Drain Clog Prevention
Why Is Your Drain Clogged?
Knowing the ways to prevent clogs can keep your drains running smoothly and your household clog-free.
Hair
Hair can cause clogs, since it is a regular in your bathroom sink and your shower. As hair goes down the drain, it catches on the bends and surfaces of the pipes, causing buildup. More hair gets stuck and increases the buildup, reducing the flow of water and the ability of your drain to do its job. Long hair is especially troublesome.
It is easy and inexpensive to buy a hair catcher or screen for your drains, particularly in the shower, so that most of the hair will get caught on the screen and can be tossed in the trash rather than causing trouble as it goes down your pipes.
Paper
Paper products causing clogs are a problem, particularly in the bathroom. Only toilet paper should be flushed in a toilet, and even then not a whole roll at once. Feminine hygiene products should be put in the trash receptacle instead, as they are not designed to be flushed. Flushable wipes really aren’t flushable since they do not break down and cause clogs. Even facial tissue, which is not designed to break down quickly like toilet paper, can cause problems when put in the toilet. The trash can is a better place for everything but toilet tissue. Do not use the toilet as a trash can!
Kitchen Drain
The drain in the kitchen sink is subjected to all sorts of food waste and harsh soaps. Often a small clog in the kitchen drain, caused by a sticky material or too much food at once, can escalate into a full-blown clog that will throw your kitchen into an uproar.
A sink with no garbage disposal should not be used for rinsing anything but the smallest food particles down the drain. The rest should be scraped into the trash first. Even if you do have a disposal, certain foods like carrot peels and eggshells can cause a problem as can too much food at once.
Make sure to run the disposal with lots of cold water after placing food down the drain, and never put thick, congealing substances such as gravies or oils into the disposal or drain.
If you pay attention to what you put down your drains, you can prevent drain clogs from happening in the first place.
Are you looking for Drain Cleaning services in the Berkeley area? Look no further than Albert Nahman Plumbing & Heating, call us today at (510) 876-9725
