains.
Unclogging Clogged Drains
Clogged drain problems aren’t just annoying—they can cause severe damage. In fact, according to the American Society of Plumbing Engineers, nearly half of all plumbing repairs are caused by clogged drainage systems.
If you’ve ever tried to unclog a bathroom sink, you know what a pain it can be. You might try plunging the sink repeatedly, running water just long enough to flush out the debris, and repeating the process. Or maybe you try pouring baking soda down the drain, hoping it will dissolve whatever got stuck. Neither method works very well. But eventually, you give up and call a professional.
The same goes for toilets and tub drains. Sure, sometimes you can use the plunger or pour in dish soap to dislodge hair, paper towels, and other small objects. But there’s always something bigger lurking behind those obstructions. And since most sinks and tubs don’t have built-in strainers, you usually have to buy one separately.
If you’re looking for a simple way to unclog your pipes, there are a few tricks you can try. Here are three easy ways to do just that.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Mix equal parts of baking soda and white vinegar in a bucket. Then pour into your drain. Let sit overnight. In the morning, use a plunger to flush out the rest of the mixture.
Dish Soap
Add a small amount of liquid dish soap to your sink. Pour down the drain slowly. Wait 30 minutes, and repeat.
Sink Plunger
Place a plunger under your sink. Fill the sink halfway with hot water. Turn on the tap and wait 15 seconds. Remove the plunger. Now fill the sink again, and let it run for 10 minutes. Repeat this process several times to loosen any blockages.
Drain Snake
A drain snake is a flexible plastic or coiled metal tube that clears clogged drains. You insert it into the drain and pull it out slowly, allowing you to see where it goes and how far it travels. Some models are designed to travel along the pipe wall, while others have a longer length and reach deeper into the pipes.
Preventing Clogged Drains
The best way to prevent clogs is to keep your drains clean. To do this, use a plunger to clear clogs or call a plumber to come out and inspect your system. The professional plumbers at Drain Terrier recommend cleaning your drains regularly, especially during winter, when snow and ice buildup can cause problems.
Call a professional if you can’t clear a blockage after several tries. You don’t want to risk damaging fixtures or causing water damage.
To prevent such problems, it’s essential to clean out drains regularly. To do this, pour boiling water down the drain once every month. If you’re having trouble getting the job done, try pouring vinegar down the drain. Vinegar works because it reacts with fats and oils, helping to break them down. You’ll want to avoid putting anything acidic down the drain; otherwise, it could corrode the metal piping.
The best thing to do when fixing a clog is to call a professional. A licensed plumber can quickly unclog a drain, no matter how small or large the problem seems. “A clog that doesn’t affect the entire house can usually be fixed without calling a plumber,” says Blomgren. “However, if there is significant damage to the pipes, you’ll probably need to hire a pro.”
Need Help With Your Clogged Drains in Littleton, Colorado?
Drain Terrier is proud to offer plumbing repair and clogged drain cleaning services throughout Denver and Littleton, Colorado. We believe that a significant relationship begins with honest communication about what needs to happen, why it needs to happen, and how long it will take to complete. We are committed to providing quality workmanship and customer satisfaction.
Our goal is to provide you with reliable plumbing services at reasonable rates. You won’t find better value anywhere else. Our technicians are highly trained professionals who understand your unique situation and are prepared to tackle anything from minor fixes to major plumbing overhauls.
