How To Prevent A Clogged Drain

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Clogged drains often happen at the worst possible times and are a real headache to deal with. Most clogged drains occur in the kitchen or the bathroom, and they happen for several reasons. Most blocked drains could have been avoided by monitoring what you allow to go down your drain.

In this article, we will discuss how you can prevent a clogged drain and save yourself the hassle, time, and money.

What Not To Put Down Your Drain

Many items can easily clog up your drain. Here are the main contributors to drain blockages.

• Grease

  One of the worst substances you can pour down your drain is grease. It can be so tempting to do but don’t be fooled by greases liquid form. When you pour warm grease down your drain, it starts to cool as it goes down and eventually congeals to form a clog. This can then cause other blockages to occur and you’ll find yourself with a major problem in no time. It’s a much better idea to keep a jar handy that you can pour grease into. You can then discard the jar in the trash when it gets full.

• Coffee Grounds

  Coffee grounds are a bad idea to wash down your drain. The problem is that they don’t break up in the water but tend to clump up to form a blockage. There are some great uses for used coffee grinds that will avoid you having to dispose of them. They work great as compost for plants and can also be used as an insect repellent in the garden.

• Food Waste

  Grinding up too much food waste into your drain or even your garbage disposal unit can lead to a clogged drain. Over time, processed food debris can build up in your pipes. Rather make a habit of putting organic solids such as fruit peels or eggshells onto the compost heap or in the trash.

• Hair Hazard

  When hair and soap combine in your shower drain or tub, they can cause a nasty clog. Hair can get entangled in your drain and become hard to remove without a drain snake. An effective way to prevent this is to install an underneath mesh screen which catches all the hair and prevents it from clogging your drain. You can also install an over-the-top drain screen. These generally fit over your drain opening.

• Cement

  Any type of compound that is prone to set is not a good idea to put into your drain. Cement is an example of this. Over time, cement will set in your drain and you’ll be in for a rock-hard clog. Sand is another material that settles easily to form a clog. Apart from cement, there are some really strange items that can clog a drain.

• Foolish Flushing

  As tempting as it is to use your toilet to dispose of various care products, this can quickly lead to a drain clog. Just because it goes down the toilet doesn’t mean you should flush it. Be careful not to flush feminine products, baby wipes, diapers, as well as dental floss. Flushing these down will quickly lead to the need for a professional drain cleaning service.

Others Ways To Prevent A Clogged Drain

Here are some other effective ways to help prevent a clogged drain.

• Run Hot Water

  Running hot water down your drain after each use will help items such as grease and food products to run down your drain. Although this can help, it’s not advised to use it as a substitute for the above measures mentioned. It’s also a good idea to flush your drain with a heavy flow of water occasionally to help flush it out.

• Install A Lint Catcher

  Your washing machine can be another culprit when it comes to blocked drains. Materials such as bits of fabric, lint, and facial tissues can easily sneak through your washers drain hose. An easy solution is to install a lint trap on the end of your drain hose. Mesh lint traps are available from home stores and you can use a zip tie to secure the trap.

• Bring On The Bacteria

  Most of the chemical drain cleaning products can be quite harmful to your drain. A good solution is to use a bacterial drain cleaner as a preventative measure for blockages. The bacteria will slowly break down the organic matter in your drain by eating away at hair, grease, and food substances. Bacteria is non-corrosive so it won’t damage your pipes.

Sometimes it’s impossible to prevent a clogged drain. For any clogged drain issues, we recommend that you call on a professional cleaning expert to clean your drain. At Art Rooter, Sewer & Drain Cleaning, we can clear any drain no matter what the blockage. We will also be able to prevent the clog from reoccurring.