Drain clogs are serious business. It’s usually best to summon a professional Birmingham, AL plumber for immediate drain clearing. Clogs never improve on their own, they only get worse.

What Causes Drain Clogs?

Drains get clogged when hair, skin flakes, food particles, detergent, grease, and dirt stick to soap scum. Soap scum develops when fatty soap sticks to minerals in your water and creates goop. This goop collects on the walls of your pipes and obstructs the flow of water. The thicker the goop, the harder it is for water to get through the pipes.

Do Clogged Drains Cause Other Problems?

Clogs can create stagnant water in pipes that emit a nasty smell. Blockages can cause water in other fixtures to backup and bubble out. Stagnant water can seep into your home’s foundation and weaken its structural support. It can stain your walls and floorboards and cause your wood to warp. Stagnant water attracts pests and insects. It creates ideal conditions for the growth of bacteria and other microbes. These microbes then pollute indoor air, trigger allergies, and can make you sick. Stagnant water can even pollute your water supply and cause leaks that damage pipes.

How Can I Prevent a Clogged Drain?

The easiest way to prevent clogs is by keeping drains clean. Ensure that clog-causing agents like grease, hair, and coffee grounds stay out of your drains. You can protect drains from soap scum buildup by flushing a drain clearing agent through your pipes regularly.

At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Birmingham, BioBen® drain clearing formula can prevent most clogs and keep your pipes free of soap scum. BioBen® contains naturally occurring microorganisms. These microorganisms literally eat the goop that’s stuck to the walls of your pipes. BioBen® is safe, inexpensive, and easy to use. It breaks down clogs within minutes. To learn more about BioBen® or to summon help for a clogged drain, visit Benjamin Franklin Plumbing online. You can also call us directly at (205) 351-0706 for help with Birmingham, AL plumbing problems.