Drain clogs are more than a source of frustration and inconvenience. A clogged drain can also be a warning sign of a more serious plumbing problem. In addition, it can put your home at risk for flooding and water damage if not taken care of properly. It is important to know how to prevent drain clogs as well as how to safely get rid of them when they occur.
These five tips on drain clogs can help you avoid inconvenience and costly repairs:
- #1 Be aware of what you send down your kitchen drain.
- The best place to start with preventing drain clogs is to remind your family members to be mindful of what they put down their kitchen drains, including the garbage disposal. Avoid using your drains for cooking oil, coffee grounds, eggshells, flour and fibrous vegetables.
- #2 Avoid repeated use of chemical drain cleaners.
- If you are having to stock up on chemical drain cleaners or clog removal products, you may be doing more harm than good. Excessive use of chemical drain cleaners can damage the inside of your pipes and lead to unwanted cracks and leaks that are costly to repair. Stubborn or frequent drain clogs should be handled by a professional plumber if you want to save your pipes.
- #3 Consider natural drain clog removal using hot water.
- It is always best to start with the most simple and safe method when clearing a drain clog. Try pouring hot water down the affected drain to melt away thick residue that may be clogging your drain.
- #4 Use a toilet plunger.
- Toilet plungers don’t have to stay in the bathroom. In fact, this simple tool can also be effective for dislodge a clog in your kitchen sink. Just make sure you block the adjacent drain if you have a double sink and avoid using a plunger if you have older, weak pipes.
- #5 Invest in drain strainers.
- For kitchen sinks without a garbage disposal, a drain strainer can be a very valuable tool. Drain strainers are inexpensive and applied to the surface of the drain to catch any solids that may clog up your pipes.
For more tips on preventing drain clogs or to schedule a professional drain cleaning, please call Metro Septic and Plumbing. We know what it takes to protect your pipes and prevent frustrating plumbing clogs.