Blocked drains can be expensive and inconvenient. While some drain blockages are out of our control, the majority of clogged drains in Sydney are inadvertently caused by homeowners. This article looks at three bad habits that could be contributing to blocked drains in your home.
Bad Habit #1: Flushing wet wipes down the toilet
It seems that many consumers are making the switch to wet-wipes in pursuit of a “luxurious toilet experience”. The toilet paper shortages brought on by the on-set of the coronavirus earlier this year saw even more consumers substituting toilet paper for alternatives such as wet-wipes.
Flushing wet-wipes down the toilet has serious consequences for both private and public sewer lines. Wet-wipes don’t break down easily like toilet paper. Instead of disintegrating quickly when flushed, wet-wipes can take years to breakdown because of the synthetic materials they contain.
In a 2020 Media Release published by Sydney Water, spokesman Darren Cash stated that 500 tonnes of flushed wet wipes are being removed from the Sydney’s wastewater system every year costing upwards of $8 million, and this figure is growing.
“We’re concerned because we’ve seen a 22 per cent rise in blockages for March caused by non-flushables such as wet wipes and tissues”, said Cash.
“This problem isn’t just a financial hit to Sydney Water. Individual home owners may also be out of pocket with expensive plumbing bills. One Sydney resident had a plumbing bill of $16,000 to repair a problem caused by flushing wet wipes”, said Mr Cash.
Bad Habit #2 - Pouring cooking oil down the sink
Pouring cooking oil down the sink is a tempting habit to get into. It seems logical because oil is a liquid when it’s hot. However, as it cools grease and oil solidifies causing a thin lining of fat to coat the inside of the plumbing pipes. The more often you engage in this bad habit, the thicker the coating of oil becomes, disrupting water flow in the plumbing pipes.
Oil also clings to other debris in the plumbing system. According to Thames Water in the UK, “fatbergs” are formed when fat, grease and oil is poured down sinks or drains and combines with “unflushable” items like wet wipes, nappies and cotton buds.
In 2019, A huge 40-tonne fatberg blocking a sewer in South London was cleared by Thames Water engineers. They spent three weeks clearing the fatberg, using a combination of high-powered water jets to blast the blockage loose and removing the debris by hand.
To protect your home from blocked drains caused by grease and fatbergs, a good habit to get into is to dispose of cooking oil in the bin. You can pour hot oil into a heat-proof, sealable container and then place it in the bin. Wiping greasy dishes with a paper towel before you wash them, is another great way to protect your drains from clogs.
Bad habit #3: Washing hair down the shower drain
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, people shed on average between 50 and 100 hairs every day. Hair is probably the most common cause of blocked shower drains. Hair builds up gradually, combining with soap scum and dead skin cells inside the pipes.
While it’s inevitable that some hair will go down the drain, it’s a bad habit to actively allow hair to do so. For example, when washing your hair or combing your hair in the shower it’s normal to find lose hairs on your hands or on the comb. We’ve all been guilty of letting the shower wash this hair down the drain. A better habit to get into is to gather up these loose hairs and place them in the bin once you have finished showering.
Another great tip to protect shower drains from hair clogs is to install a drain cover. These covers are readily available and cheap to purchase and they catch the majority of hair, making it easy to dispose of hair in the bin.
Need assistance with a blocked drain in Sydney?
JAB Plumbing Solutions is Sydney’s premier blocked drain service. Our team of fully licensed and insured plumbers have been working exclusively with drains for more than 10 years. We carry the latest industry tools to clear clogged drains in your Sydney home quickly and affordably. To find out more, call our friendly local plumbers on 1800 225 552.
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