A clogged drain can be a nightmare for a range of reasons. From damaging your plumbing to embarrassing you when you have friends over, no one wants to deal with a clogged drain. Unfortunately, most of us have had to deal with one at some time or another. But did you know there are ways to avoid clogged drains in your home?
Preventing clogged drains means you won’t need to call a plumber out and will save you money. Here are our tips and tricks for making sure your drains stay clog-free.
Keep oil and grease out of the drain:
There are some key culprits for clogging drains, and oil and grease are high on the list. The oil and grease build up in the pipes and block them. As oil and grease are naturally water repellent, they are also hard to simply flush away with water.
If you need to throw out oil and grease from cooking, make sure it goes into the bin. It can be helpful to freeze it first in a bag, so it doesn’t spread throughout the bin.
Remove trees from near your plumbing:
Some drain clogs aren’t caused by something being flushed down the drain, but they are actually caused by tree roots growing into the pipes. Clogs caused by tree roots can be difficult to remove. A special device may need to be used by your plumber to break up the roots, or they may even need to dig up your pipes.
Therefore, if you want to avoid this issue, ensure that no trees are growing close to any pipes connected to your home. You may need to source plans for your home to confirm the locations of these pipes.
Use hot water:
A simple way to clean your pipes and keep them from clogging is to regularly run hot water through the pipes. Aim to do this after every use or so of the kitchen sink and then once a week or so with other sinks.
The hot water works loosens the hold of any material that has started to clog the pipes, while also flushing it away. Make doing this part of your regular house cleaning routine.
Try a drain strainer:
To deal with shower drain clogs from soap scum and hair, as well as keep food from going down the kitchen drain, you need a drain strainer. Available in a range of designs and makes, the same premise applies to all models. Water can easily pass through the strainer while items that could cause clogs, like pieces of food or strands of hair are caught in the strainer. You can then remove these from the strainer and dispose of them in the bin, keeping your pipes clean and free of clogs.
Watch what you flush:
Clogged toilets are often caused by someone flushing something they shouldn’t. You should only ever flush bodily waste and toilet paper, nothing else. Otherwise, it may clog your toilet, which can be a frustrating and embarrassing experience.
Make sure everyone in your house knows not to flush paper towels, make up wipes, sanitary products and anything else.
Use a lint catcher
Some drain clogs are caused by lint from the washing machine getting into the pipes. While it’s impossible to avoid lint, you can stop it from going down the drain. Simply add a lint catcher to your washing machine. Like a drain strainer, it will only let water through, catching the lint for you to remove later.
Try a little baking soda:
If you suspect that a drain is becoming clogged — particularly if there is an unpleasant smell coming from a drain — then you can try using some baking soda to clear the clog. The baking soda will absorb the bad odour while also helping to dislodge whatever is causing the clog. Just make sure to run some hot water down the pipes as well. I
Or try vinegar:
Alternatively, you can use vinegar to clean your drains. Pour a cup down the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes. This gives the acid in vinegar time to eat through any organic material clogging your drain. Then you can flush the pipes clean with some hot water.
Get your plumbing inspected regularly:
Just as you should be going to the doctor’s once a year or so for a check-up, your plumbing needs a regular check too. Have your plumbing checked every year or so to check that there are no issues and see if your cleaning methods are working. This is a good way to catch problems while they’re small and can be fixed easily and cheaply.
Take Away
Try the suggestions above to avoid your drains from clogging. They’re simple and easy to turn into daily habits. And you’ll save money when you aren’t having to get drains unclogged all the time.
