You may believe that your drain is operating well until it becomes clogged. Before you can use your sink again, you must put a lot of time and money into unclogging the pipes and this usually involves employing drain cleaning services. By taking daily care of your drain, you can avoid this situation.
Here are a few quick tips to maintain the health of your plumbing system and drain pipes:
Keep an eye on the water’s temperature.
You could use lukewarm water to wash your hands. However, did you know that the grease deposits hiding in your drain can be broken up by using boiling water? Ensure that hot water is running at least once every week.
When using your disposal, on the other hand, you should use cold water, not boiling. Hot water may cause the grease to melt and film the drain when you run your disposal with it. For the removal to break down the fat, cold water will maintain it in a solid state.
Discard the grease
Speaking of grease, avoiding putting it down the drain as much as possible is preferable. Massive blockages can be produced by the bonding of oil and grease with other substances and each other. Putting oil and grease into an old can or container and then throwing it away is preferred instead of putting it down the kitchen sink.
Use a drain trap
Certain materials, such as soap scum, crumbs, and hair, are difficult to drain. These compounds frequently clog shower drains but can also clog sink and toilet drains. You should cover the sink opening with a drain trap to prevent clogs. Non-liquid substances won’t flow down the drain; they will collect in the drain trap. Then you can remove the drain trap and discard the items in the trash.
Clean the Drain
Any of the following techniques can be used to unclog your drain if you’re worried one is about to form.
- Pour half a cup of bicarbonate of soda into the drain.
- Then, add half a cup of salt and one-fourth of white vinegar on top of the baking soda. After 15 minutes, pour boiling water into the sink after letting the drain run.
- Pour a spoonful of dish soap down the drain to help with accumulated fat and oil.
- After that, pour boiling water gradually down the drain. The grease should be removed by washing it away with soap and water.
Wearing gloves will safeguard your hands when pouring boiling water, so keep that in mind. Adding bleach to your drain regularly will also keep it clear. Before turning on the water again, pour some bleach down the drain and let it sit for at least an hour.
Keep some substances away.
By disposing of the following in the garbage instead of the drain, you can do your part to prevent clogs.
- Eggshells
- Household cleaning products
- Coffee grounds
- Medications
- Paper towels
- Napkins
- Fruit peels
These materials are complex for disposal systems to break down and could seriously clog drains. Following these instructions, you can keep your drains free of obstructions and prevent common drainage issues. Nevertheless, despite your best efforts, obstacles occasionally occur. A tenacious blockage is challenging to dislodge without the proper knowledge and tools.
To clear a clogged drain, contact a plumber. An expert plumber can remove the obstruction from the source so you can once again have a clear drain.
Drain Maintenance Tips
Here are some easy tips to keep your drain clean at all times and prevent further blockages:
Drains vary significantly in quality.
Your bathroom sink, shower, and bathtub are among the drains in your home that require more frequent inspection than others. In particular, when mixed with soap scum, grease, and toothpaste, the hair from shaving and washing can collect in these places in your home.
The most frequent reason for blocked drains is a mix of soap scum, debris, and hair, but throughout time, some less common objects have also resulted in backed-up drains and the need for emergency drain cleaning.
Every week, clean your drains with boiling water.
An easy yet powerful natural drain cleaning is boiling water, which is also an excellent technique to lessen the accumulation of fat, grease, and oils in your pipes. Just watch your step when carrying a hot water kettle up to the bathroom…
Use a biological cleaner to clean your drains.
The finest drain cleaner for hair and a great approach for getting rid of a buildup of lipids, bacteria, mold, and other organic debris is a biological cleaner that contains enzymes. They are also much more environmentally friendly than harsher chemicals like bleach or caustic soda.
Most DIY stores provide enzymatic drain cleaners for a reasonable price. When applying the product to your drains, always follow the directions on the back of the packet.
Drains should be flushed with baking soda and vinegar.
If you’d instead not use a natural cleanser, you can substitute baking soda and white vinegar. Baking soda can be used in place of baking powder. Hopefully, your kitchen cupboards already have both of these things.
Simply stir a few tablespoons of baking soda into a cup of white vinegar, then pour the mixture down the drain right away. Before clearing the drain with hot water straight from the kettle, let the mixture bubble for about five minutes.
Keep your drains clear by using soda crystals.
Another excellent method for preventing fats, oils, and grease from building up inside your drains is to use soda crystals. Simply pour a cup of soda crystals into a bowl of hot water and stir until the crystals have completely dissolved. Pour the fluid down your drains slowly at this point.
Always put fatty substances in a container.
Because prevention is always preferable to treatment, ensure that any extra cooking fat is collected in a container instead of being flushed down the sink. Collecting congealed oil from deep-fat fryers and other materials, including food and plastics, is one of the most frequent reasons for clogged kitchen drains.
Before taking a bath or shower, brush your hair.
Before taking a bath or shower, brushing your hair will help remove most of the loose strands, preventing them from plugging your drain.
Don’t wash your pets indoors.
You should be aware that pets shed more hair than we do if you bathe them in the bathtub, especially during molting seasons. If at all feasible, wash your cat, dog, or rabbit outside. You may also use a cloth to cover the drain in your bathtub to catch any hairs that may fall during cleaning.
Speak With Your Local Sewer and Drain Cleaning Everett
Do you need expert drain pipe cleaning services in Everett? You can reach out to us today at N.W. Sewer and Drains. We’re excited to help you sort out any drain issues you might be facing in your home or office building. Ideally, consulting an experienced local sewer and drain cleaning company should be your next action if you are experiencing slow-moving drains, foul odor, or clogged drains in your home and don’t know what else to do.
At N.W. Sewer & Drain, we have a well-trained and ready-to-move team on standby. We serve the Seattle metropolitan area, including Bellevue, Kirkland, Shoreline, Renton, Lake Forest Park, Mountlake Terrace, Auburn, Everett, Marysville, Mount Vernon, and other surrounding areas.
N.W. Sewer & Drain provides top-notch drain cleaning and sewer repair services in the greater Seattle area, and we’ve been in the business for nearly 20 years. Contact us today at 206-931-7728 to schedule an inspection of your sewer line and pipes