1. Don't pour grease down the kitchen sink. Most kitchen sink clogs are due to grease and food particles.  Always allow grease to cool and pour it into an old can or wipe it out with newspaper and throw it in the garbage.  Running hot water while you pour down the grease makes no difference as the grease will still solidify once it hits the cold pipe.  More grease and food particles will then get "caught" on it forming a blockage.  Grease and food particles may also cause terrible smells and encourage bacterial growth and even drain flies.
   
   
2. Use a mesh drain screen.  Your kitchen drain basket catches larger particles while the smaller ones slip by.  A mesh screen that sits in the drain will capture those smaller particles that are attempting to escape down your drain.  A stainless steel one will last for years.
   
   
3. Regularly clean the hair out of your drains.  You can prevent clogging by removing the hair from your bathtub and shower drains on a regular basis.  Use tweezers or a wire coat hanger unbent to remove the hair.  We recommend doing this at least once per month.
   
   
4. Clean your bathroom sink pop-up plugs.  You may carefully do it as above if there is hair or you can lift out the pop-ups and rinse them off.
   
   
5. Don't use chemical drain cleaners.  They are caustic and rarely work.  The acid may be able to burn a small hole through the clog by running along the bottom of the pipes but this is only temporary.  If used on kitchen drains they may even back up into your dishwasher.  Chemical drain cleaners damage and shorten the lifespan of your home's piping.  They also harm our water and the environment and are especially dangerous around children and the elderly.
   
   
6. DO use natural drain cleaners.  If you do not already have a blockage, pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain followed by 3 cups of boiling water.  The boiling water changes the composition of the baking soda making it more alkaline.  Used on a regular basis this simple formula may prevent simple clogging.  You can also purchase natural enzyme & bacterial cleaners.  These are very effective in the  prevention of clogs on all types of drains. 
   
   

Other than calling a plumber, the next best way to clear a drain is with a plumber's snake.  It is an invaluable tool that can be used to manually clear a pipe.  A plumber's snake is the single most effective tool for non-toxic drain cleaning.  They're available at most hardware or plumbing stores.  More and more homeowners are purchasing snakes for simple clogs instead of reaching for the chemical drain cleaners.  As with any new tool, just remember to read the instructions carefully before using.

Caring For Your New Toilet

Some simple straightforward suggestions to extend the life of your toilet and keeping it look like new for years to come.

•  Never use your toilet as a ladder.  This may cause damage not only to the toilet, but to the flange that the toilet sits on.  (To learn about the flange and other plumbing in your home, click on the i-House on the bottom right of our Home page.)  Also take care not to put any pressure on the tank by leaning on it as it may loosen the tank to bowl seal or crack the tank.

• Don't store heavy items above the toilet to minimize the risk of them falling and cracking the tank or bowl.  Smaller items falling into the toilet, such as hairbrushes, make-up and hygiene products, can get stuck inside the toilet and cannot be dislodged, which means the toilet would have to be replaced.

• Do use natural cleaning products to keep your toilet looking like new.  Other abrasive and caustic cleaners damage the glazing on the toilet leading to more frequent cleaning and, in many causes, void toilet manufacturer warranties.  Nylon brushes can also damage the glazing.   Worn toilet brushes should be replaced before the metal is exposed causing scratches in the toilet bowl. 
  

• Never pour hot water or liquids into the tank or bowl as it may crack due to the cold water and porcelain.  Mixing different cleaning products together can have the same result and be harmful to your health.

• Don't use your toilet as a garbage can. Toilet paper is designed in size and density to easily break down.  Paper towels, facial tissue and flushable wipes and tampons are more dense and may clog the toilet and even your sewer line.  Just because it says it's flushable doesn't mean it won't clog!

• Waste such as fats, grease, wax and starch can clog the toilet and make water treatment more difficult.  Prescription medications are actually hazardous waste and municipal sewage treatment plants are not engineered for pharmaceutical removal.  Most pass through the system and are released into our lakes and rivers or end up in the treated wastewater ready to be sent back to our homes.  They also harm the beneficial bacteria needed to break down waste in septic systems.

• Any components inside the tank should be replaced with exact brand name parts to keep your toilet operating at peak efficiency.  For example, if a brand name manufacturer's flapper is replaced with a universal flapper, you could actually be using up to three times more water with every flush!