Top 10 Causes of Clogged Drains in Orange County Homes

If you’ve ever stood ankle-deep in a “shower-turned-bathtub,” or watched your kitchen sink burp up last night’s pasta water, you already know how annoying clogged drains are. They’re messy, smelly, and sometimes downright expensive to fix.

In Orange County, where older homes come in close contact with heavy water minerals and root-filled soil, drain clogs are one of the most common reasons we get called out. So what’s backing up your pipes?

Let’s break down the top 10 culprits and what you can do to avoid them.

1. Hair (Especially in Showers & Bathroom Sinks)

We all know this one already. Hair is public enemy number one for bathroom drains. When mixed with soap and shampoo residue, it mats together into slimy, spaghetti-like clumps that cling to pipe walls and continue collecting gunk over time.

What to do:

• Install mesh drain catchers in showers and sinks. Clean them out once a week. 
• If hair’s already causing slow drainage, avoid yanking it out with a coat hanger. Opt for a drain snake or call your plumber.

2. Grease & Cooking Oil

Here’s the thing about grease: it doesn’t stay liquid. Pouring it down your kitchen sink might seem harmless while it’s hot, but it will solidify once it cools and stick to the inside of pipes like artery-clogging cholesterol. Adding layers of oil and grease over time will narrow your drain until nothing can get through.

What to do:

• Let grease cool in a can or jar, then toss it in the trash. 
• Wipe down greasy pans before rinsing. 
• Avoid putting fatty foods down the disposal.

3. Soap Scum & Body Wash Residue

Got hard water? Orange County sure does. That means all those minerals mix with soap to form a sticky, grayish sludge called soap scum. It clings to everything, narrowing your pipes inch by inch.

What to do:

• Consider switching to soap- and oil-free cleansers. 
• Avoid products with exfoliating beads, which don’t dissolve and can also build up in your pipes. 
• Install a whole-home water softener.
• For soap scum buildup already in the pipes, we can clear it out without harsh chemicals.

4. Food Scraps & Coffee Grounds

Your disposal can handle a lot, but it’s not invincible. Food items like rice, pasta, coffee grounds, and eggshells tend to expand, clump, or coat pipes in ways that lead to serious blockages.

What to do:

• Scrape plates into the trash or compost. 
• Run cold water before, during, and after using the disposal. 
• Avoid letting food scraps sit in the drain overnight.

5. Tree Roots

This one is a biggie in older Orange County neighborhoods where mature trees line the sidewalks. Roots are naturally drawn to moisture. One small crack in your sewer line is all it takes for them to sneak in, grow, and completely block your drain flow.

What to do:

Warning signs include frequent backups, slow drains across multiple fixtures, or gurgling sounds in the toilet. If you suspect roots, we can do a camera inspection and clear the line with hydro-jetting or trenchless repair.

6. Mineral Scale from Hard Water

Even when hard water isn’t mixing with soap to form soap scum, it’s still loaded with minerals that love to coat pipes and reduce flow. Over time, hard water can build layers of calcium and magnesium deposits called “scale,” which behave like slow-growing clogs.

What to do:

• A water softener helps. So do annual descaling treatments. 
• If you’ve never had your pipes checked for buildup, we’re happy to give them a good look with one of our video camera inspections.

7. Wipes & “Flushable” Products

We hate to break it to you, but “flushable” wipes aren’t really flushable. They don’t break down like toilet paper, and they tend to get stuck in bends or join forces with grease to form epic pipe clogs.

What to do:

Stick to toilet paper. Everything else (wipes, paper towels, cotton rounds, etc.) goes in the trash. This one change could save you thousands in repair costs.

8. Cotton Balls, Dental Floss & Personal Care Products

Small items that seem harmless can still do plenty of damage. Cotton balls swell and stick. Dental floss wraps around debris like a drain lasso. Feminine hygiene products? Nope. These items were never made to be flushed.

What to do:

• Keep a small wastebasket in the bathroom. 
• Remind family members and guests to avoid flushing anything that isn’t toilet paper.

9. Toys & “Oops” Items

You’d be surprised how many action figures and LEGOs we’ve rescued from drains. Kids love flushing things to “see what happens,” and sometimes items just slip and disappear before you can grab them.

What to do:

• Use toilet locks if you’ve got toddlers. 
• Catcher-style drain covers in the tub can prevent small objects from going down the wrong hole.

10. Pipe Sagging or Misalignment

This one’s invisible until you have a recurring issue. Over time, soil beneath your home can shift or settle (especially after irrigation or heavy rains). This causes pipes to dip or misalign underground, creating low spots where waste accumulates and refuses to move.

What to do:

You can’t spot this on your own, but we can. If clogs keep returning despite drain cleaning, a camera inspection might reveal what gravity is hiding.

The Orange County Homeowner’s Drain Care Checklist

Local climate, aging infrastructure, and water hardness all contribute to clogged drains. Many homes in Anaheim, Santa Ana, and surrounding areas still use clay or cast iron pipes, which are more prone to cracking and root invasion. Combined with hard water and mature tree roots, this makes for frequent clogs, especially in homes over 30 years old.

Remember these routine tasks to avoid becoming the next clog casualty:

Monthly	Quarterly	Annually
Clear shower hair catchers	Use an enzyme drain treatment like BioOne	Schedule a camera inspection
Run hot water for 30 seconds in all drains	Clean your disposal with citrus and ice cubes	Have a professional hydro-jet your main line if needed

When It’s Time to Call Barker & Sons

We’ve been clearing drains across Orange County for years, and we’ve seen everything from action figures to full-on root walls. Whether it’s a simple fix or something lurking deep in your sewer line, Barker & Sons has the tools, the team, and the tech to get things moving again.

Schedule a drain inspection today to take the guesswork out of your plumbing. And don’t forget to check out our Ultimate Drain Cleaning Guide for even more tips on keeping your drains healthy year-round.

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