How to Care for Your Drains
Next to a leak, a clogged drain is the most common plumbing problem a homeowner faces. Most clogged drains can actually be avoided by following these simple steps:
- 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.We often hear, “I never pour grease down my sink, so why do I have this problem?” That’s because soap is made from lye and vegetable oils or animal fats… in other words, grease.
- 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.
- Regularly clean the hair out of your drains. You may prevent clogging by removing the hair from your bathtub and shower drains on a regular basis. Although most hair gets washed away, some hair gets stuck on the soap scum in the drain, eventually causing a blockage. Use tweezers or a wire coat hanger unbent to remove the hair. We recommend doing this at least once per month. And don’t forget to clean your bathroom sink pop-up plugs. Toothpaste and soap also builds up here.
- 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 only temporarily restores partial flow. If used on kitchen drains, these chemicals may even back up into your dishwasher. Chemical drain cleaners damage and shorten the lifespan of your home’s piping as they are corrosive. They also harm our water and the environment and are especially dangerous around children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.
- DO use natural drain cleaners. A plumber’s snake is an invaluable tool and can be purchased at most hardware stores. We also strongly recommend using natural enzyme & bacterial cleaners as part of a monthly maintenance program. These are very effective in preventing clogs on all types of drains as they break down all organic waste like grease, food particles, soap scum and hair. (For more information on natural drain cleaners, please check Bio-Clean, BioOne and Maximizer DT Pro on our website.)
For 5 warning signs that indicate you may already have a potential severe drain problem, click here .
For Expert Plumbing Service Please Call Plumb Perfect Ltd. 1.888.458.1979