What causes slow drains? Clogs, water pressure, and pipes

We use drains everyday, whether it be flushing the toilet, washing our hands in the sink, washing dishes, or taking a shower. When we use water in our homes, there is a drain involved because that is where the water exits. Because of our frequent use of drains, issues are bound to occur overtime.

Have you ever brushed your teeth and realized that the water is taking a long time to flow down the drain? Well, slow drains are one of the most common problems associated with frequent use of drains. Slow drains are fairly common, but it can still be really frustrating.

The causes of slow drains are mostly due to simple issues, but it’s a good idea to find out the exact reason by calling a plumber. Here are 3 common reasons for slow draining:

Clogs

Have you ever heard anyone say, “Why are there so many strands of hair in the bathroom sink”? Brushing your hair by the bathroom sink is bound to leave strands of hair behind. But having hair constantly going down your drain can cause problems. Because hair is not dissolvable and bunches together with other small objects that may fall down a drain, it can easily cause clogs.

Clogs cause blockages, which creates a smaller pathway for the water to flow through. Since it’s so easy to have things that should not be flushed or go down the drain, clogs are the most common reason for slow drains.

Water Pressure Issues

Water pressure plays a major part in our daily use of water. Because water is flowing in different directions due to the vastly different uses of our water supply, water supply keeps the flow of water at a balanced rate. But sometimes the water pressure system may have issues. When the water pressure slows down, it would mean that the drains that heavily rely on water pressure would slow down too. 

Slow water pressure may be caused by many different reasons, so it may be difficult to figure out the problem. Problems that lead to low water pressure are usually problems relating to the pipes. 

Pipe Issues

Pipe issues are the main perpetrator of low water pressure. Some problems involving water pipes that cause low water pressure, and therefore slower drains, are rust, leaks and clogging.

Overtime, metal pipes age and one of the most visible signs of aged metal is rusting. Because water is constantly flowing through the pipes, there is bound to be moisture that would speed up the process of rusting in metals. Rusting means buildup in the pipes could lead to clogs, low water pressure, and therefore slow drains. Rusted pipes can also cause leaks.

One of the most troublesome and damaging issues with pipes is when they leak. Water is constantly flowing through the pipes so a leak can rapidly cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Not only would leaking pipes cause a lot of damage to property, but it may also slow water pressure since it is essentially changing the direction of the flow of water.

Clogging is one of the major causes of slow drains since clogging most commonly occurs in the pipes that are connected to the drains. Clogging occurs when small objects such as too much toilet paper, strands of hair, or food get stuck in the pipes. This would lead to a smaller pathway in which the water would be able to travel through the pipe, causing slow drains. Overtime and buildup of more items may even block the passageway altogether, causing no water flow at all. This would mean that plumber assistance would be needed since it’s a severe clog, which would be safer to be dealt with by professional hands.

If you’re looking for a reliable plumber in the Pocono Area, give us a call today!