Most drain clogs are caused by things that should never have gone down the drain in the first place. After years of clearing blockages in Abilene homes, the same culprits show up again and again. Preventing drain clogs is far cheaper than clearing them, and it starts with knowing what your plumbing can and cannot handle. Here is an honest list from a working plumber.
Grease, Oil, and Fat
Cooking grease, oil, and fat are the number one cause of kitchen drain clogs. When you pour hot grease down the drain, it cools as it travels through the pipe and solidifies on the pipe walls. Over time, layer after layer of grease narrows the pipe until it blocks completely. This is true even if you chase it with hot water — the grease still cools and solidifies further down the line. Instead, let grease cool in the pan and scrape it into the trash, or pour it into a disposable container.
Flushable Wipes Are Not Flushable
So-called flushable wipes are the number one cause of sewer line clogs. Despite what the packaging says, these wipes do not break down in water the way toilet paper does. They snag on pipe joints, tree roots, and rough spots in older pipes, creating a blockage that grows as more material accumulates behind it. This applies to all wipes — baby wipes, cleaning wipes, and makeup remover wipes. The only things that should be flushed are human waste and toilet paper.
Coffee Grounds and Eggshells
Coffee grounds seem harmless because they are small, but they accumulate in P-traps and drain pipes to form dense, paste-like blockages that are difficult to clear. Coffee grounds do not dissolve in water — they settle and compact. The same applies to eggshells, which grind into a sand-like consistency in your garbage disposal and mix with grease to form a stubborn clog in your drain line.
Flour, Pasta, and Rice
Flour and starch are deceptive drain cloggers. When flour gets wet, it forms a thick, gluey paste that coats the inside of your pipes. Pasta and rice expand in water even after they are cooked, and they continue to absorb water and swell inside your drain pipes. If you have ever seen a pot of pasta water after it sits overnight, you know how thick and starchy it becomes. That is what happens inside your drain.
Hair and Soap Scum
In the bathroom, hair is the primary clog culprit. A single shower can send dozens of hairs down the drain, where they wrap around the drain cross, P-trap, and any rough spots in the pipe. Combined with soap scum and body oils, hair creates a dense, slimy blockage that slows drainage progressively. Inexpensive drain screens or hair catchers placed over the shower and tub drain catch hair before it enters the pipe and can be cleaned in seconds.
Why Chemical Drain Cleaners Make It Worse
Chemical drain cleaners like Drano and Liquid-Plumr are a temporary fix that causes long-term damage. These products use caustic chemicals that generate heat to dissolve organic clogs, but that same heat and corrosive action damages your pipes — especially older pipes, PVC cement joints, and the rubber seals in your P-trap. Repeated use of chemical drain cleaners can weaken pipes to the point of failure. Professional drain cleaning removes the clog without damaging the pipe.
Hazardous Materials and Chemicals
Paint, solvents, medications, and household chemicals should never go down any drain. These substances contaminate the water supply if you are on a septic system and can damage the wastewater treatment process if you are on city sewer. Many communities in the Big Country have household hazardous waste collection events where you can dispose of these materials properly.
If you are dealing with a slow or clogged drain in your Abilene home, Total Quality Plumbing clears blockages with professional equipment that removes the clog without damaging your pipes. We serve homeowners throughout Abilene, Clyde, Merkel, Tuscola, Sweetwater, and the Big Country. Call (325) 266-4887.