Common Causes of Slow Drains

We’ve all stood in showers with a clogged drain and watched the water slowly rise up our ankles. Slow drains can be a huge annoyance. But what’s worse is that if they aren’t dealt with, they can become a serious concern for your home. Some clogged drains need the attention of a professional Durham plumber.

Here are some of the most common causes of clogged drains that we see.

The Pop-Up Stopper

A pop-up stopper is usually on most bathroom sinks, showers, and tub drains. It lets you seal off the drain if you want your sink or tub to fill with water. Hair and soap scum can build up on the pop-up stopper assembly and clog the drain. This fairly simple fix involves removing the stopper and cleaning it.

Clogged Trap

The trap is a u-shaped section of pipe that is normally directly below a sink or shower drain. The trap exists to form a natural seal from any odors or gasses leaking back up the drain into your bathroom or kitchen. If you drop your wedding ring down your sink drain, the trap is likely where it will come to rest. This is where many clogs buildup. This can be fixed using a snake or by detaching the u-bend and cleaning it.

Clogged Toilet

If your toilet isn’t flushing correctly, the first thing to do is turn off the water supply normally located behind the toilet. This will keep additional water from filling your toilet and making it overflow. The next thing to do is try to plunge it. If that doesn’t work, the services of a professional Durham plumber may be required to snake your toilet. This involves inserting a long metal wire into the toilet’s drain to break up any clogs.

Drain Pipe

If your fixture remains clogged, there could be a clog further down the line. For a sink, the plumber will probably remove the u-bend and snake the horizontal or vertical pipe that goes into the wall. They’ll likely snake the fixture directly from the visible drain for a toilet or a tub.

Other Issues

• Multiple Drains – If you notice that you’re having problems with multiple drains or fixtures, this could indicate a serious problem with your house drain or your soil drain. Your house drain allows collects water and waste from all of your fixtures.
• Below Water Grade – If you have a basement fixture or a fixture on a lower floor that isn’t draining correctly, it could be that it simply doesn’t have enough pressure. In this case, you may need a lift station. Contact your local plumber to learn more.

If you need a professional plumber in Durham, call JD Service Now today!