When everything seems to be going right in your house, you can bet the next thing to ruin your day will be a clogged drain. These hidden annoyances are hard to prevent when you have a large household, but if you do happen to experience a clogged drain, there are a couple things you should know.
As much as homeowners want a quick fix to this minor yet pesky problem, the best way to resolve the issue is to do like a pro. Just because unclogging a drain can be easy to do it yourself doesn’t mean you can’t follow through like a pro.
Keep Your Drains Clear
DIY: Drains are for waste, right? Well, yes and no. Wastewater treatment plants handle all the water that flows through your drains. While much of the debris is filtered out, there are some objects that can damage the wastewater treatment system, such as flushable wipes and tissues.
We get to deal with the hair and gunk that gets stuck at the top, but the extraterrestrial trash can cause problems for one of our most essential systems. Plus, flushed paper towels and other objects can lead to catastrophic clogs in your home’s sewer lines, resulting in backups and possibly burst pipes.
Pros: The plumbing pros will always emphasize preventative maintenance, especially for drains. We all need to practice good hygiene but keeping hair and nail cuttings out of your drains can save you from dealing with clogs every other month.
All experts in the industry avoid putting anything greasy or fibrous down their kitchen disposals as well. Even though your disposal is the toughest of drains, it can get still get clogged from food build up.
Cleaners for Your Drain Clogs
DIY: A common sight in your local convenience or home service store is actually the glaring flaw of the plumbing industry: chemical drain cleaner. These types of chemicals, whether they are in a gel or liquid form, can actually cause damage to your pipes and won’t resolve the larger issue.
Pros: A plumber’s best friend is their drain snake, which can be just as cost effective if not more so than a liquid drain cleaner. Homeowners can pick up a zip cord or a drain snake at some convenience stores or at any home improvement shop.
Get Rid of the Drain Smell
DIY: When you have a clogged drain or when you clear a drain, you might notice a particular odor as a result of the grime. Some homeowners put lemon peels or slices down their disposal to freshen up any kitchen stench, but fruits or vegetables with tough rinds or peels shouldn’t be thrown down the garbage disposal. While grease can solidify in your drains, fibrous food can damage the blades in your disposal or cause a clog.
Pros: The best way to maintain your garbage disposal’s full benefits while stamping out any odors is by pouring a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, in a ratio of one to two cups respectively, down there. Not only does this trick clear odors but it can clear clogs as well.
At Blue Star, our doors are always open if you ever need any of our professional plumbing services, but with the right information, you can be that much more capable to handle the minor stuff yourself! When in doubt, call Blue Star Plumbing.