Problems with drains are one of the issues that keep plumbers so busy.
Everyone has experienced clogged drains from time to time, and although
it is possible to fix some minor clogs yourself, it is usually best to
call in a professional. Plumbers have the experience necessary to fix up
clogged drains and to get to the cause of the problem so it does not
happen again. Even if you are able to take care of clogged drains by
yourself, if you haven’t narrowed down the cause, it is likely to keep
happening over and over. Sometimes it makes more sense to call in a
plumber at the start to avoid bigger problems down the road.

Hair is one cause of clogged drains that typically happens in your bathroom.
It may happen in the bathroom sink or in the shower, but once it takes
effect that water will not go down at all. Over time, hair will
accumulate under the stopper and in the trap and cause your drains to
completely back up. Hair will not break down like some other materials,
so as soap and other materials go down the drain, they will collect in
the hair and create one big backed up drain. Plumbers will often use
and auger or snake to clear out hair blocked drains. It is also
possible to remove hair blockages with a coat hanger or pliers in some
situations.

Grease is another common culprit of clogged drains
that usually affects the drains in the kitchen. The problem with grease
is that it is in liquid form when it goes down the drain, but
solidifies as it cools down. The hardened grease can stick to the
inside of your pipes and cause a backup in kitchen drains. It is a good
idea to avoid pouring grease into drains in the first place. Just
leave it in the pan until it cools and hardens, then scoop it out and
into the garbage. It may take a little longer and seem inconvenient,
but it will not be as inconvenient as kitchen drains that will not
clear.

Tree roots are another common cause of clogged drains
that will require a little more heavy duty plumbing work to fix. If a
house has older pipes in the system, tree roots that are growing toward
the source of the water may penetrate even a small crack. Roots can
grow into the pipe and cause drains in the house to back up and clog.
PVC pipe is generally immune to invasive roots growing into them, but
many homes are still set up with older pipes.

It is wise to call in a plumber to look into the problem if drains are clogged and you
suspect roots are the cause. Another situation that calls for a
plumber’s help is if the shifting of the earth causes a drain line to
dip or sag. This will cause solids to accumulate in one area and cause
drains inside the home to clog and back up.

 

For more information, contact Vinny’s Jersey Plumbing, located in Wayne, New Jersey.  We also service other towns in New Jersey, such as Cliffside Park, Palisades Park and Fair Lawn.