While it may seem easy to flush anything down the kitchen or bathroom drain, you may be setting yourself up for a plumbing mishap. Different foods items and debris can cause serious clogs, according to the staff at A-1 Budget Plumbing in Kailua, HI. In many cases, they can lead to pipe damage and emergencies that require a plumber. Below, you’ll find three common items that cause clogs.

3 Common Causes of Clogged Drains

1. Grease

When you flush it down the drain, cooking grease will coat the inner walls of your pipes. After enough builds up, the passage becomes so tight that debris can’t get through. Your pipes will eventually become clogged, and possibly burst, requiring emergency repair services from a plumber.

2. Pasta & Rice

Both strings of pasta and rice grains travel easily down drains, and though they seem harmless, they’ll quickly become a plumbing issue. When they come in contact with water, they begin to expand. This makes it easy for them to become trapped with other clogged material and expand existing blockages. To prevent this, use a drain filter when washing dishes.

3. Flour

It’s easy to assume powder materials will flush easily with water. Flour can be especially difficult to clean up, which is why it’s tempting to just flush it down the drain. However, once inside the pipes, it will coagulate and then harden, creating a complicated block. This will eventually catch other materials and expand the depth of the clog.

If you’re dealing with plumbing issues on Oahu, turn to a plumber at A-1 Budget Plumbing. They offer a variety of services, ranging from drain cleaning to leak detection, and are proud to offer clients 24-hour plumbing services. Call (808) 526-3747 today to schedule an appointment and visit their website and Facebook to learn more.