Clogged drains consistently rank among the top reasons why homeowners call plumbers. Whether they’re rank-smelling and slow-moving or completely obstructed, clogged drains can derail daily activities and add moisture to the air. Fortunately, there are several easy ways to keep your drains from clogging. Learn how to prevent drain blockages before they occur.
Properly Dispose of Grease, Oils, and Rendered Fats
Never put grease, oils, or fats down your drains. Grease and oils that are high in saturated fat can harden and solidify as they cool. When they do, they’ll leave thick buildups on drain pipe walls that decrease their interior diameter and inhibit the flow of wastewater.
To keep your drain pipes clean and your wastewater moving quickly, let hot cooking oils cool before placing them in sealed containers and depositing them in the trash. For best results, wipe greasy and oily dishes clean with a paper towel before putting them in your sink. Even small, residual amounts of rendered fats, grease, and oils can cause drain problems over time.
Use Your Garbage Disposal Wisely
Despite their name, garbage disposals aren’t meant to process all kitchen waste. There are many things that should never go down them, including coffee grounds, eggshells, nuts, fruit and vegetable peels, and starches. Rather than using this appliance as a catch-all, put most of your food waste in a compost bin or toss it in the trash. Doing so will prevent problems with broken or jammed impeller blades, garbage disposal clogs, and major drain blockages.
Periodically Freshen Your Drains
Periodically, freshen your drains by adding equal parts white vinegar and baking soda to them. When these simple pantry ingredients come in contact, they initiate a gentle, foaming reaction that breaks down light debris. You can follow this application with warm water to flush out loosened waste.
Schedule Routine Drain Cleaning
Freshening your drains isn’t the same as cleaning them. The best way to stave off drain clogs is by having a licensed plumber clean your drains at least once each year. Treatments like mechanized drain snaking, hydro-jetting, and hydro-steaming break down tough, trapped debris and flush it toward sewer lines. In addition to preventing clogs, annual drain cleaning can also stave off annoying drain gnat infestations and unpleasant drain odors.
Maintain Your Sewer Line, Too
All your drain pipes converge onto your sewer line. If your sewer line develops a blockage, every drain in your home could move slowly or stop moving altogether. To catch problems early on and break down developing sewer line blockages, schedule sewer inspection and cleaning service every 18 to 22 months or sooner.
Avoid DIY Drain Repairs
If you have a slow-moving drain and don’t know why, call a plumber. Using a plunger or drain snake to clear a slow-moving drain could compound the problem. Without knowing the underlying issue, using these tools can force solid obstructions deeper into pipes.
Drain blockages are common but avoidable. With regular drain and sewer line cleaning, you can keep your drain pipes wide open and wastewater moving swiftly. If you live in San Diego, CA or a surrounding area and need drain cleaning services, make your first call to Mauzy.