How to Keep Your Drains Clog-Free

When water disappears down your drain, it must travel through your home’s plumbing pipes before it reaches a sewer or septic tank. Keeping those pipes clear will prevent clogs and backups that can damage your home and cause undue stress. If you do experience sluggish drains or a clog that you can’t clear yourself, call in a plumber to assess the situation. Ignoring a clogged drain won’t solve your problem, and could lead to the need for more costly repairs if not addressed in a timely manner.

Don’t Treat Drains as Garbage Cans

Your drains and toilets are not meant to transport manmade waste. Even if you have a food disposal, there is a limit to how much solid matter your disposal can handle. Never put animal bones, fruit rinds, or other hard items down your disposal. Cooking fats and greases are common causes of kitchen sink clogs; although they are liquids when hot, they cool quickly and solidify inside your pipes. Store grease and fat in a can or jar and throw it away with the rest of your solid waste. Avoid treating your toilet as a trash can; never flush paper towels, tissues, baby wipes, paper, dental floss, feminine products, or diapers. All of these items can easily clog your toilet, your pipes, or your sewer line.

Use Hair Traps

Hair traps are small pieces of mesh that fit over the drains in your sinks, tubs, and showers. Use hair traps to prevent hair and larger debris from being washed down the drain. Although a few strands of hair may not seem substantial, over time hair can easily become caught in pipes and facilitate the creation of a larger clog by creating a net that traps other debris. If you have long hair, brush it out before you shower and throw excess hair in the trash.

Use Eco-Friendly Drain Cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners may seem like an easy solution to a clogged drain, but often these products do more harm than good. The chemicals in most drain cleaners loosen clogs by creating heat, which can warp or otherwise damage your plumbing pipes. Choose eco-friendly drain cleaners instead, which use enzymes and helpful bacteria to eliminate clogs by breaking down the organic matter creating the blockage. You can also try other plumbing-friendly methods of clearing clogs such as using a drain cleaner made from a combination of baking soda and vinegar.

Clear drains mean stress-free water usage throughout your South Carolina home. If you need help handling clogs or other plumbing issues, click through our website for more information from the pros or to contact a plumber for fast, effective service in Anderson and beyond. Check out our blog for more tips on easy plumbing maintenance and solutions.