4 Effective Drain Maintenance Tips

Posted By Advanced Plumbing Drains & Heating

Unfortunately, most of us have experienced the mess of a clogged drain. While you may think that it’s inevitable that your drains get clogged, that is not the case. Many homeowners neglect drain maintenance and end up in an unpleasant and expensive situation. 

However, you can keep your drains and pipes clean and flowing with the proper care and techniques. Here are our top four tried-and-true drain maintenance tips to help you avoid messy unclogging sessions. 

1. Be mindful of what goes down your drains

The first step to maintaining a working draining system is to know what is and is not supposed to go down the pipes. Drains and pipes are only designed to handle water and human waste. Anything else is a potential cause of clogging and damage. 

One of the biggest culprits of a clogged drain is food waste, especially in the kitchen. You are likely discarding food leftovers, cuttings, spoiled food, or small food particles down the drain. This is bad news for your drainage pipes and can cause a significant clog as time goes on. 

Other common items that can cause a clog in your drain include: 

• Fat, oil and grease– They harden after cooling, so always use a mason jar or container to trap and store them for proper disposal. 
• Coffee grounds- They can form a sticky paste in the pipes.
• Eggshells- They are prone to catching onto other waste and creating a bigger clog.
• Unused medicine- They can get into the water system and become a health risk in your region.
• Paper towels and “flushable” wipes

The list goes on and on. The bottom line is that anything that isn’t soluble should not go down the drain. We recommend using a filter to keep any solid material, like food particles, from slipping down the drain and causing a clog. 

2. Clean your drains carefully and often

Even when you stay on top of what goes down the drainage pipes, there are other reasons why they can become slow and clogged. That’s why we recommend cleaning them out once a week. You can use drain cleaning solutions and detergents from the store, but that is not necessary. There are plenty of household items that make effective drain cleaners, including:

• Hot water- Pour a pot of hot water down your drain to melt any materials that may cause a clog. Then follow it quickly with cold water to flush away the materials. Keep in mind that if you have PVC pipes, do not use boiling water as it can damage your pipes. 
• Baking soda and white vinegar- Pour half a cup of baking soda down your drain, followed by half a cup of white vinegar. The mixture should immediately bubble up and clean your pipes. Wait about 10 minutes before flushing the drain with hot water. 
• Baking soda and lemon juice- Use half a cup of baking soda followed by half a cup of lemon juice and let it sit for an hour before flushing it with hot or boiling water. 

3. Have the right clog tools

It’s important to have the right tools at hand just in case a clog happens. Here are three unclogging tools that you should keep in your home:

• Drain snake- A snake is essentially a flexible but strong metal coil that can be slipped into the drainage system to break up and remove the blockage. Drain snakes are made small enough to fit down kitchen pipes. 
• Plunger- Plungers are used to loosen smaller clogs so that they can be flushed free.
• Auger- An auger is similar to a drain snake, but it is used to clear larger pipes, for example, the shower or the toilet. It has a plastic sleeve to protect the ceramic finish of your toilet and is usually only used if a plunger is not able to clear the blockage.

4. Fix the clog as soon as possible

Remember that any small damage or clog will only get bigger with time. So, when you notice that your drains are working slower than usual, clean them as soon as possible. If cleaning did not help alleviate the clog, call your plumber to take a look. It’s better to get the issue fixed now than to spend a lot more later when you have a plumbing emergency.

5. Invest in yearly drain cleaning services

There’s only so much you can do without a professional plumber’s tools, skills, and experience. With a yearly drain cleaning service, you can rest assured that your pipes are clear all year while preventing any large clogs or damage in the pipes. 

Professional drain cleaning services usually include a video inspection with a camera scope and a thorough cleaning to remove any built-up debris in the pipes. This investment is a great way to avoid extensive or expensive damages later on. 

Are you dealing with a clogged drain? Or do you want to keep your pipes healthy and clear? Our professional plumbers here at Advanced Plumbing are here to help. From emergency repairs to regular drain cleaning, we can help keep your pipes flowing as they should. Give us a call at 866-863-9539 or book an appointment here today.