A Clogged Drain - How Do You Prevent It?
What Causes 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
Grease is one of the most common causes of clogs in sinks. Grease has a tendency to stick to the sides of pipes and harden. To prevent this, instead of pouring grease down the drain, pour the grease into a can and throw it away.
Coffee grounds and food waste
Avoid getting coffee grounds and food waste into the drain. When cleaning off your plate, get any extra waste into the trash before rinsing in the sink. As an extra precaution, buy a drain filter or cover to help catch these things before they go into the drain.
Dirt
Dirt can build up and cause clogs, too. Shake off or rinse as much as you can outside before using the sink or shower to clean yourself off.
Hair
Hair is also a very common cause for clogged drains. Installing a screen or drain-grate in your shower or tub will keep hair from clogging your drains.
Soap scum
Soap is often made from fat, so it likes to stick around and harden. Unlike grease, soap scum isn’t as easy to avoid. If you don’t want to change the kind of soap you use, install a drain filter for an easy fix.
Toilet paper
While most of the time toilet paper isn’t a problem, if there is too much flushed at once, it could cause a clog. Be sure to not use more than you need. Wet wipes can also help reduce the amount of toilet paper needed.
How do you prevent a clogged drain?
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.