Photo By Jaromir Chalabala at Shutterstock

Clogged drains and blocked pipes almost always start as a minor issue that escalates into significant problems as things like hair, coffee grounds, dust, and food gets caught along with the initial clogging agents. Once clogged, the pipe will start draining very slowly, followed by an accumulation of corrosion, flooding, and, in extreme cases, sewage backup resulting in expensive repairs. Preventing clogs means avoiding doing all of the things that cause such an annoyingly common and costly problem.

We all know that nothing but water, toilet paper, and human waste should go down the toilet, drain, or sink; yet, we clean up clogs from all kinds of other sources. Here are eight of the most common objects and substances starting the next clog in your pipes right now. If you haven't had a professional drain cleaning service in five years, it's time to call your local plumber for a preventative drain cleaning service. Hair from humans and pets is a big culprit for drain blockages, mainly when it binds with grease and other sticky liquid substances to form big fuzzy clogs. Hair blockages are one of the most preventable clogs because all you need are some drain guards at the bottom of showers and tubs to catch hair before they head down the sink. Soap fat combines with minerals in water and leaves a hard residue, usually called soap scum, that stains bath fittings and clogs pipes. Dirt clogs happen when homeowners do their indoor gardening at the sink or when they empty and wash vacuum parts, dusty rags, and other cleaning tools under the tap.

You may think your drain and pipes are there for cleaning anything away, but the build-up will eventually cause issues in your pipes. Food waste shouldn't be going down the drain, including grease or oil as they will solidify in the pipes and cause a blockage. Instead, absorb oil on a paper towel, pour liquified solid fats into a container after cooking until it re-solidifies, and throw both types of clog-forming fat into the compost. Mineral buildup clogs are a challenge to bust through because they first need to be dissolved. These clogs appear in areas with high levels of minerals dissolved into the water supply, causing something called "hard water." If your neighborhood is prone to hard water, regularly descaling and de-sedimenting water is a necessity. Small objects seem to find their way into a home's plumbing in the oddest ways; they also cause the most havoc to the system. Objects beyond human waste and toilet paper should be disposed of responsibly in the trash. In North America, we're lucky to have heavy-duty toilets that will flush a lot of different things with ease, but honing the habit of flushing as little matter as possible will help during foreign travels and when staying in off-the-grid places. Toilet paper in excess can clog your drains and stop your toilets from flushing; however, because toilet paper dissolves and shifts, some toilet paper clogs can be solved with a simple plunger. If not, you’ll need to call a plumber to take care of the blockage for you. Tree roots can grow into the plumbing of your home due to leaks in your underground pipes—the water supply attracts the roots to grow there.

5 Reasons to Use Preventative Measures to Avoid Paying for a Drain Cleaning Service:

1) Clean drains flood less. One of the most frustrating long-term problems caused by dirty, clogged drains is flooding. Plumbing system floods occur when wastewater seeps back up through the pipe or if the clog is buried in the system, even into other fixtures in your home. Seriously clogged drains will become noticeably more problematic during a Texas storm when the main sewer may be overwhelmed by storm water.

2) Clean drains cause less damage to the house and foundation. Stagnant water sitting in pipes will damage your home, contributing to water damage on your walls, floors, and sagging ceilings. Your Sugar Land, TX plumbing, wants water passing through it, not standing still in it.

3) Clean drains don't produce foul odors. Still and stagnant water can cause a terrible smell, sometimes like rotten eggs, and other times like raw sewage or mold. Standing water breeds bacteria, which, if the weather is right, can lead to the development of foul odors. If you notice a terrible, musty smell coming from your drains and may be behind the walls or on the floors, then it's time to investigate your standing water problem.

4) Clean drains don't harbor disease and allergens. Clogged drains with standing water inside put the health of your home’s residents at risk because of the germs, bugs, and bacteria that can cultivate within, contaminating the water and air. Pollutants like this can cause skin infections, allergic reactions, and asthma attacks.

5) Clean metal pipes corrode less. Did you know that those store-bought cleaners you've come to rely on are highly corrosive and may cause irreversible and irreparable damage to your pipes over time?

You can try them in a pinch; however, if your drains aren’t working correctly, it's time to call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Houston to look at and replace the corroded pipes in your Sugar Land home. Professional Drain Cleaning Services in Sugar Land, TX While a clogged drain is a red flag that indicates the need for drain cleaning, we urge you not to wait for your pipes to become slow and sluggish call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Houston for a professional drain cleaning service. Serious drain cleaning and plumbing in Sugar Land, TX should be left up to the professionals who don't need to use harmful and corrosive liquid drain cleaners. If your pipes are draining slowly, the best way to make sure that they get a thorough cleaning is to schedule a drain cleaning today. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Houston will make sure that you don’t have to worry about the drainage issues outlined above.