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What are the common causes of blocked drains?

49 Answers

Answered by PLO Maintenance Ltd

29th July 2022

PLO Maintenance Ltd answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Common causes to bathroom sinks and shower waste traps is a general build up of hair and soap scum that tends to bind and can settle in the waste traps. Other common causes for blocked toilets are fat, oil and grease, rodents and household pets such as pet fish and pet animals and foreign objects like toys and toilet bowl fresheners. I have come across kitchen sinks, blocked from some sink unblocking detergents as some detergents can crystallise when poured down the sink and can cause a hard build up of residue when mixed with hot or cold water. Others are coffee grounds, tea bags, oil, grease, fat and food waste including starches.

Answered by Rosebourne Plumbing

16th July 2022

Rosebourne Plumbing answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Bathroom waste and traps get blocked by hair. Kitchens waste and traps get blocked by grease and any number of things from waste food to cutlery. Drains get blocked by wet wipes and sewers get blocked by roots, rodents and raw sewage. Toilets get blocked by over use of wet wipes and loo roll. Sani Macerators get blocked by condoms, surgical gloves and tampax.

Answered by Lawrence Plumbing & Property Services

15th September 2021

Lawrence Plumbing & Property Services answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

I would definitely agree on cooking oils and fats as a big problem, also another issue is wet Wipes. Again just to add, another problem I've seen many times is poor drainage installation.

Answered by Pro Heating & Plumbing Ltd & Pro-Drain Ltd

28th October 2020

Pro Heating & Plumbing Ltd & Pro-Drain Ltd answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Congealed cooking oils , fats and grease are our most common adversary usually within the external kitchen waste gully drain but thankfully such a build up is no match for our high pressure water jetting equipment and can be efficiently removed with relative ease. The scourge of most drainage contractors and water authorities is the increasing disposal of wet wipes within drainage systems and although most of the packaging describes the products as flushable based upon our daily experience of dealing with them we would recommend that they are only disposed of in a bin, unlike tissues they are insoluble and do not break up within the drainage system and over time will build up until you have a plug of them completely blocking a drain run which can prove to be a lengthy process to remove them. Other causes of blocked drains that are not related to specific usage could be an underlying problem within a pipeline for example tree roots growing through an open joint and restricting the diameter or a displaced joint causing tissues to snagg and encrustations to build up. A professional drainage company when undertaking a blocked drain clearance will provide a reliable diagnosis backed up with a quick look see drain camera inspection as to what caused the blockage and advise on the best course of action if there is any concern of a recurrence.

Answered by Albert Williams Ltd

15th July 2020

Albert Williams Ltd answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

This would be wipes even though a number of things that cause blockages from nappies, sanitary towels and kitchen roll but also found the plastic things they put on the rim of the WC drop off and fall into the pan, these do cause issues. If does come from the kitchen area then this would be grease and if the have a waste disposal then lack of water running through this when rice and pasta are put down there.

Answered by Wakefield Boiler Services

11th July 2020

Wakefield Boiler Services answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Most common internal drainage blockage i attend to is wet wipes , nappies are more common than you think also . it says on the packaging to not flush these things as well . External drains can be a variety of things , build up from the internal drains , tree rots collapsing the drain pipes , kids toys pushed down the gulleys . Kitchen sink drains is the build up of fat from cooking utensils , oil is also a bad substance blocker .

Answered by Phillips plumbing & heating

18th May 2020

Phillips plumbing & heating answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

In my experience blockages are most commonly blocked by wet wipes. Blockages on kitchen sinks are usually caused by fat/grease and basins, showers and baths by hair. Therefore the easiest way to prevent blockages, would be to not flush wet wipes or even the “flushable” ones and don’t pour cooking fat down the sink.

Answered by Glenco Plumbing & Heating Ltd

14th April 2020

Glenco Plumbing & Heating Ltd answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Miss usage of baby wipes down toilets ect as they don't break up fast enough the same as wet wipes or sanitary products for women ect also another one is fat and food waste in your kitchen sinks which blocks up the Guly drain. so if you have a blocked drain in Milton Keynes call Glenco Plumbing today.

Answered by Braiden Plumbing and Drainage Limited

1st April 2020

Braiden Plumbing and Drainage Limited answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

The most common cause of blocked drains are too much toilet paper or wipes being flushed down toilets. Also kitchen sink blockages are generally caused by a build up of fat/grease being poured down the sink over a period of time. Thanks, Vinnie

Answered by P J Refurbishments Ltd

1st April 2020

P J Refurbishments Ltd answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

most common cause of blocked drains i find upon call out are usually, too much loo roll or baby wipes, too much fat and grease down the kitchen sink. bathroom basins is always hair. this is usually added to by poor falls on waste pipe added to by sharp bends. Its easy enough to sort out but not a job i enjoy doing.

Answered by Home Heating Solutions

18th February 2020

Home Heating Solutions answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Problems I come across are people flushing almost anything down the toilet. With regards to kitchen waste full of grease. Also have come across collapsed drains where old clay pipe has disintegrated. The few drains I have put in have to have the correct fall and not too sharper bends. Thanks Robert

Answered by Jcm plumbing & heating

13th February 2020

Jcm plumbing & heating answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Food and grease are the most common causes of blockages on kitchen sinks and can normally be cleared with a good plunger or sometimes may require removing trap and cleaning. For toilet wastes the most common causes are wet wipes which should be binned rather than flushed away, if the blockage cant be removed with a plunger then it may need to be jetted from main drain, and for showers/baths its normally hair that caused blockages and generally be removed with a plunger, you can try to catch hair by placing a strainer over plug hole.

Answered by S K Plumbing

5th February 2020

S K Plumbing answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

people putting or not clearing food from plates and bowls in kitchens and the use of excess toilet roll , putting baby wipes down the toilet and hair in plug holes from baths , people running pipes backwards due to not using a level and poor installation, clasped clay drains are very commen aswell

Answered by LJB Gas and Plumbing

28th January 2020

LJB Gas and Plumbing answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

The most common causes are left over food for the kitchen and for bathrooms it is hair. Luckily hair blocking the plug can easily be tackled by off the shelf drain cleaners and even bleach. Food/grease can be a little more difficult as you will need to take a part some of the waste pipe work but it can all be done by hand without the need for specialised tools. Ofcourse the best method to stop block drains is prevention. Don't flush things that shouldn't be flushed, scrape your plates and dispose of oil correctly.

Answered by JB'S Plumbing

12th January 2020

JB'S Plumbing answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

normally wet wipes or sanitary pads but ive seen naps, toys and all sorts

Answered by Nestor Plumbing & Heating

4th January 2020

Nestor Plumbing & Heating answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Two most common faults for a blocked drain is food waste/fat/grease in the kitchen sink and hair in the bathroom waste, either bath, shower or basin can easily get blocked, and drain cleaner doesn’t have an impact. Try removing the waste trap from under the sink/bath, shower or basin and see if that’s all that is blocked first, otherwise a professional will be required

Answered by Buckley site solutions

22nd November 2019

Buckley site solutions answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Clogged drains and blocked pipes may start as minor issues but can quickly escalate into major problems. A clogged drain can cause slow water drainage, corrosion, flooding, and, in extreme cases, sewage backup and costly repairs. Preventing them starts with recognizing how the causes of clogged drains. Below are the 8 most common household causes of clogged drains and how you can prevent and fix them

Answered by Snug Heating & Plumbing

11th November 2019

Snug Heating & Plumbing answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

The cause of a blocked drain could be one of many different factors. Food waste down a kitchen sink, hair build up in a bath or a shower, or anything but toilet roll down a toilet! All this added together will effectively reduce the flow of the waste water and make excess waste build up quicker and quicker which will cause the pipes to block.

Answered by PRIME Plumbing & Maintenance

21st October 2019

PRIME Plumbing & Maintenance answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

One of the most common causes of a blockage is where the Pipework has very little gravity fall on it and also sharp elbow s restricting the flow etc .Cooking oils and fats from food are also a cause of blockages along with wet wipes and sanitary items causing problems in soil pipework to a property.On new build a common cause could be building aggregates from the site have not been cleared from the manhole chamber causing slower drainage or even backfilling

Answered by Absolute PhD

2nd October 2019

Absolute PhD answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Blocked drains are mainly caused by people putting items such as tampons, baby wipes, nappies and kitchen roll down toilets. By people putting large bits of food and fat down kitchen sinks. Simply put blockages would be avoided if people didn’t do these things. The reason why we should only put toilet paper down a toilet is because it disintegrates. Nothing else does, it clogs all together causing a nasty blockage. Ventilation is a factor, especially on internal stacks. Durgos are prone to going wrong and this could lead to a blockage.

Answered by Careys Plumbing & Gas Ltd

19th September 2019

Careys Plumbing & Gas Ltd answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Although blockages in drains are mainly caused by items that are put into the drains , it is also important to know that correct ventilation of a drainage system can have an effect on blockages. Venting to atmosphere is always the best option but some systems may be using an automatic air vent fitting which can fail if not installed/maintained correctly and also have a tendency to freeze in loft spaces when not insulated.

Answered by JMF Heating and Plumbing Ltd

18th September 2019

JMF Heating and Plumbing Ltd answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

A blocked sink is usually down to food stuff being washed down the sink like oil, fat, rice etc. Toilet blockages are usually down to too much toilet paper being flushed in one go, wet wipes being flushed, sanitary ware, cotton buds etc but van also be down to how the soil pipes were cut, if the edges were not cleaned and smoothed down they can cause debris to snag onto them. Baths and showers are usually hair but these can be removed quite easily by hand.

Answered by The Gentleman Plumber

14th September 2019

The Gentleman Plumber answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

The most common causes of blocked drains in a domestic environment within a property are fat/oil build up in kitchens usually and hair clogging up bathroom wastes. Modern clicker and clic-clac wastes do not help as through flow is more controlled giving more opportunity for things to snag.Externally we are talking about other debris such as plant material and leaves.

Answered by Andrew Stevenson Plumbing & Heating

11th August 2019

Andrew Stevenson Plumbing & Heating answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

The most common causes of blocked drains are the incorrect installation of the drainage pipes and the disposal of inappropriate items down the waste like porridge cooking oils & fats rice vegetable peelings. The flushing down the toilet of inappropriate items including wet wipes kitchen paper and womens sanitary items.

Answered by J & S Plumbing & Heating

5th August 2019

J & S Plumbing & Heating answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

It really depends on a numerous amount of where the issue is. Some of the issues can be kitchen sinks- usually grease or food. Showers- usually hair or a build up of dirt. Toilets, usually wipes or a build up of dirt on older toilets. Baths will be hair or a build up of dirt. all these issues can be resolved by the drains falling downhill from the appliance to the main drain. The main drains can suffer from several issues including roots breaking through the drain, badly installed drains, drains which join neighbours drains which can provide too much dirt to be removed in one go, old drains which are smaller then the standard used these days and just a build up of wet wipes. the best advice I can give is to get the issue looked at with a drain camera before unlocking so the issue can be assessed and repaired before it becomes a recurring issue.

Answered by Freedom Heating

31st July 2019

Freedom Heating answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

just returned from a blocked drain, it was a 4” drain connected only to the kitchen sink, they had tried all the usual chemicals with limited success, it turned out to be fat probably from the dishwasher as the householders where adamant they didn’t put fat down the drain, luckily for them it came out quite easily,

Answered by Bradshaw Plumbing and heating ltd

27th July 2019

Bradshaw Plumbing and heating ltd answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

I have found the most causes of blocked drains today are wipes even the ones sold as toilet wipes seem not to break down and they bunch together and block your drains so I would suggest not to use them Also I have found that people know a days think anything that can go down the wc s fine and that is not the case

Answered by NDC Property Services

26th July 2019

NDC Property Services answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

A blocked drain is could be caused by incorrect plumbing, not having a full enough sweep on a bend, toilet blockages due to wet wipes, sanitary towels or too much toilet paper, shower traps could be caused by not cleaning out removable seal or hair, sinks due to grease being flushed done drain

Answered by Gas On Sea

16th July 2019

Gas On Sea answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

A blocked drain normally occurs when unsuitable objects are flushed away such as baby wipes, nappies or paper towels, they can build up a blockage and cause the waste to back up. Unsuitable liquids also cause build up such as grease and fat, food waste and soaps BoilerOne recommend you consult a verified plumber to advise on installation options.

Answered by LCP Plumbing Ltd

23rd June 2019

LCP Plumbing Ltd answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

The most common causes of a blocked pipe/drain are unfortunately down to ourselves allowing the wrong things to be flushed down a toilet or sink Wipes, cotton buds, oil and cooking fats Recently LCP plumbing had been called out to a blocked toilet the cause of a toilet sanitizer which hangs over the rim, that unfortunately fell off into the bowl without the homeowner realising and ended up around the u bend causing a build up and a back up.

Answered by Lee Key Plumbers

15th June 2019

Lee Key Plumbers answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Blocked drains are invariably caused by items other than water. Blockages as the word suggests occur when something blocks or restricts the flow of water through the drain pipe. There is normally a gradual reduction in the flow of water from the sink, hand was basin or toilet. Incorrectly plumbed in dishwasher can cause a build up of food and grease debris to form in the pipe reducing the flow through the pipe. Inappropriate items being put or falling accidentally into the drain also cause problems. The best way to avoid blockages is to routinely clean the pipe by allowing clean hot water to run through the drain. This can be water previously used for cleaning the basin, shower etc. I recommend filling the sink or hand wash basin with hot water add an additional drop of washing up liquid and release the contents of the sink down the drain, the weight of the water combined with the flow and the detergent gives the drain a clean and helps to remove any initial build up of fats and debris.

Answered by A Royal Flush Plumbing

15th June 2019

A Royal Flush Plumbing answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

There are many causes for blocked drains. The main causes are hair in the bathroom drains especially the shower and bath. Lady products/kitchen towels/wet wipes in the toilet and fat in the kitchen sinks. Remembering only throw toilet paper down the toilet and putting fat into bottles and the bin can save you a lot of problems and expense.

Answered by Plumb Drain and Maintain Ltd

10th June 2019

Plumb Drain and Maintain Ltd answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

There are many causes of blockages within different networks. The most common is grease and fat. We also encounter large build ups of scale in the pipework which can snag wipes causing major blockages. Here at PDM we offer the latest technology to clear this large deposits using our maxi miller machine.

Answered by Hurley Group Limited

5th June 2019

Hurley Group Limited answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

There are many reasons a drain could become blocked. Hair been a major one, along with grease, soap, fatty substances, food waste, wipes, toilet paper build up. Eventually the build up with reduce the flow and restriction of water. Local plumber or drainage company would be able to clear this.

Answered by Your LOCAL Plumber

1st June 2019

Your LOCAL Plumber answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

There are many reasons for a blocked drain. Wet wipes, grease, oil and even a collapsed sewer. Careful investigation is always recommended . Wet wipes, paper and oil/grease are the worst offenders. Your LOCAL plumber would always suggest a professional is called in the event of the discovery of a blocked drain.

Answered by Johnsons Drainage Services Ltd

26th May 2019

Johnsons Drainage Services Ltd answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Common causes of blocked drains are fats, oils and grease being poured down sinks and items being incorrectly flushed down the toilet such as baby wipes, makeup wipes and cleaning wipes. A lot of wipes are marketed as flushable, yes they will flush but they don't break down so end up in a big clump along with other items in the drains. Less common causes are a collapsed or damaged drain tree roots, and incorrect installation.

Answered by Jordy's Plumbing-Heating & Property Services

20th May 2019

Jordy's Plumbing-Heating & Property Services answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

The common causes of blocked drains are: Soap, Hair, Baby Wipes, Fat & Grease, Roots, Food Waste, Toilet Paper Build Up & Mineral Build Up. The most common cause I come across in my day to day working life are baby wipes, over use of toilet roll and fat. Of course there are alot more causes but these seem to be the most common.

Answered by AJ and Sons Plumbing Ltd

19th May 2019

AJ and Sons Plumbing Ltd answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

The most common blockages on domestic drains seems to come from wet wipes, or toilet wipes, which dont dissolve and bundle together within the drain and cause a blockage. Also a big factor is fat. This can cause so many problems, and it clogs drains the same way as arteries. As deposits get stuck on the side of the pipe, as other materials and fat are put down the drain, the deposits that are stuck in the pipe grab bits as they pass by and build up until it blocks the pipe and doesn't allow any solid to pass through.

Answered by N R PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES

18th May 2019

N R PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Domestic- most blockages seem to be from wet wipes, over use of tissue. These get stuck further down the line and gradually build up until there is a full blockage. Commercial- more of these type of blockages tend to be from paper towels down toilets are from fats etc being poured down drains and not disposed of correctly

Answered by Mark Best Plumbing and Heating

14th May 2019

Mark Best Plumbing and Heating answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

I find the most common fault of having a blocked drain or waste pipe and trap. Is the home owner putting inappropriate things down the waste pipe. I.e food waste from washing up or cooking oils and fats that over time all come together and cause I blockage in the drain line. Also put wipes down the toilet which do not break up and just clogg all together.

Answered by Greenwich Plumbing Company

8th May 2019

Greenwich Plumbing Company answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Commons causes of blocked drains are objects accidentally flushed down toilets and wet wipes especially, build ups of cooking fat , food waste and hair are also common causes , often in smaller waste pipes from sinks, baths and basins. Incorrectly installed or badly maintained systems can also be an issue.

Answered by D.H plumbing

29th April 2019

D.H plumbing answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Most of the time its down to the householder putting inappropriate waste down the drains but sometimes it can be old waste pipes. The biggest cause is “flushable” wipes although they say they’re flushable they definitely do not break down as they should. You can get cleaners for your drains but they only work if there is no blockage.

Answered by Apex Property Services

27th April 2019

Apex Property Services answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Common causes of blocked drains are normally things being flushed down WCs that shouldn’t be ie wet wipes. Over loaded the WC can alsobe a cause of blockage. Making sure there is a vent on the drain is also a vital part of keeping the drains flush and drain correctly plus keeping the pressures right for drainage

Answered by BPH - Blakemore Plumbing And Heating

25th March 2019

BPH - Blakemore Plumbing And Heating answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

The most common problems with blocked drains are usually down to the user and more than likely things going down the toilet. Keep your eye on air fresheners than sit round the rim as these can cause blockages. Wipes are possibly the biggest problem, especially the ones that are now branded as “flushable” wipes. Other problems are food and fat down sink wastes and hair in showers and basins. Sometimes it can be caused by the drainage pipe having been cracked and collapsed, usually caused by external work or movement in the ground. If your manhole is found to be full of contact the water board as 90% of them are their responsibility.

Answered by Stewart Plumbing

24th March 2019

Stewart Plumbing answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

We come across many factors causing blocked drains. most commonly the reason lays with the user, people flushing things that they shouldn’t. Being on the field we have come across all sorts of things being flushed but the most common things are wet wipes &sanitary products. Installer fault can also be to blame, for the correct operation the waste system needs a fall and to be vented properly with out these the drains will block very easily

Answered by Heather Contracts Limited

12th March 2019

Heather Contracts Limited answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

The most common and preventable causes of blocked drains, is user based. Sometimes WCs & sinks are seen as a way of disposing oils, fats, paints, plaster, wipes (even ones that state flushable!), which may run away from the property, but will stop in the drain. This blockage, will eventually catch other matter, which causes it to grow to the point it becomes blocked. We are frequently called to remove these preventable blockages at properties. There is other reasons to why a drain may block, such as, tree & bush roots, displaced joints, ground movement.

Answered by J W Plumbing and Building services LTD

9th March 2019

J W Plumbing and Building services LTD answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Blocked drains can range between incorrect installation fall and or size of the drain itself. When installing new drains to old consideration should be made to how the connection is made. A new access chamber would be advised or a connection the is swept and going with the flow. Another issue can be found by the wrong items being flushed either to large or to solid for the intended use of the drains. Kitchens who discharge a lot of waste into the drains are advised to use fat strippers or fat separators.

Answered by PipeDream Plumbing

26th February 2019

PipeDream Plumbing answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Most domestic drain blockages are caused from wet wipes and excessive use of tissues paper. Kitchen waste pipes tend to block due to grease and food build up in the pipes. In commercial property our common call outs are blocked urinals and kitchen waste pipes. This is normally caused from poor maintenance, undersized or incorrectly fitted pipework.

Answered by JSM Plumbing and Heating services

10th February 2019

JSM Plumbing and Heating services answered the question "What are the common causes of blocked drains?"

Blocked drains are usually caused by 2 main issues, internally its often down to grease and fat being poured in to sinks which builds up over time and foreign objects are often to blame in the main stack and I’m finding more commonly on external or the main soil and stack pipes to be blocked with “flushable” wet wipes as they state on the packaging to only flush 1 wipe at a time which people don’t realise, also do still come across the odd collapsed clay drain.

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