It’s normal for your kitchen and bathroom drains to get backed up from time to time. While they can be easily fixed by calling a plumber or using a plumbing snake, there are plenty of ways you can maintain your drains to ensure that clogs don’t happen in the future. To keep your drains flowing as they should, here are 5 tips and tricks from O’Brien Plumbing. - Don’t put things down your drain that don’t belong there. One of the easiest ways to prevent clogs is by avoiding rinsing things that don’t belong down the drain. This includes kitty litter, cigarette butts, coffee grounds, and any large objects. If you have a disposal, only run it with the water on to ensure that it works properly.
- Keep the grease out. Grease and coconut oils quickly coagulate once they hit the cold pipes in your drain. Once this happens, they build up and create a clog. To prevent backup and plumbing issues, don’t dispose of grease and oils down your drain. Instead, pour them into an empty jar, seal it, and throw it away. If you are dealing with grease buildup, simply squirt a generous amount of dish liquid down your drain. Then, pour boiling water down the drain to dissolve the grease and oil. This may need to be repeated a few times to ensure that the buildup is broken down. If the clog still doesn’t seem to resolve itself, it’s time to call a professional.
- Use hot water. Hot water is beneficial for more than just clearing oil and grease from drains. Pouring it down your drain at least weekly is a perfect way to clear things out and keep your water flowing as it should.
- Maintain your sinks. Once your drains are clean and clear, using bleach or other drain clearing substances weekly is a great idea. Not only does it keep things clear, but it prevents buildups. Simply pour a few tablespoons down your drain and allow the bleach to sit for a few hours before flushing it out with water.
- Call a plumber when you need to. If you are dealing with a clogged drain, there are home remedies you can try. For example, using vinegar, baking soda, and hot water is a great and easy way to dissolve clogs and get things flowing again. However, there are times when even the greatest efforts won’t clear your drains. When this happens, it’s time to call a plumber. Plumbing is one system in your home that you don’t want to mess with on your own. A slight leak can cause major problems in your home and a backed-up drain can easily lead to flooding. For this reason, it’s important to know when to call a plumber. These professionals can handle leaks, clogs, and remodels.
Keeping your drains running as they should is easier than ever with the help of O'Brien Plumbing. Do your part to keep your pipes clean and clear of buildup. Then, if a problem does occur, you know exactly who to call.
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