Slow Drains? These May Be The Reasons Why!

Slow drains are a common plumbing issue faced in homes across the country. Whether it’s in the bathroom or the kitchen, it’s an inconvenience that no one really wants to deal with. 

Food, hair, grease, and other things going down the drain oftentimes plug up your pipes and require you to clean and find ways to get your drain back to normal. 

Here are some reasons why you may find slow drains:

Bathroom drains

Hair is the most common culprit related to a slow drain in your bathroom sink, tub or shower. Whether you’re shaving, trimming, combing or washing it, your hair can quickly slow down a drain. The problem only increases for folks with long hair. Your flowing strands wind up in the drain and often become trapped in the pop-up assembly, where they form a sort of net and accumulate all sorts of other debris, leading to a slow or even clogged drain.

Kitchen drains

The most common causes of a slowly draining kitchen sink are food related: grease and other debris get trapped in either the drain basket or the P-trap. The P-trap is the curved section of drainpipe located underneath the kitchen sink. Over time, grease, food particles and sediment can become trapped in the bottom of the P-trap, inhibiting the flow of water. Food can also restrict waterflow by getting stuck in the bottom of the drain basket.

Venting problems

For your home’s drain lines to function properly, they must work in conjunction with the vent stacks placed strategically in the bathroom and kitchen areas around your home. Most often, vent stacks take the form of those pipes protruding through your roof. The vent stacks allow air to be drawn into the drain lines to reduce the vacuum that would otherwise restrict the flow of water passing through them. If a vent stack becomes clogged by sticks, leaves or even birds’ nests the drain line associated with it will slow down significantly.

Sewer line problems

Sewer lines are the main lines that carry sewage and wastewater away from your home. Tree roots, deteriorating or collapsing pipes, and sludge buildup can all lead to slow drains in your household. When your toilet flushes slowly or clogs on a regular basis, it is most likely related to a problem somewhere in your main sewer line.

Slow drains are more than a minor inconvenience. If ignored, they can lead to major sewer problems and costly repairs. Periodic maintenance and inspection by a licensed plumber will help you prevent a complete shutdown of your home’s sewage system.