No one wants to wake up to water in the bathtub or sink from a clogged drain. However, almost everyone will experience this at some time in their lives. The best way to prepare for the event is to do everything that you can to prevent drain clogs. If you still get a clog, know when you can fix it and when to call a plumber.
Understand the Causes of Clogs
Drain clogs frequently happen when either the wrong materials go down the drain or they clump together to create blockages. For instance, soapy water can cause buildup on the sides of your pipes, slowing down the speed of water draining from a tub or sink. Hair, too, can also cause clogs. The following are some substances that frequently can clog your home’s drains:
- Soap scum
- Hair
- Cooking grease
- Fabric lint
- Food waste
How to Prevent Drain Clogs
Once you recognize the things that can cause blockages, to prevent drain clogs keep those things out of tubs, toilets, and sinks as much as possible. In many cases, filtering screens over the drains will help.
For instance, use a hair catcher or filter over your tub or shower drain to trap hair before it can wash down into the pipes. You can also install a filter over your washing machine’s drainage pipe to catch fabric lint.
In the kitchen, properly discard of cooking grease and food waste. If you have a compost bin, you can use that or throw them away. You should not put them down the sink where they can lead to costly clogs.
To prevent soap scum from clogging your drains, make sure to flush your drains with very hot water several times a month. This is especially important if you have low-flow plumbing fixtures that don’t use enough water to send soap scum all the way through the drains.
How to Handle Drain Clogs
If you do experience a clog, you have two options. The first is to attempt to plunge it out with a household plunger. This device will often work to free up most simple clogs. However, if it doesn’t work, call a plumber. Do not use chemical drain cleaners because they could simply move the clog further down into the waste system or cause damage to some parts of your plumbing.
When You Cannot Prevent Drain Clogs, Call Us at Best Service Plumber
The above tips to prevent drain clogs will not keep you from ever experiencing a slow or stopped drain, but they will stop most of these events from happening. If you do have a drain that needs clearing, phone us at Best Service Plumber. We have both standard and emergency services, depending on the situation. In some cases, a drain clog will block your main drain line, keeping you from using any of the plumbing in your home. Naturally, this requires emergency attention. A single sink that drains slowly may require standard service. To get ahold of either service, phone us at (951) 338-8624 to reach our office, and we can direct you to the best service for your drain clearing needs.