We’ve all been there, standing over a pool of stagnant or gurgling water and sighing in exasperation at the task ahead. Unclogging your drains is never fun, especially if you find out that you’re unable to do it yourself and have to call in the experts to tackle whatever problem is affecting your plumbing. The key to avoiding this common and undesirable experience is preventative drain cleaning and maintenance. Here are a few tips we recommend observing closely so that clogged drains aren’t so much of a problem in your home.
Never Flush or Pour Certain Things Down Your Drains
Keeping your drains clean often involves more than just physically cleaning them; it also means keeping them clean by avoiding putting certain things in them in the first place. When it comes to drains, such as your toilet drain, the only things you should ever find in there are waste and toilet paper. Trying to flush paper towels or even flushable wipes could lead to a clog further up your pipes. Meanwhile, while you’re cooking, avoid pouring any oils or grease down your sink.
Invest in Quality Mesh Drain Screens
Whether you’ve had long hair or had long hair in the past, you know how much hair can make its way down the shower drain when there’s nothing there to catch it. A strong mesh drain screen catches this kind of debris so that it doesn’t have the opportunity to clog your pipes, and it can be a valuable asset for other drains in the house. For example, in the kitchen, you’ll find that your drain cleaner will stop food from going anywhere except for the garbage disposal. It keeps your drains clean, it’s cheap, and it’s simple to use.
Use DIY Tools If You Must (But Carefully)
Do you need to clean your drains because there’s a partial clog? There’s nothing in the rulebook that says you can’t try to deal with this yourself (with caution). The plunger is always a good go-to tool to use when you have a potentially dirty and clogged drain. A snake could be used if absolutely necessary, but take care to avoid using too much force. Otherwise, you could end up with scratched or punctured drains and pipes.
Pour DIY Mixes or Enzymatic Cleaners Down Your Drains Regularly
There’s really not much involved in keeping your drains clean. Our advice is to mix baking soda and vinegar in the drain, and flush it with hot water to get rid of any buildup. This is something you can do every week, sometimes omitting the baking soda and vinegar if you just want to quickly cleanse your drains. Enzymatic cleaners are also good to use monthly since they’re not as caustic as chemical cleaners.
Preventative drain cleaning can change everything about the way your plumbing functions. Keep your drains cleaner with the tips above, and reach out to your plumber if you run into a serious issue you can’t tackle on your own. If you live in Athens, GA or a surrounding area and need drain cleaning services, make your first call to Jordan Air.
