Slow moving bathroom drains are a common plumbing complaint, and can usually be attributed to clogs or build-up. Usually the culprit is that funny-shaped pipe below your sink. Almost all sinks have a U-shaped pipe which, to a layman, may seem counter-productive to draining. In your bathroom sink, hair, toothpaste and other items can get trapped in this U bend, causing the slow draining of the sink. So if this is such a common problem, why is this U bend even put in pipes in the first place?
Why You Have A “U” In Your Pipes
There is a simple and solid reason that your bathroom sink has a U bend. The bend is designed to allow water from your sink to collect in the U shape, creating a seal between the drain opening and the below sewer pipes. Essentially what this does is keep the gases from the sewer lines below from rising up through your pipes and filling your bathroom. While it can contribute to clogged drains, it is the best way to keep the smell of the sewer water from entering your home.
The best solution is to be very careful about what is put down your bathroom sink. Wipe out hair, beard trimmings and excess hygiene products such as toothpaste and hair gel that land in your sink instead of just washing them down the drain. This will reduce the amount of debris that can get caught in that U bend and cam limit the number of clogs you will get in the future.
To get your bathroom drain flowing again, call your plumber to remove the clog and clean out the U bend in your bathroom plumbing. Once clear, regulate what is allowed to go down your bathroom drain to keep your U bend clean and functioning as it should.
Posted on behalf of Citywide Plumbing
