Do you know how to take proper care of your drains? Learn some simple ways to prevent stubborn blockages from forming, as well as what to do if your drain gets clogged.
Tips to Keep Your Drains Clean
Don’t Pour Oils & Fats Down the Drain
As tempting as it might be to simply pour oils and fats down the drain after cooking, don’t. While cooking oil and fats might seem like harmless liquids when you’re cleaning up after cooking a meal, they can do major damage to your drain. This is because oils and fats solidify as they cool, so once they are in your pipes, they will become solids that can cause nasty clogs in your plumbing system. Instead of pouring oils and fats down the drain, pour them into a can or jar and then toss the entire container in the garbage.
Be Mindful of What You Flush
When it comes to your toilet drain, you should only be flushing toilet paper and bodily waste. Yes, there are plenty of products that advertise themselves as “flushable,” from kitty litter to makeup wipes. However, even so-called “flushable” products can take a long time to break down, and easily clog up your pipes in the meantime.
Use a Drain Strainer
Drain strainers are simple, affordable, and effective ways to prevent your drains from clogging. Keep a drain strainer in your shower to prevent hair and small bits of soap from going down the drain, and keep another one in your kitchen sink to catch any food bits that would otherwise wash down the drain and cause blockages.
What to Do When You Have a Clog
Avoid Liquid Drain Cleaners
While your instinct may be to reach for a bottle of liquid drain cleaner, this is actually not recommended. Store-bought drain cleaning liquid contains corrosive chemicals that eat through clogs to get your drain flowing again, but unfortunately those chemicals eat away at your pipes too and can corrode them over time–resulting in leaks and other problems down the road.
Reach for Your Plunger
Instead of pouring corrosive chemicals down your drain, reach for your plunger when you encounter a clog. Place the plunger over the drain so that it creates a tight seal, then pump up and down vigorously for about 30 seconds. Repeat a few times. This should cause the clog to loosen and get your drain moving again. If it doesn’t, it may be time to call in the experts to perform a professional drain cleaning.
Call in the Professionals
When you have a stubborn clog that you can’t clear with a plunger, it’s time to call in the professionals to do a thorough cleaning with specialized equipment. The drain cleaning team at Impetus Plumbing has the skills and equipment required to fully clear any tough clog without causing any harm to your plumbing system. Our plumbers are always prompt and dedicated to a job well done.