If your plumbing system is prone to clogs, you’ve likely been in the shower and experienced the dreaded shower pond. Showing in a pool of water that cannot drain due to a clog isn’t enjoyable. While many things can cause a drain to clog, one of the biggest culprits is the well-known foe of the household drain – hair. From shampooing and conditioning to morning beauty routines, hair gravitates to sinks and shower drains. Hair doesn’t clog drains instantly; however, over time, hair can lead to serious system issues and blockages. Hair clogs are one of the most common sewer and drain issues faced by technicians. Clogged drains can be extremely frustrating, but prevention is the key to avoiding this situation. You can’t give up showers, so the only other choice is to get your drain unclogged and put safeguards in place to protect your drains from future clogs and buildups.
What are the types of hair that clog your drain the most?
Did you know that different types of hair can clog your drains at different rates? Whether you have long or short hair, you expect it to shed when you’re washing it or styling it near an open drain. While short hair is no friend to sinks and showers, long hair makes larger clogs faster.
Here are some examples of how hair compromises your drains:
- Long Hair: All hair sheds, but long hair is particularly prone to faster clogging. When washing longer hair, you may notice your shed hairs form large clumps. When these larger clumps mix with shampoo and conditioner, they form hairballs and potential clogs. Your hair will inevitably shed while you’re in the shower. You could always pick up clumps after your shower so they can’t make it into your drain, but that’s an easy thing to forget in our busy lives. To avoid long hairs blocking your drain, you have to take action to prevent it from happening.
- Facial Hair: Shaving facial hair over the sink or in the shower can clog your drains, just like long hair. When shaving your facial hair, you typically use thick, lathery shaving cream, which will only hasten hair becoming lodged in your drains.
- Pet Hair: Pet hair is like any other hair; it attaches to the residue from cleaning products and clogs drains. If you wash your pet in your home’s showers, sinks, or tubs, you need to consider how your pet’s hair can cause just as many clogs as human hair.
Three Tips to Minimize Hair Clogs
There are many steps you can take to protect your drains, preventing clogs and saving your household budget from constant drain cleaning services.
- Drain guards and strainers: Installing protection devices over your drains can keep your sewer lines safe from clogs and soap scum.
- Pre-brushing and Detangling: If you brush your hair and detangle it before bathing or showering, you can eliminate a vast amount of the shed hair that leads to clumping clogs. When combing your hair, avoid doing so around the sink or toilet, as hair can still find its way into your drains.
- Create a Pet Wash Station: Pet hair can shed considerably more than human hair, so it’s much harder to avoid getting their hair into your drains. It’s far cheaper for your home plumbing to set up a pet wash station in your garage or somewhere in your home away from your drain.
Contact All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical for Drain Cleaning Services
If you’ve noticed more clogs than normal, hair could be the problem. Hair can easily clog your draining systems, and while you can take many preventive actions to protect it from clogs, once it’s clogged, you’ll need to contact a local drain cleaning professional. The All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical team is standing by, ready to help! Call (909) 500-8193 to schedule an appointment with our drain cleaning specialists.