Enquire Now
Enquire Now
Clogged drains serve to bring about a lot of hassle, creating unsanitary living conditions, slow-draining sinks and showers, and toilets that may not be in use at all. While the minor clogs can be dealt with yourself, the bigger blockages usually call for a professional. It becomes tiresome and costly to keep having to deal with clogs over and over again. Thankfully, you can avoid the frustration, expense, and headache altogether by preventing clogs in the first place. Here are five helpful tips that will help you to keep your drains flowing freely.
Hair ranks highly among sources of clogged drains, specifically in bathroom sinks and showers. Hair accumulates inside the pipes and forms a physical trap for other debris that eventually leads to blockage. Hair catchers or drain grates can be installed in sinks and showers. These devices allow water to pass through while catching hair, which you then can easily remove and dispose of. This may ensure they remain useful for preventing clogs if you clean the hair catchers regularly.
If you or someone in the household trims regularly, one easy source of a clogged sink is facial hair. A practical solution to this problem is beard-trimming mats. These mats are large pieces of cloth that usually have suction cups on them, attaching to your mirror and hanging over the sink and countertop. While you’re trimming your beard, it catches the loose hair from falling into the sink and drain. After you’re done cutting, you collect the mat and dispose of the hair, leaving your sink area cleaner and less prone to blockage.
To further reduce hair buildup, get into the habit of brushing your hair before showering: it removes the loose strands that can fall into the drain. This simple action goes a long way in reducing the amount of strands going into your pipes. Bathe your pets, such as dogs, using the same technique to avoid hair-causing clogs in your drain.
Bathroom drains are not the only ones prone to clogs; these also happen in your kitchen sink. Food remains, grease, and oil are the worst things that can cause serious clogs in your kitchen plumbing. Never pour huge pieces of food into your sink, but instead throw these scraps of food into the trash or, in case you have a garbage disposal, then that is the better way of disposing of food. Be most cautious with cooking oils and fats, as those can combine with bits of food and build up, causing blockages. Running hot water down the drain after doing dishes can help to clear these residual leftovers and keep the interior of your pipes much cleaner.
Your toilet is designed to handle only human waste and toilet paper, which means that anything else flushed down the toilet could cause a serious blockage. Examples of these include pet waste, diapers, wet wipes, sanitary products, and paper towels. These kinds of items do not degrade well and can block your pipe with ease, which may result in a possible backup and costly repair. It is important that you let all people in your household know what should and shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet to avoid an incident that can lead to a plumbing concern.
You can use a store-bought product to clean your drains if you have slight clogs. More serious or persistent blockage means there is something like an infiltrating tree root or sewer line issue that requires professional help. This would certainly lead you toward the exact solution after the inspection so that you continue to have clean and smooth-running plumbing.
If the water in your drain runs out slowly, this may be a partial clog. You can remove the blockage with a plunger or use a draining cleaner to break down whatever clogs it up. Running hot water through the drain is also effective at removing minor blockages. In such a situation, when the block is not removed by the tips above, it might imply that something big is up, and serious intervention is needed.
While chemical cleaners do clear minor blockages, they are very rough on your pipes and can eventually destroy them. Plus, such chemicals are not friendly to the environment. For serious blockage or recurring blockage, use a plumber’s snake, or if necessary, contact a professional plumber for a safer and complete solution.
Drain catchers need to be cleaned frequently enough so they will serve their purpose. You at least want to look into cleaning them once a week or as often as when you notice that there is a lot of build-up. These are going to keep hair and other particles from going into your pipes, hence clogging them.
If you have a serious blockage in your sewer line, such as persistent back-up or slow drainage in the house, call in a professional plumber right away. They will do an in-depth inspection, usually with video cameras, that pinpoints any problem with blockages and suggests effective solutions.
These roots can infiltrate the sewer lines and create serious blockages. For that reason, avoid planting trees or large shrubs near your sewer lines. Also, through regular inspection and maintenance of your sewer system, you can spot any early warning signs that your sewer pipes might be in danger of being invaded by tree roots. If you have root problems at present, a plumber might be able to use some process as rooter service or chemical treatments to eradicate the problem.
These tips and taking an active interest in keeping up with drain maintenance can go a long way to prevent clogs and keep the system flowing as it is supposed to. Major or persistent problems are best left to the experienced professional who will be able to fix the problem to avoid further complications and ensure the system will last.