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The Most Common Reasons for Clogged Drains in Kelowna

Posted in Clogged Drains

Every household has experienced clogged drains in one way or another. While some symptoms are more serious than others, you can’t expect your wastewater pipes to clear by themselves. Whether you’re experiencing slow drainage in the shower or pesky fruit flies in the kitchen, you can’t rule out the fact that you might have clogged drains. Kelowna homeowners are recommended to take immediate action to prevent more serious issues down the road.

Nearby drain clogs might be easy to clear with plunging and snaking, but you’ll never know if a more serious issue might be lurking in your sewer line until you hire a professional Kelowna plumber. Our local experts at 911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd. are here to help you to be more aware of the problems before they snowball into larger problems.

In this post, we will discuss some common causes of clogged drains in Kelowna and what you can do to prevent a plumbing disaster. Let’s get proactive together now!

What Does a Household Drain Do, and Where Is it Located?

Your household drains are an essential component of your home’s overall plumbing system. They are the hidden pipes designed to direct wastewater away from your property. Behind your walls, ceilings, and floors are branch drain lines that connect to your plumbing fixtures and standpipes. What’s more important is that the branch drain line connects to your home’s lateral sewer line, which is buried about five to six feet below your property. Ultimately, your sewer line is where all your household’s wastewater accumulates before flowing through the city’s sanitary sewer system toward the wastewater treatment plant.

Common areas where you can experience a clogged drain: Kelowna homes

• Kitchen: Clogged kitchen sink drains are the most common scenario, whether it’s due to a clogged garburator or p-trap. A blocked dishwasher hose drain is also a frequent occurrence.
• Bathroom: Besides sinks, clogged toilets and shower drains are well-known issues. It’s important to note that your toilet drain is closely connected to the main drain line, which means that clogged drain issues with your toilet often indicate a sewer line problem.
• Laundry: Many homes nowadays have a separate laundry facility where washer drain hoses connect to standpipes. Often, there is a laundry sink that connects to a drain line.
• Basement: The lowest area of a house has a floor drain, which you will typically find in the basement. Since they are designed to catch moisture and even flood water, you might not use them on a regular basis. But this doesn’t mean that they won’t clog with dust and other debris.
• Exterior: Surprisingly enough, you also have functional exterior drains, such as your perimeter drain (also referred to as weeping tile). The purpose of the weeping tile is to safeguard the foundation of your home. Should you have a sump pump in the basement, it will assist your perimeter drain in pumping stormwater away from your property. It’s similar to what your gutter downspouts do. Perimeter drains can last for many decades, given they’re made of high-quality materials and are installed correctly.

What Materials are Drain Lines?

The most common and sturdiest material for wastewater pipes is PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Known for its durability, lightweight construction, and flexibility, it has revolutionized the way we incorporate effective plumbing into residential homes and commercial buildings. PVC is also the most popular material used to install sewer lines.

 

That said, another frequently used material is PEX, which is made of cross-linked polyethylene. It’s also a fairly durable material and a great option to install underneath sinks. Overall, PVC is more rigid and should be the preferred choice for wastewater pipe installation in hidden areas.

Common Reasons for Clogged Drains in Kelowna and How to Deal with Them Effectively

Stubborn clogs are not to be messed with. Sure, they’re irritating and time-consuming if plunging doesn’t solve the problem. Once we’ve revealed the most common reasons for clogged drains, Kelowna property owners can rest easy knowing that there are useful ways to avoid tough clogs to begin with.

Fat and grease

If you have a bad habit of pouring fat and greasy liquids down your drain, there is a high chance of a future clogged drain. Grease and fats solidify once cooled and will begin to stick to the pipe walls. Over time, the buildup becomes so intense that you’ll experience serious drainage issues. Eventually, this will choke your pipe completely. With that said, fats, oils, and grease are not the only problems but also other types of food waste, such as coffee grounds, egg shells, and more.

Solution:

It is better to be extra cautious about the things you wash down the drain or flush down the toilet. Whether it’s leftover oil from the frying pan or bacon grease, collect the fluids in an empty metal container and dispose of them in the garbage. You can also wait for them to solidify and throw them in the compost.

Lots of hair and soap

Clogged drains in Kelowna can also be caused by excessive amounts of hair. Without a proper hair catcher, you risk hair creating a blockage inside your drain line. Worst of all, slimy soap residue can stick to the drain pipe walls and accumulate all the hair that passes through. If you notice slow drains, then this is most likely the culprit.

Solution:

We advise that you keep your bathroom drains clean by removing hair after each shower and ensuring that your sink strainer sits properly so no hair can seep through underneath. That said, tackling soap scum requires a little bit more elbow grease. To maintain clean household pipes, we recommend pouring hot water down the drain to dissolve soap residue; it will also help remove slime and mildew. Please keep in mind that boiling water is not recommended if you have plastic-based pipes. But running hot water for about five to ten minutes should do the job. Another old wives’ tale we recommend is pouring a cup of baking soda and a cup of white vinegar into the drain. Let it work its magic for about an hour before washing it down with more hot water.

Personal Hygiene Products and other Foreign Objects

Blocked drains can also be caused by flushing down personal hygiene products like toothfloss, Q-tips, feminine pads, paper towels, or wet wipes (even flushable ones). The rule of thumb is that nothing goes down the toilet unless it’s water, human waste, and toilet paper. If you have children, you may not always know how far their curiosity gets. And the next thing your local plumber in Kelowna finds are several pieces!

Solution:

The biggest lesson to learn here is that your toilet is not a garbage bin. Therefore, we highly recommend that you keep a small garbage can in your bathroom to stop bad habits from forming in your household. Even the smallest bin won’t take up much space and will serve wonders!

Poor house structure or age

If your house or drainage system is not well-built or it has old plumbing, you’ll be guaranteed to have structural issues and several clogged drains. The Kelowna plumbers on our team have detected low-quality installations on some properties before. This includes cheap pipe material, poorly installed drainage systems, etc.

Solution:

When you build a new home, we highly recommend that you hire a professional plumbing team that understands more than just the basics of wastewater systems. Or, if you live in an older home where plumbing issues have become a norm, hire the best plumbers to help rectify such serious issues and provide excellent solutions for clogged drains in Kelowna.

Natural calamities

When there is heavy rainfall, the flooding of perimeter drains and gutters can lead to blocked drain pipes, which can be a significant problem. If your home surroundings are filled with leaves, litter or debris, it can lead to blockage of the outer drain pipes and subsequently block the inner pipes as well. Similarly, a great storm can also wreak havoc and litter the surroundings with dirt and debris, blocking major drain pipes.

Solution:

Ensure your property’s perimeter is clear, and you have your weeping tile inspected on a routine basis should there be any heavy rainfall. If you operate a sump pump, we advise you to schedule an annual plumbing inspection to ensure that its float switch is operational and not clogged.

Broken pipes

A broken drain pipe not only leaks but could stop the flow of water and collapse the entire drainage system. Such busted pipes are caused by wear and tear (old pipes), poor-quality installation or tree root intrusion. When that happens, you will notice the symptoms inside your house. From gurgling toilets to slow drains and even recurring backups, you will find that several wastewater pipes are affected. Do you notice a bad odour wafting from out of your kitchen sink drain? Do sink flies appear from out of nowhere? The warning signs are endless, but most of all, they are frustrating and signal that your drainage system is not working properly. A blocked drain issue is an annoying scenario that not only causes real inconvenience but could result in a major plumbing failure without immediate attention.

Solution:

The best way to stay ahead of the game is by remaining diligent about the health of your plumbing system. At the smallest sign of trouble, contact your experienced plumber in Kelowna for a detailed video camera inspection. This way, you’ll receive a detailed diagnosis of what’s happening in your pipes. Next, our technicians will be able to help you make an informed decision about the next step.

911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd. is Here to Handle Clogged Drains: Kelowna is in Safe Hands!

Can’t find professional plumbers in your city? Your search for the best plumbing company in Kelowna ends with 911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd. If you are looking for reliable services, reasonable quotes, and 24/7 availability, contact us today! Our professional Kelowna plumbers provide all kinds of emergency services and the highest quality of repair work. Trust the best local plumbing company in Kelowna to get the job done right!

Let’s tackle your problems with clogged drains in Kelowna with an effective drain cleaning and hydrojetting service. Whether you live in Kelowna or the surrounding area, hire our team of fully insured and licensed plumbers by calling (250) 801-0911!