Common drain-clogging causes (and how to prevent them)

A blocked drain is a problem, there’s no doubt about that! The water that bursts from any blocked drain is most likely swarming with bacteria and smelling less than savoury. Thankfully, a blocked drain a problem that we can surely help you fix. The best way to do any plumbing-related problem solving is to eliminate risks wherever we can: anticipation is key!

Be it heavy build-ups or UFOs (unflushable foreign objects), we’ll enlighten you in a series of informative blogs as we talk about the top causes of a blocked drain in Wellington:

Hair and there

There’s only so much of this stuff a shower drain can take, and if you aren't taking the time to clear the shower drain of hair every once in a while, then it’s going to come back to haunt you. The shower drain is not the only victim of extreme hair build up...your bathroom sink can see a great deal of the fluffy stuff too, especially if this is where shaved hair gets washed away each day.

Keeping on top of hair build up will prevent this from being a clogging issue entirely. You can pop down to Bunnings and grab a tool to reach down and collect any drain-blocking clumps of hair. If things aren’t that simple and you happen to have a properly blocked shower drain in Wellington then you need only call the team at Maxey to save the day!

The green grip

Nature doesn’t like to play nice with your drains. Some plants see a pipe and propably thing ‘challenge accepted’! While leaves or petals can pile into any open inlets to your drains, roots will work away at the buried pipework in search of the water within.  

To avoid the effect of plants on your plumbing, you’ll need to ensure that any areas of your drains that are exposed to the elements can be kept clear of leaves and the like. If roots happen to work their wiley way to your pipework, then the team at Maxey can clear these away and replace or repair any damage. A clear sign of a root-attacked drain will be a peculiar pool of water emerging on your lawn, so it pays to keep an eye on it all year-round.

Grease has to go somewhere!

Grease and fat are foe to the Wellington drainage system. These slick substances commonly cause blocks in pipework, and they don’t make it easy to clear them out! Unfortunately, grease likes to hang around on the walls of your drains, so it’s extremely likely (with enough cook ups) that this will cause plumbing calamity one way or another. You can avoid this issue if you try to remember to ditch any leftover cooking oil or grease outside on the lawn or even in the rubbish. As with any major Wellington plumbing emergency, the team at Maxey can handle any greasy buildup in your plumbing.

Be sure to keep an eye out for our blog later this month as we take a look at a few more common causes for blocked drains in Wellington! Don’t forget, no matter what the cause...the team at Maxey are more than capable of handling your drainage emergency in Wellington. We’re only a call or email away, so get in touch today!