Clogged drains can be an inconvenient and expensive problem that needs to be solved immediately to prevent more damage to the home and its plumbing. Regular maintenance will keep your plumbing running efficiently and reduce future plumbing jams; keeping an eye out for signs is also helpful; this guide has plenty of advice about keeping things clear!
The Common Causes Of Clogged Drains
Understanding what causes drains to become clogged is vital if you want them to continue working efficiently. Most often, here are the causes:
1. Hair: Clog-causing hair can quickly form in drains when it mixes with soap residue or dirt particles, creating an obstruction that’s difficult to clear away.
2. Soap Scum: Soap scum can clog pipes and require costly repairs to restore. Although soap may initially appear harmless, its steady accumulation eventually becomes an issue.
3. Grease And Oil: Flushing grease, oil, and fat down the sink drain is often an instant way to create blockages in the kitchen sinks. These substances harden upon flushing through, becoming lodged within drain lines and becoming impassible clogs that prevent you from using your sinks as intended.
4. Food Waste: Even with a working trash disposal system in place, coffee grounds, eggshells and fibrous vegetables may become trapped inside it.
5. Foreign Objects: Foreign objects such as jewelry, toys, or personal care items can find their way into sinks, causing major headaches.
Preventive Measures To Avoid Clogs
Now that we understand why jams form let’s discuss steps we can take to prevent future ones from occurring. A few precautionary measures could help thwart future clogs before they form.
1. Get Rid Of Grease Correctly
To properly dispose of oil, fat, or grease in your sink, allow it to harden on its own before scraping it into a container and disposing of it. Before discarding liquid oils like cooking oil that remains liquid even when cool, place them in an air-tight jar that doesn’t let air in before throwing them away; this step might make it less likely that your kitchen drain becomes clogged again in the future.
2. Employ Hot Water To Clean Drains
To eliminate soap scum, grease, and other gunk that accumulates in your drains, run hot water through them once every week until all gunk has been eliminated. Pour hot water from the faucet down the drain until all the gunk is gone. For even better results, mix baking soda and vinegar, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then flush with more hot water. This natural cleaner gets rid of buildup and makes the pipes look better and healthier.
3. Know What You’re Flushing
Toilets were built to handle human waste and toilet paper alone, so flushable items like wet wipes, sanitary pads, cotton balls, or paper towels shouldn’t cause major problems in the system. Even products labeled flushable might not break down sufficiently in your trash stream – it might be best to dispose of these instead.
4. Keep Drains Clear
By regularly clearing out your drains, they won’t become clogged with debris in the first place. No need for harsh chemical cleaners here – baking soda and vinegar mixtures like the one above work just as effectively, not to mention hand cleaning out debris around sink, shower, and tub drains can help them remain clear!
How To Tell If Your Drains Require Professional Help
From time to time, professional assistance may be required in order to keep drains functioning well and avoid costly damages or repairs. Before calling a plumber, know when and why professional assistance might be necessary – doing this could save both stress and money in repairs down the line. Here are some signs it might be time to consult a specialist:
Slow Draining Water: If water drains more slowly than expected, this could indicate that there is some sort of blockage somewhere along its route. If multiple outlets drain slowly at once, it could point toward a bigger issue.
Repeated Clogs: If a certain drain becomes consistently blocked up, this could indicate there is a larger issue at play. Bad Smells: If your drains give off foul odors frequently, this could indicate that decayed garbage has made its way down and is restricting water flow through them.
Gurgling Sinks: If your sinks gurgle when used for other tasks, this could indicate that there is air trapped within their plumbing lines that needs to be cleared away.
Conclusion
To maintain clean and free-flowing drains, both preventative maintenance and professional assistance may be required. By following these tips and limiting what goes down the drain, most plumbing problems should be prevented and your pipes kept in top shape. However, if drainage issues continue or worsen over time; quickly locate a reliable “plumber service near me“. Regular maintenance will save time, money, and stress over time!