Drain Cleaning: Tips to Avoid Major Clogs

It can be a source of great irritation and annoyance to constantly have to wait for a sink or tub to empty itself of water. If clogs get bad enough, the water may never dissipate. It's at that point that you have to either do something about it yourself or hire an expensive drain cleaning service. While it can be an overall boost to your plumbing system to have professionals come out and clean out your pipes, it isn't something you want to do because you failed to adhere to some basic maintenance tips. Maintaining your plumbing doesn't need to be difficult or expensive. Here are some tips you can use to avoid major clogs. Keep Your Stopper Clean Most sinks and tubs are fitted with a metal stopper that allows you to stop the flow of water down the pipes when you need to do so. But these stoppers are also a common source of clogs. Hair and other forms of debris have a tendency to get wrapped around the plug and can prevent water from flowing freely. Examine your stopper every now and then and clean out some of this debris. Hair, especially, is a common source of problems. Dispose of Your Grease Elsewhere It's the easiest thing to do to just pour your grease right down the kitchen sink. Unfortunately, doing that on a regular basis can and will bring your pipes to a standstill. Grease will cool quickly and when it does, it turns into a white, congealed mess that will stick to the edges of your pipes. Most drain cleaning specialists will tell you that this is one of the most common problems they run into. Instead of pouring grease down the sink, pour it into a jar or can and throw it in the trash. Use Your Hot Water One thing many homeowners have found success with is getting into the habit of pouring hot water down the sink every week or so. For best results, actually boil some water on the stove so that it's hot enough to get rid of some of the stickier substances on the edges of your pipes. While this may not be enough to clear major clogs, doing it on a regular basis could prevent them from forming in the first place. Avoid Chemicals While more expensive, you may be better off hiring drain cleaning specialists than buying chemicals at the store for clogs. These chemicals work, but they also damage your pipes with their corrosive nature. Using them occasionally isn't so bad, but if you're in the habit of using them often, you should contact a plumber.