What clogs drain the most?

Author: Prof. Maximillia Williamson Sr.  |  Last update: Sunday, September 21, 2025

Hair and animal fur are often to blame for a drain blockage, especially in bathroom and laundry drains. Hair can knot up and attach to parts of the drain pipes by joining other substances such as soap and grease. Use drain guards in sinks and showers to catch hair from slipping down the drain, cleaning them often.

What clogs pipes the most?

Most of these items may seem harmless, but over time they may be damaging to your piping.
  • Hair. Hair is one of the most common causes of clogs. ...
  • Eggshells. Eggshells seem harmless, but they can back up your pipes. ...
  • Potato Peels. ...
  • Soap Scum. ...
  • Grease. ...
  • Hygiene Products. ...
  • Coffee Grounds. ...
  • “Flushable” Wipes.

What is the most common cause of a clogged drain?

Here's the top ten causes of blocked drains and how to fix them:
  • Grease, fat, and oil. One of the most common causes of blocked drains in the kitchen is grease, fat, and oil. ...
  • Soap scum. ...
  • Tree roots. ...
  • Coffee grounds. ...
  • Hair. ...
  • Sanitary products. ...
  • Food waste. ...
  • Toys.

What clogs shower drains the most?

It might not come as a surprise that the most common cause of clogs in the shower is hair. Hair can get stuck in the drain hole and form a ball that prevents water from draining through the pipes. One way to prevent clogs is to use a strainer or cover over the drain to catch hair before it goes down the drain.

What area of a drainage system is most prone to clogging?

Sewage Lines & Sewer System

Another place where clogs occur is the sewer line sewer drain system. Your local government may or may not be liable, depending on where the clog is located. Most clogged sewer pipes and septic tanks are caused by tree roots invading the system.

Which Drain Opener is the Best? Let's Find Out!

What blocks main drains?

In this article
  • Ten Common Causes of Blocked Drains: Leaves and outdoor debris. Hair. Poor Drain Installation. Soap. Oil, Grease and Fat. Food Remnants. Tree Roots Damaging Drains. Wet Wipes. Toiletries. Coffee Grounds.
  • Learn How to Clear Blocked Drains In Six Simple Steps By Checking Out Our Quick Guide.

How to find out where a drain is clogged?

You can drain the pipe, fill the partially blocked pipe with hot water, and use your forearm to feel the pipe. Alternatively, instead of using your forearm, you can opt for other tools like an infrared camera or a temperature gun if you're in a position to get one.

Where do most drain clogs occur?

Drain and Toilet Clogs
  • In the kitchen, the most common drain clogs are caused by grease buildup in the sink. ...
  • Toilets clogs can occur when products other than waste and toilet paper are flushed down the toilet. ...
  • Shower drains also clog from hair that sheds in the shower or bath.

What eats hair out of shower drain?

Another option for dissolving hair in a drain is to use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. This mixture will create a chemical reaction that will break down the hair. Mix equal parts baking soda and vinegar and pour it down the drain to use this method.

Can Drano make shower clogs worse?

It's also possible for drain cleaners to end up making a clog worse. This can happen for a few reasons: First, the chemicals in drain cleaners can corrode pipes and cause damage over time. This can lead to leaks or even bursting, which can make a clog worse by creating additional blockages.

How do you permanently unclog a drain?

All you have to do is pour 1 cup or baking soda down your drain and then follow it with 1 cup of vinegar. After your mixture is in the drain, seal the top of the drain and wait for about an hour so your concoction can start breaking down any clogs. After about an hour, rinse your drain a few times with boiling water.

How do I know if my main line is clogged?

Strange Smells and Noises

Foul smells emanating from your sink, bathtub or floor drain indicate a main sewer line blockage. The clog leaves nowhere else for the waste causing the smell to go, leaving a lingering odor. In addition to strange smells, you might also notice a gurgling noise coming from your drains.

What is the best thing to unblock a drain?

Try pouring hot water down the drain, then follow it with one cup of bicarbonate of soda and a cup of vinegar. Leave it for ten minutes, then chase it with more hot water. A combination of the hot water and the natural cleaner mixture can break blockages up.

What is the number one cause of clogged drains?

One of the most common causes of clogged drains is actually caused by the minerals in the water. Hard water is full of minerals that build up and easily prevent drainage in your pipes. The best solution is to have a water softener installed in your home.

How do plumbers unblock pipes?

A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber's snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it's physically pushed through a stubborn clog. The terminal end of the device is a corkscrew-shaped hook that is fed into a clogged drain or toilet.

Does body hair clog drain?

What Shaving in the Shower Does to Your Drains. Hair may seem harmless. However, hair is unfortunately an excellent clog-causing substance in a wide range of plumbing systems. It is insoluble in water, and even powerful drain cleaners cannot dissolve it.

Why should you never use baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain?

The fizzing reaction and gas created may help loosen some small blockages. However, it is not typically strong enough to break down larger clogs or remove hard-to-reach debris. As a result of the above facts, if you have a serious drain clog, using baking soda and vinegar is unlikely to be effective.

What pulls hair out of drain?

For best results, start by squirting a little dish soap into your drain, followed by a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda. Wait five minutes or so, for the chemical reaction of the vinegar and baking soda to take effect, then chase that with a cup or more of boiling water.

What chemical will dissolve hair?

Baking Soda And Vinegar Is A Potent Mixture That Dissolves Hair.

What clogs sink the most?

Hair clogs are one of the most frequent culprits behind clogged shower and sink drains. Hair strands can easily accumulate in the pipes, forming tangled masses that block the flow of water. Over time, these clogs can become more stubborn as they trap soap scum and other debris.

What usually clogs shower drains?

Lots of hair, lint, soap, and dirt have built up in your drain and need a way out. Sometimes the clog can be caused by a build-up of minerals from your water, or tree roots growing through your underground pipes.

What is the most common cause of blocked drains?

Clogged pipes are a common household problem and there are actually several culprits that may be to blame. If your sewer pipe keeps getting blocked, the main causes include food waste, soap residue and hair. Pipes become blocked when materials get stuck in the drain and stop water from flowing through the system.

Why does my shower back up when I flush my toilet?

If water from the toilet begins backing up into your shower or tub, it's because something is blocking the main sewer line. The waste has no choice but to find the closest drain to escape, in this case, your shower.

How do you know if your main drain line is clogged?

Watch Out for These Four Signs of a Clogged Sewer Line?
  1. All Your Drains Reek. It's not uncommon to have a single drain that emits a foul odor. ...
  2. Your Drains Are Blocked or Slow-Moving. ...
  3. You Hear Loud Gurgling Sounds Coming From Your Pipes Throughout Your Home. ...
  4. You Have an Unnaturally Lush Landscape or a Smelly, Sunken Lawn.

How do I find out where my drains are?

You generally have two options when it comes to finding the drainage system beneath your property. You can reach out to your local council and ask them to send you your drainage plan. The other option is to contact your local drainage experts and ask them to map your drains.

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