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Preventing Blocked Drains in Your Shower and Basin

Every household will experience its fair share of plumbing issues, and in some cases, blocked drains may occur quite frequently. According to our Toronto master plumber, a minimum of one blocked drain in the bathroom per year is pretty common. It's usually pretty easy to get your drain unblocked in a few minutes, using a basic plunger, but sometimes, a plunger is just not the right man for the job, and you will have to call a City of Toronto licensed plumber.

What Causes Blocked Drains in the Bathroom?

One of the biggest culprits of blocked drains in the bathroom, is hair. When we bath or shower, hair becomes trapped in the sludge inside the pipe walls, or in the p-trap, which is the small, curved section of pipe underneath the sink. With use, the hair starts to accumulate and make it difficult for a plunger to remove the clog.

Soap scum also builds up along the drain walls, causing blockages. We can't stop soap from going down the drain, where it can create acidic by-products that can build up, causing damage to the interior walls of the drainpipe. It can also block your drains.

Many blocked drains can be prevented. You could use a trap to prevent most of the hair and other objects from entering your drain pipes, thus lowering the incidence of tough clogs.

Regularly rinsing your drains with a salt, bicarbonate of soda and vinegar rinse and following this with hot water, will help remove buildup against the drain walls, and this should help avoid blocked drains in future.

Repairing Blocked Drains in the Bathroom

It is important to be extremely careful with chemicals in the bathroom, as you never know how they will react. Here are some steps to follow when unclogging blocked drains in the bathroom.

1. Use a Plunger

A plumber is the easiest way to unclog a blocked drain. Simply hold the opening of the plunger over the drain and push it down a few times to loosen the blockage. You can do it several times until it works, and if it doesn't, you will have to call a Toronto plumber.

2. Use a Drain Snake

A drain snake is inserted into the drain, where it physically loosens the blockage. This is a good option for blockages caused by hair or soap scum deep inside the drains.

3. Clean the P-Trap

If your bathroom basin is clogged, cleaning out the trap will be a great start. Empty out the cabinet and get some old towels or rags and an empty bucket. You will need some basic tools to loosen the fitting. Once you have removed the p-trap, clean it out properly, removing all the grime before replacing it.

What to Do If None of These Options Clears Your Blocked Drain?

Sometimes, blocked drains are located deep inside the plumbing system, and none of the above methods will do the trick. You will have to call a Toronto plumber who specializes in home drain cleaning.

The reason why Toronto plumbers can remove stubborn clogs, is that they use specialized equipment, such as hydro jetting and electrically powered drain augers to reach deep inside blocked drains. Home drain cleaning Toronto is a job for the pros!

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Written by Anta

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