Skip to Content
Top

Strange Things That Can Cause Drain Clogs

Drain

In the years we’ve been in business, we’ve unclogged a lot of drains. A lot. That comes with the territory of being a professional plumber: slow drains and drain clogs are one of the most common plumbing problems in homes.

There are some basic causes of drainpipe obstructions. Hair caught in the p-traps of shower and bathroom sink drains. Accumulated fats, oils, and grease in the kitchen sink drain. Soap scum residue in almost any drain. However, we’ve also seen our share of unusual reasons for drain clogs. Below are some odd reasons you may have a clogged drain or toilet in your house. No matter what it is, the services for your plumbing in Rockville, MD, that will clear out the drain are right here at Mallick Plumbing & Heating. You can reach us 24/7 for emergency service.

Smartphones

Why would a smartphone be jammed in a drain? It’s actually not too difficult. People often complain about smartphones slipping out of their pockets. If you’re looking around your bathroom, the phone in your shirt pocket just might tumble out and down into the toilet. Yes, it happens! Another reason for this is when a young child gets hold of the phone—and decides to see what happens when it gets thrown down the toilet. We can get the toilet clear of this obstruction—although we’re afraid there’s not much we can do to rescue the phone.

Cat litter

This one is a good warning for all those cat lovers out there: never pour cat litter down a toilet to dispose of it. Always put the litter in a bag and take it out to the trash. Cat litter can easily clog up your toilet or even parts of the municipal sewage system. Not only is cat litter heavy—it’s really like pouring actual sand down a drain—it also clumps. The clumping is great for cleaning up cat litter, but it’s absolutely horrible if it’s down in a drain creating obstinate clogs.

Cement

You’re confused about this one, aren’t you? We’re not suggesting you may accidentally pour cement down one of your drains. The cement that could end up blocking one or more of your drains is from poor construction. Old pipes that are no longer in use are often sealed up using cement—and if the job wasn’t done well, the cement may end up in other pipes and block them.

False Teeth

Dentures need to be cleaned and soaked often to prevent bacteria from developing in them. Cleaning them twice a day is often recommended. That means a lot of time spent in the bathroom with the dentures over the sink—and plenty of chances for the dentures to slip from the hand and go down the drains! Call for plumbers to come to the rescue when this happens.

Wedding Rings

We’d just thought we mention wedding rings while we’re here. These may not clog up a drain—but they’re items people definitely want retrieved! If you lose a wedding ring down the sink, don’t use any more water and call for a plumber right away. Most of the time, we can rescue the ring for you.

Unclog that drain—no matter what’s clogging it—with a call to Mallick Plumbing & Heating. The Service Contractor of Choice.

Categories: