There’s nothing worse than a blocked drain either outside or inside your home. The culprits can vary, from fatty deposits to tree roots. However, if your home’s drains are clogged, a likely cause could be hair. We’ve attended many an emergency drain appointment to discover this is the issue. It can lead to problems like slow-draining baths, unpleasant smells and even complete clogs where the water won’t drain at all.
Need help removing hair from your drains? Here’s everything you need to know.
What does hair do to shower drains?
Hair is often behind domestic drain blockages, causing significant issues. When hair accumulates down drains, it’s usually mixed with soap scum, oils and other products, which is why it forms such stubborn clogs.
Hair acts like a net, catching and holding onto all the different particles flowing down the drain after you shower or bath. This restricts the water flow, which is why you may see slow drainage or complete blockages.
How do you know if your drains are blocked by hair?
One sign indicating your drains have a hair blockage is slow drainage. So, if shower water is pooling around your feet as you wash or the water is taking a long time to go down the plughole, hair clogs are a likely culprit.
Foul odours can occur if there’s mould or bacteria growth in the decomposing debris stuck in the clogged hair. You may also hear gurgling noises from the drain if the hair is partially blocking the drain.
Can you remove hair blockages from drains?
You can remove hair blockages from drains using various tools and methods. However, it’s often best to ask a professional to take a look if you think there’s a serious issue with your drainage systems.
Some people like to manually remove the hair if it’s visible using a special hair removal tool designed for this purpose. Other solutions include chemical drain cleaners, but these can be hazardous and could damage drain pipes if used too frequently. If the clogs are tougher than average, a drain expert can help.
Can you prevent hair from getting stuck down drains?
Preventing hair from getting stuck down the drain is easier than dealing with clogs. Preventive measures include installing drain covers or filters in your shower and sinks to catch hair so it doesn’t go down your drains anymore. You should never dispose of hair in the shower after shaving if you’ve used another container.
Regularly cleaning your drains will prevent buildups, and many households ask for an annual drain survey to check everything is working as it should. Businesses like hotels and Airbnbs may request these tests more often.
Need an emergency drain check? Call our team
Whether it’s a drain blocked with hair or overflowing external drains, call our team for an assessment. We can quickly find the cause of your drain blockage and offer solutions.
The Drain Survey Company operates across Essex and London, including Kensington and Loughton. For a free quote, call now on 020 4538 4399.
