Hair-clogged drains are homeowners' most common plumbing issues. They can be frustrating since they hinder the sink's ability to drain normally and costs homeowners a lot of money in possible damages. 

Hair entering the drain may not always make a smooth way through the pipes. Minor existing deposits or trapped items may collect hair and eventually clog anything, including your bathroom sink's p-trap and the significant plumbing connection deep inside your walls. 

This article will discuss how hair clogs your drain and its effectiveness, what happens when they go down the drain, and how you can prevent excess hair in your pipes. 

How Hair Clogs Your Drains

Before we discuss what happens when hair enters the drain, we must examine why they clog our drains. 

Hair in drains is typical in American homes. It can be tricky to prevent dropping hair down the drain, especially if you have long and brittle hair or you're experiencing hair loss. Daily habits such as showering and grooming create clumps waiting to knot up your sink's p-traps.  

3 Reasons Hair Strands Are Good at Clogging Your Drains

There are several reasons hair strands often clog drains.

For one, hair is one of the most robust materials. While one strand may be weaker, thousands of hair strands tangled together can make a firm plug.

Another would be you can find hair everywhere. Whether on your head, face, your pet's bath, or other places, hairs can collect and turn into a ball, leading to the development of some nasty clogs. 

Lastly, several people don't consider hair a threat to their pipes because it can take years for clogs to develop from a nasty hairball. However, neglecting hair in sinks can eventually cost you lots of money in plumbing repairs.

What Happens When Hair Enters Your Drain?

Some people may not know what happens when it enters their drain. It might surprise you if you think your hair strands slip and slide through your pipes.

Soaps, oily body deposits, and other sources create a sticky surface in your pipes. This surface will continue to trap other oily deposits and solid items like hair. All types of hair, including pet hair, can get trapped in these drain deposits. And you may not know these deposits exist until they damage your pipes. 

Your hair falls from your head, body, or clothes, or you may push it into the sink while cleaning. If hair falls into the sink, it will travel through a P-trap, the most common pipe for kitchen and bathroom sinks. On the other hand, it will pass through a straight line if it falls down a toilet hole or tub drain. 

The hair will later move into a more extensive series of pipes designed and arranged for downward water projection through your home. 

Finally, all drain pipes lead to the lateral line. The lateral line will continue to push the hair away from your home and across your yard until it reaches the municipal sewer line. 

2 Ways to Prevent Hair-Clogged Drains

Hair-clogged drains can hinder your sink's ability to function correctly and may entail costly repairs—fortunately, this section discusses two ways to prevent hair-clogged drains. 

1. Change Your Cleaning Habits

Your hygiene and cleaning habits can force pesky hairs down your drains. Watch for hair near or inside your sink, shower, or toilet. Regularly remove hair from these areas and throw them in the trash. Never flush them down the toilet or drain. 

You must also brush your hair before taking a bath or shower. At the same time, wash your hair gently or wear a hair net when not washing your hair if you notice a lot of falling hair in the shower.

2. Upgrade Your Fixtures and Pipes

Low-quality fixtures, pipes, and accessories sometimes can't effectively prevent hair build-ups. Consider the following upgrades and accessories if you shed a lot of hair. 

Hair Catching Drain covers catch hair before it enters the drain. Several removable drain covers are affordable and available at most supermarkets and hardware stores. Use the right tools and call for professional assistance when installing permanent hair catchers. 

Salons and homes widely use PVC P Traps to catch hair for quick collection and disposal.

Clearing the Way

While one strand may be harmless, thousands of hair strands can eventually damage your plumbing system. Changing your cleaning habits, pipes, and fixtures can help prevent expensive mistakes. 

The Shroom Company offers mushroom drains to catch all hair strands whenever you take a shower. Visit our website and shop now!

More Articles from The Shroom Company

Here's How You Can Get Hair out of Your Clogged Drains

How to Fix Shower Drain Noises Before They Get Worse

Do You Shave? Here's How to Keep Your Sink Unclogged

Hair Catchers: All You Need to Know About Them

 

Disclosure: Links in this article are affiliate links to Amazon products. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.