Drain and Clog Advice
How To Prevent Drain Clogs
When You Have A Clogged Drain, Call McClain!
We often take for granted our plumbing system when it’s working fine. Modern plumbing keeps our lives clean, healthy and convenient. As we live our lives it can be easy to forget that just like our bodies, our water systems need a little TLC (tender love and care) sometimes. Especially as social distancing in Levittown, PA has become so important, the last thing anyone needs is a clogged drain that requires a visit from the plumber! So here are some tips about drains & clogs – to help keep your drains clean and prevent clogs from happening!
Let’s start with stuff that causes clogs in the first place! Once you know these things can be a problem we can find ways to prevent them from making clogs.
Common causes of clogged drains
Clogged drains are a frustrating problem that almost everyone experiences from time to time. Whether it’s a slow-moving sink or a backed-up shower, a clogged drain can bring your day to a screeching halt. But what exactly causes these annoying blockages? Well, there are a number of culprits, including hair, soap scum, cooking grease, and even tree roots. Over time, these substances can accumulate in your pipes, creating blockages that prevent water from flowing freely. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to prevent clogs in the first place, such as using drain covers to catch hair and other debris, avoiding pouring cooking grease down the drain, and regularly flushing your pipes with hot water.
Grease
One of the most common causes of clogs in sinks! Grease has a tendency to stick to the walls of the pipes and harden. To prevent this simply don’t pour grease down the drain. Instead, pour the grease into a can and throw it away.
Coffee grounds and food waste
Try to avoid getting these into the drain. When cleaning off your plate try to get as much of the food waste into the trash before rinsing them in the sink. The same goes for coffee grinds! As an extra precaution buy a drain filter or cover to help catch these wastes before they go down the drain.
Dirt
Surprisingly dirt can build up and cause clogs too! Try to shake off or rinse off as much as you can outside before using the sink or shower to clean off.
Hair
This is also a very common cause for clogged drains! We can’t help our pets and our own heads from shedding during bath time. To help prevent hair from getting down the drain have a screen or drain-grate installed.
Soap scum
Another surprising cause! Because soap is often made from fat, that means soap scum is similar to grease in that it likes to stick around and harden. Unlike grease soap scum isn’t as easy to avoid. You can either change the kinds of soaps you are using or install a drain filter to help catch it before it goes down into the pipes.
Toilet paper
A particularly bad habit for little kids is to use a little too much toilet paper. While most of the time the use of TP isn’t a problem, if there is too much as one time then it can cause a clog. So be sure to not use more than you need, and teach the kiddos that too!
How do you prevent a clogged drain?
So what are some other ways you help keep your drains clean now that you know what causes clogs and how to prevent them?
Run hot water
Run hot water through the sink after every use. Hot water helps prevent things like soap, grease and other sticky substances from hardening, thus sticking around to clog up your drains.
Install a water softener
Minerals from water can react with substances such as grease and soaps, causing build ups and other problems. By having a water softener installed, this can help prevent minerals from being an issue in your water. Be sure to speak with a professional about getting a water softener installed in your home.
Use a diy cleaning method
A simple DIY cleaning method is to run baking soda and hot water down the drain. Also, pouring small amounts of vinegar and running hot water for 30 minutes can work as well. Baking soda and vinegar are classic and effective cleaning solutions.