It’s normal to have the occasional clog in your plumbing, but with your handy plunger it should prove to be no trouble, and if you’re using drain screens in the shower and the kitchen you should be protected from clogs related to hair and food, but sometimes it isn’t enough. Are you doing everything correctly, but still seeing your drain backing up? Then you may need to consider the possibility that there is a leak. You can call Melbourne’s best leak detection company today!
So why is your drain backing up?
There are some super common reasons for a drain to clog; so, let’s cover those first. Your clog may be caused by:
- Hair: everyone has dealt with hair in the shower drain. Make sure you’re using a hair catcher for your drain.
- Food: In the kitchen sink, food can cause big clogs, but similar to the shower drain, just use a screen to prevent food from getting through.
- Soap Scum: Although a little less obvious, soap scum can build up in your pipes and cause leaks.
- Grease: oils and fats from your skin or your food can build up in your pipes and cause blockages.
Before you pull out the drain-clearing chemical and get to work, remember that overusing such chemicals can actually cause pipe erosion!
The less obvious causes of a drain backing up
Leaky pipes can cause backups!
How is that possible?
Well, for instance, if a tree root breaks into your pipe and causes a leak underground minerals will build up quickly and, along with the root, block water flow in your pipe, and that’s not the only cause:
- Shifting ground can cause clogs and leaks. Especially in Central Florida, with frequent rainfall and sand instead of dirt, shifting ground can become a real issue for your pipe work.
- Pipe erosion can also cause leaks. If you live in an older home (which so many are in Florida) then you might have cast iron or clay pipes. Yes, clay pipes. Over time these materials naturally rot away, and leave you with leaks.
When to call a specialist
If your pipes are backing up more than occasionally and you clear the drain every time, then it’s time for a leak detection specialist to come check out the problem. American Leak Detection is Melbourne Florida’s #1 in leak detection, and with our state-of-the-art tools, we will diagnose your leak quickly and accurately.
