Drain Maintenance Tips To Prevent Clogged Drains
Clogged drains always seem to happen at the most inconvenient time, like when you are preparing for a big party. While you cannot completely stop a drain from clogging, there are some proactive steps you can take to prevent it from happening in your Snohomish County, WA, home. What Causes Clogged Drains? Part of preventing your drain from developing a stubborn blockage is understanding what causes them in the first place. Below you’ll find the most common causes of a clogged drain: Hair Soap Dirt Oil, grease, and fat Food waste Coffee grounds Objects accidentally dropped Mineral buildup Remember that whatever is blocking your drain is likely a combination of many things rather than a single substance. If water is moving slowly down your drain or not at all, that is a clear sign that you have a clog. Call to schedule a drain cleaning as soon as possible because clogs only worsen with time. Tips for Preventing Clogged Drains Although it is impossible to completely stop blockages from developing, you can slow them down by following these drain maintenance tips. Use a Drain Screen Placing a drain screen over the top of the drain will prevent non-liquid materials from sliding down the drain and contributing to a clog. A screen makes it more difficult for food, hair, and dirt to pass through, but water will continue to flow easily. It’s important to note that most drain screens do not stop oil and grease. Simply setting the screen over the drain is not the end, though. You must wash it regularly to prevent it from becoming a health hazard. Most drain screens are removable, making them easier to clean. They are a simple, cost-effective solution and can be purchased in most local hardware stores. Monitor What Goes Down the Drain It seems obvious, but no food should ever be shoved down your drain. Grease, oil, coffee grounds, eggshells, and grains wreak havoc on your drain. A garbage disposal can help break some foods down, but you can’t just dispose of anything in your garbage disposal. Be mindful of fibrous foods, meats and never overload the disposal. Do not place grease, oil, and coffee grounds in a garbage disposal. These will coat your pipes and collect other debris as they move down the drain, leading to a clog. At that point, you’ll need to call in a professional for a garbage disposal repair. To avoid this, scrape leftover foods off your plate and into the garbage can. Grease and coffee grounds should also be placed into the waste can instead of flushed down the drain. Check Stoppers for Hair Sometimes hair, soap, and scum linger on your drain stopper before traveling further into the pipe and forming a clog. Checking this area regularly and removing this buildup will prevent water from forcing it down the drain. Remove the drain stopper and you will likely find a bundle of wet hair matted together with soap, skin cells, and dirt. Clean the drain stop thoroughly and scrub it with a toothbrush to eliminate this problem. Brush or Comb Hair Before Showering Brushing your hair naturally removes any loose hair on your head. Once you are in the shower, these hairs wash off you and go down the drain. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Until that nasty blockage develops and you are showering with water around your ankles. When you brush your hair before showering, you can remove most of these pesky hairs before they make their way into the drain. Instead of forming a hairball, the hair will collect on the brush, making it easier to dispose of. Schedule a Pipe Inspection As part of your drain maintenance, be sure to schedule your yearly Diamond Club inspection every year. The plumber will check all your drains as part of this service that is complementary to our Diamond Club members, giving your the peace of mind knowing you won’t have any major blockages in the near future. What to Do About Clogged Drains When you have a clogged drain, the easiest and safest way to handle it is to call a professional. They will have an arsenal of tools to use that will keep your home safe and blast away the unwanted clog. You are probably familiar with a drain auger or snake, but that is not the only tool in their box: Hydro jetting is a hose that sends water through the pipes at high pressure to break up the clog. It is a quick and efficient tool to blast away debris, but it will also clean your drain and help prevent future clogs or damage to your pipes. If you are experiencing a clogged drain in Snohomish County, WA, call Steve’s Plumbing today to schedule your hydro jet drain cleaning!
Save Money With Annual Drain Cleaning
Many homeowners don’t think about deep cleaning their drains until something is clogging them or they start backing up. However, these inconveniences can be avoided with regular drain maintenance and professional drain cleaning. Think of all of the gunk your drains have likely accumulated in the last month. How about in the last year? Everything that has washed down your drains eventually sticks to your pipes and builds up enough to cause a clog. Clogs aren’t just minor annoyances. They can cause real damage to your piping, resulting in even more expensive repairs later on. From corrosion, to leaks, to explosive bursts, a deep clog may be close to causing severe damage in your system. Luckily, there are a few simple steps you can take to protect your piping and stay ahead of drain maintenance issues. Professional Drain Clearing Services If your drains become clogged after taking these measures, or the above steps don’t clear an already formed clog, then you may need the assistance of a professional pipe cleaning service. They will use specialized equipment for hydro jetting and clear your drains without using toxic chemicals you may find at the store. Commercial solutions can be harsh on pipes, corrode garbage disposals, and expose you to toxic fumes. If you do decide to use a cleaning solution, remember to only use one at a time and never mix cleaning agents as the combination may cause toxic gas to form. During the professional cleaning process, the technician may use a video scope to check out the clog and look for signs of mold, algae, or corrosion in the pipes. This way the issue is resolved at the source for long-term benefits. Hydro jetting ensures that the whole pipe is cleared of debris instead of just poking a hole through the clog for the appearance of a resolution. Prevent clogs from forming in the first place by being mindful of what materials are flushed down your drains. Avoid dumping coffee grounds, fibrous foods, grease, and hair down drains. These should all be disposed of by other means if possible. Signs of a Sewer Line Issue Sometimes a drain issue is more than just a drain issue. Sewer line problems can show up as: Multiple clogged drains at once. Toilets that back up. Toilets that flush slowly or only partially flush. Stinky smells coming from your drains. Water backing up into the bathtub or shower. Gurgling sounds coming from sink drains or toilet. If you notice any of these signs, call a professional plumber right away to inspect your sewer line. A sewer line can become damaged from tree root invasions, collapses from shifting ground, rust formation, and scale buildup. Ignoring a sewer line problem will not make it any better. In fact, the problem will only grow worse and may start flooding your yard with unsightly sewage. Luckily, many repairs and clog removals can be handled internally rather than having to dig up the yard to reach the line. Professional plumbers have equipment to handle cleaning and fixing your sewer line, including root cutting tools and hydro jetting systems. They can patch holes and breaks in even the hardest to reach places. Although sewer line issues can be messy, smelly, and concerning, you can have them resolved quickly with the help of a professional plumber. Benefits of Annual Drain Clearing Services Not only can you help your drains stay as clean as possible by regularly flushing them and cleaning them, but you can also keep them properly maintained by having them professionally serviced once per year. During the inspection your plumber can check for signs of damage and clear buildup before it completely clogs your drains. This way you can take care of potential problems before they wreak havoc on your plumbing system. Staying ahead of repair needs can help save you from emergencies later on. While piping is made to last, corrosion and rust can cause them to wear out over time. Clogs from debris and scum don’t help the situation either. If you live in an older home or you frequently have clogging issues with one or more of your drains, you may consider scheduling regular cleaning to help your pipes stay clear of harmful buildup. Hidden issues deep within your piping may remain hidden without a professional inspection. You can keep your piping working well with annual maintenance services instead of waiting until disaster strikes to finally get that clog checked out. When pipe replacement is necessary, a professional plumber can show you the latest options. Copper and PVC piping are popular choices for today’s homes. Whether you need a section of plumbing replaced or want to totally re-pipe your entire home, your plumbing expert can discuss next steps at your annual piping maintenance visit.