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Plumbing Rule You Must Never Forget

Drain Clog Prevention

 

Drain CleaningA clogged sink can be a homeowner's worst nightmare. Chemical pipe cleaners can range anywhere from completely ineffective to caustic enough to damage your pipes, leaving professional Drain Cleaning as the most reliable solution to clogs. However, the best way to fix a clogged drain is to avoid clogging it in the first place. Use the following tips to understand how and why drains clog, as well as tips for prevention.

Kitchen Drain Clogs

Grease from cooking is one of your drain's top enemies. Grease will stick onto the sides of your pipes and solidify. The more grease you pour down your drain, the more the grease will build up. Since grease is not water soluble, even running hot water down your drain will not help remove it. Coffee grounds are another enemy of drains. Rather than dissolve, coffee grounds will clump up when exposed to water. Instead of pouring grease and coffee grounds down your kitchen sink, discard them in the trash. An old coffee can is the perfect place to collect used grease or coffee grounds.

If you have a garbage disposal in your sink, be careful of the types of food you put into it. Don't throw foods such as pasta or rice down the sink because they will swell up when exposed to water. When running the garbage disposal, turn on a heavy stream of cold water to make sure the food particles don't get stuck. Also make sure to run your garbage disposal long enough that the food particles are small and will flow through the pipes easily.

Bathroom Drain Clogs

Bathroom drains have another common clogging culprit. Hair that's washed down the drain can gather itself into a hairball big enough to get stuck. Soap scum and dirt particles will get caught in the hair and create a barrier. Most bathroom drains have a removable grate or strainer inside. These strainers will will cause clogs if not regularly cleaned, but prevent them if cleaned often. If your drain does not have a grate, consider purchasing one.

Other Drain Clogs

One surprising cause of clogged drains can be found outside the home entirely. Tree roots can grow into drain pipes and cause blockages. If you have trees growing in or around your yard, their roots might be the cause of the problem. In this case, a professional company will have to be called to remove them. It's a good idea to check your pipes at least once a year if you have this problem.

Are you looking for Drain Cleaning services in the Trinity area? Look no further than Roman Plumbing, call us today at (727) 858-3412.