How do you know when you need to hire a professional plumber? In general, it’s when you notice that one of your drains doesn’t seem to be functioning like it should. While a clogged drain can be problematic in the kitchen or laundry room, things can be even worse in the bathroom given the nature of the activities that take place in a typical restroom.
What’s the key to avoiding clogged bathroom drains? It’s to know the common causes of clogged bathroom drains and to avoid them.
Stringy Stuff
If you’re like many people, flossing your teeth, shaving and brushing your hair are normal activities that you do in your bathroom every day. While many people do these things in their restrooms, they can pose a problem for your plumbing if you don’t dispose of your used dental floss and loose hairs properly and they end up in your bathroom drain.
Floss and string are not biodegradable and they, along with hair, can form clumps and knots in your bathroom drains. When this happens, they can clog your washroom drains and trap unpleasant odors that can be smelled from a considerable distance.
Toys
If you have children, you know that toys have a way of ending up in the most unusual places, sometimes including the toilet. If a flushed toy ends up making its way into your main sewer line, you’ll have to contend with more than a dysfunctional, possibly backed up toilet. You’ll likely end up having to pay for major repairs to your plumbing.
Kitty Litter
If you’re a cat owner and you keep your kitty’s litter box in or near the bathroom, you might be tempted to dump the used litter in your toilet and flush it away. If that’s the case, resist!
Kitty litter is designed to clump when it’s exposed to moisture. If you flush used litter down your toilet, it can cause major blockages and require you to hire a drain clean service provider to fix your plumbing.
Wipes and Towelettes
There are plenty of products out there that claim to be flushable but shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet, including baby wipes and cosmetic towelettes. While many of these products say they’re flushable, the truth is that they won’t break down when they’re immersed in water the way toilet paper is made to do.
Even if these items make it through your drainage system, they can still cause big problems for your municipality’s sewage system if your home is connected to it. To prevent problems with your drainage system or your town’s system, throw used baby wipes and cosmetic towelettes in the garbage.
Feminine Hygiene Products
While the temptation to flush used feminine hygiene products is understandable, these items should never be flushed down the toilet. Flushing them is a sure-fire way to clog a bathroom drain and force you to call for professional assistance with your drainage system.
Use Our Drain Cleaning Services
If your bathroom drains are clogged for any reason and you’re located in the Denver-area, we can help. Read about our drain cleaning services now and contact Garvin’s Sewer Service to schedule an appointment today.