You should consider frequent cleaning of the drainage system to avoid clogged drains. Getting any drain unclogged may be cumbersome. You are lucky to own an at-home drain snake for minor clogging issues with your drainage.
There are some instances where you may need to use an at-home drain de-clogger. In other scenarios, it may demand professional experience to ensure smooth flow down the drain. It is advisable to get professional services if you have little at home unclog drain skills and tools.
Clogged drains bring an inconvenience such as getting a lot of water accumulated when bathing. The outcome of clogged drains is the emission of harmful gases to you and your loved ones. Some tips to use when your drainage blocks include: using a plunger.
The plunger removes debris which blocks the water from flowing through the plumbing system. It creates a vacuum using the rubber head: a plunger is a reliable tool in minor drain-blocking cases.
If the plunger cannot assist, pursue the use of chemicals to dissolve debris on the walls of your drain. This is best for drains where the dirt is stuck on the walls of the plumbing system and cannot be removed through vacuum or water pressure.
Clogged drains are something no one wants to think about or deal with. Unfortunately, a clogged drain is one of the biggest reasons people call in the plumbing company for some kind of plumbing repair. While it is impossible to prevent every clogged drain, ever, it is possible to do certain things that will help you avoid clogged drains as much as possible. Here are a few tips for avoiding the clogged drain.
Never Dump Grease
Grease, fat, and oil buildup is responsible for almost half of the 36,000 overflows that America’s sewers experience every year. One of the worst things you can possibly do for your drains is to pour any grease down your sink. Warm, liquid fat will run down your dream for a while until it cools in the pipe. Then it begins to congeal. As it congeals, other things stick to it and the clog is formed. Keep a jar for collecting grease, and then throw it in the trash when it gets full.
Get a Trap For Your Washing Machine
Your laundry sheds all kinds of lint and junk into the washing machine. Even the occasional sock can get through the drain hose of your washer and down into the drain. If you put a lint trap at the end of your drain hose, it will help keep all the stuff from going down.
Never Rinse Setting Materials
If you’re working on a home improvement project, never rinse out tools that have cement, joint compound, mortar repair powder, or grout on them. The whole point of these compounds is that they set even when they’re underwater, which means you’ll get some seriously clogged drains. Instead, get a big bucket and rinse your tools in the bucket. Throw the water the yard and dump the sludge at the bottom in the garbage.
Check Your Lines
If the sewer line seems to be clogging often, don’t just keep calling to have it cleaned. Get a plumber in to scope the line and find out what the problem is. It could be that a pipe is partially collapsed, or that a tree root has broken through. It’s worth paying for someone to send a camera down the line to look rather than pay repeatedly for cleaning.
Don’t Forget the Stopper
Lots of sinks have a pop-up stopper to catch hair and other gunk. However, if this builds up for too long it can cause your sink to drain more and more slowly until finally you have a clog. If the bathroom sink is starting to drain slowly, try cleaning the stopper first.
Don’t Use the Garbage Disposal So Much
A garbage disposal is supposed to work, and when it’s used properly it can keep running for as long as 10 years. However, garbage disposals are one of the biggest reasons for clogged drains and backups in sewer systems and septic tanks. Instead of grinding up garbage in the disposal, try making a compost pile.
Protect Your Drains With Mesh
You can buy mesh screens in various sizes for use in the tub or sink. They will catch hair and any other debris before they can go down the drain. Some new stoppers have built-in screens these days.
Flush The Fixtures
That eco-friendly toilet and faucet you have maybe great for saving the environment and using less water, but they’re not very good for keeping drains clear. When so little water is flushing through the pipe, it often doesn’t have the power to carry everything away. You can fix this I occasionally dumping a five-gallon bucket of water into the toilet as you flush it. You should also occasionally completely fill the bathtub and sink with hot water and let it drain out.
Indoor plumbing has been around since at least 2500 BC. We’ve been dealing with clogged drains for a long time! If you want to avoid having to call for plumbing repairs any more than necessary, follow these tips to keep your drains clean and clear.
