If you take action early, you can avoid the inconvenience caused by clogged drains. First, your plumbing system must work properly, which means keeping the pipes and drains clear of any blockage. Here are some of the most common causes of blocked drains and prevent them.
Garden Debris
Garden debris such as dead leaves and twigs are the leading causes of clogs in drains and gutters. Always make sure no yard waste goes into a sanitary sewer system – do not wash dirt material of any sort down your drain into your sewer system.
Tree Roots
Leaky pipes and drains provide the moisture that tree roots love. As such, roots often extend their growth within pipes and drains and cause blockages. If there are already tree roots inside the pipes and drains, cutting them would be a temporary solution as the roots will grow back. The best solution is to hire a licensed professional to correctly detect the sewer line and locate the exact root penetration location to provide a proper estimate to excavate and repair/ replace the wrong section of piping.
Greasy Substances
Greasy substances can clog up pipes and drains, too. Don’t throw greasy substances like excess cooking oil down the drain. Instead, you can put greasy substances in a container or bottle and throw them in the trash can. Suppose you fear that too much grease and or lard has made its way down the drain. In that case, you will need to have a professional like Diamondback Plumbing provide a jetting service to scour flush your lines correctly.
Hair Strands
Hair strands can become tangled and create a large ball of hair that works like a net. It traps other debris and can cause a blockage. To prevent hair from clogging the drain, always pick up your hair strands after bathing or showering. You can also use a strainer in the bathroom sink and bathtub.
Toilet Rubbish
Soap bits, cotton balls, toilet paper, Q-tips, and other toilet trash can also block your drain. So, don’t flush away your rubbish in the toilet. Instead, put a trash can inside the bathroom so you don’t have to throw your garbage into the toilet bowl.
Disregarding Blockages
Don’t ignore blocked drains. A minor issue can become a bigger problem if left neglected. This means spending a large amount of money on repairs. When the damage is severe, you may have to replace the pipes.
Here are other tips to prevent clogged drains:
Kitchen Sinks With Garbage Disposals
You should use a drain strainer to keep food scraps out for kitchen sinks with garbage disposals. You can also pour boiling water down the sink drain once a week to remove any grease or fat that may have accumulated inside the pipes. Pour the boiling water slowly and gradually.
Running a stream of cold water for sinks with garbage disposals will carry waste materials, ultimately through your drainage system. Don’t put eggshells, potato skin, banana peels, and coffee grounds in the garbage disposal as these waste materials are sticky and thick and can cause blockages.
Disposal drains are vulnerable to fats, greases, grits, oils, and other common blockage causes. Fatty substances will solidify on the interiors of gutters. The pipes will get clogged when grits such as eggshells and coffee grounds stick to the grease. If you are using an older dishwasher model, you should pre-rinse and scrape dishes from plates to prevent the kitchen drains from being clogged. Newer dishwashing machines are often attached to garbage disposals to handle larger waste particles. However, to be safe, you should still scrape the plates of any leftover food before placing them in the dishwasher.
For Septic Tanks
If you have a septic tank, it should be inspected every 2 to 3 years. Ask your local health board about the rules on septic tank inspection in your area.
Proper Drain System Maintenance
Observe proper utility drain maintenance. Floor drains, pool drains, and laundry drains should be correctly assembled. Open drains must be covered with strainers to prevent soap scraps and other tangible items from falling in. Meanwhile, when floor drains are neglected or damaged, they may not work correctly, thus preventing water from flowing down and causing flooding. Floor drains should be equipped with backflow prevention devices and protective straining plates.
Preventing Clogged Drains
These are some of the most important things you should keep in mind when preventing clogged drains. Properly working drains can save you from so much inconvenience and costly repairs. If you want to have your pipes and drains fixed, call Diamondback Plumbing and let our team do the job for you. Our company has a team of expert plumbers that can improve your plumbing concerns quickly and efficiently. Diamondback Plumbing uses state-of-the-art tools for drain cleaning. In addition, we have experienced technicians who have dealt with these situations. So you can be assured the job will be done right the first time.