A drain will overflow when more water comes through it than it can handle. Here are the top 5 reasons why this can happen and some suggestions of how you can prevent it from happening.
Outline:
- Causes of Drain Overflow
- How to Keep Your Drains from Overflowing
- Professional Plumbers in Waco, Texas
Causes of Drain Overflow
- Hair
Hair seems so harmless until they form clumps and form hairballs that can block your drain. The best way to prevent drain overflow from hair clogging is to be diligent about cleaning your hair out of the sink and shower drains after each use.
Hair tends to get caught in the drain and clog it up, causing the water to back up. To prevent this, make sure you clean your drains regularly with a special brush or plunger, depending on which type of drain you have. Hair care products like conditioners, shampoos, and gels can also leave behind residue in your drain that will harden over time and cause it to clog up. Use only small amounts of these products when washing your hair so they don’t build up in the pipes.
- Food Particles
Food particles like coffee grounds, fats, and oils can clog up your pipes and cause them to overflow. Use hot water when running dishes through your garbage disposal so that less grease will get stuck on the blades, which could also help reduce overflow issues during future cleanings. Moving forward, be sure to dispose of all food particles in the trash instead of down the sink.
Moreover, you may have noticed that when you wash your dishes, some food particles tend to stick around in the drain and on the sides of your sink. Try using a drain cleaner or enzyme-based cleaner to remove these particles. This will ensure that your pipes are clean and prevent any clogs from forming in the future.
- Grease
Grease can accumulate on kitchen sinks over time due to cooking grease being poured down the sink with other food particles or dishwater that isn’t properly rinsed away before being poured down the sink as well. Grease tends to solidify once cooled off, which causes blockages within your pipes leading up to your main sewer line outside your home. To prevent grease from clogging your pipes, make sure to rinse all food particles from dishes and pots before washing them. Moreover, when disposing of grease and oil is unavoidable, always follow it with warm soapy water. This way, the fats, and oils are emulsified with soap, which makes it easier to break down into smaller particles.
- Improper Drain Installation
Improper drain installation is a common cause of clogged drains. Improper drain installation is a common cause of clogged drains. If a drain is not properly installed, it can lead to clogged drains. In particular, be sure that the P-trap is not too low or too high in relation to the drain pipe. The P-trap is the U-shaped pipe installed under the sink and connects to the drain pipe and waste pipe. If it’s too close to the sewer line, water can leak out and cause problems with your plumbing system. Also, ensure that the trap has been installed correctly; if there are any leaks, they should be fixed immediately. The pipe repair needed to correct this problem is not difficult or expensive. A plumber can easily repair the leak and prevent future problems with your plumbing system.
- Faulty Sink Strainer or Stopper
Sometimes the cause of your drain overflow could be as simple as a faulty sink strainer or stopper. A sink strainer is a small screen that sits at the bottom of your drain, preventing large objects from entering. If this screen becomes clogged with debris, it can cause your sink to overflow and leak onto the countertop or floor. To fix this problem, remove the strainer and clean out any debris that may have accumulated within it.
How to Keep Your Drains from Overflowing
You can take several steps to prevent your drains from overflowing. Here are some of the most practical ways to keep your drains flowing smoothly:
- Check your drain every time you clean the kitchen. If you find that it has become clogged, try to remove as much debris as possible with a plunger or plumber’s snake before plunging again.
- Clean out your garbage disposal regularly with the soapy hot water running through it to prevent grease buildup or other types of food waste from accumulating and clogging up its blades.
- Clean your sink strainer regularly with a brush to remove any debris that may have accumulated within it and prevent clogs from forming. Replace your strainer as soon as you notice that it is damaged, cracked, or worn.
- Check the dishwasher drain hose every time you use it, and make sure that it’s not kinked or bent in any way. If you find that it has become twisted, straighten it out. If the hose has become clogged with food particles or other debris, remove as much of it as possible before running hot water through your dishwasher again.
- Check for leaks around your faucets and pipes every few weeks by looking for water stains on walls or ceilings near them and listening for dripping sounds when they’re not in use.
Professional Plumbers in Waco, Texas
If you are looking for professional plumbers in Waco who can help you with your plumbing problems, call us at Smelscer Plumbing. Our company is licensed, insured, and bonded, and we have been providing professional plumbing services to Waco and the surrounding areas for many years.
We understand the importance of keeping your plumbing system up and running, so we do our utmost best to provide you with excellent service. Using our extensive experience, we ensure that every job is completed above satisfaction—so your plumbing system continues working as smoothly as possible.
Our Waco plumbers are trained and equipped to handle any plumbing problem, including repairs, replacements, and installation of water heaters. We also specialize in slab leak repair and trenchless sewer repair.
We are available 24/7 and can provide you with a free estimate on all our services. If you are looking for experienced plumbers in Waco who can help with your home or commercial property, call us today at 254-749-7955
