How to Prevent Clogs
The last thing you need is a house call from a plumber because of clogged drains, but keeping the plumber from your home requires constant vigilance to prevent the drains from clogging. Food particles, grease, hair and soap all combine and mesh together to form clogs in a drain pipe. Clogs are apparent when water starts to swirl slowly as it drains from your sink or tub drain. Using preventative measures on the drain can help avoid problems. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Old aluminum cans
- Baking soda
- Rags
- Cooking pot
- Phillips or flathead screwdriver
Instructions
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Refrain from dumping cooking grease down sink drains. Pour warm grease into an old aluminum can and allow it to solidify. Place the can into a trash receptacle for disposal.
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Avoid placing large quantities of food down a sink, even with a garbage disposal. Too much food -- even ground up particles -- can clog a drain pipe.
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3
Clean your sink stopper once a week. Pour baking soda into the drain hole and over the stopper. Scrub the stopper and the drain hole with a damp rag, then rinse completely.
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4
Fill a bathtub with hot water. Remove the stopper and allow the water to rush down the drain pipe, forcing free any clogs or substances accumulating inside the line. Boil water and pour it down your kitchen and bathroom sink once a week to flush out the drains.
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Remove stuck hair in bathroom sinks to keep it from going down the drain and causing a hair clog. Unscrew a drain screener from the bottom of showers once every three months. Use a Phillips or flathead screwdriver to remove the screener and scrub it with a nylon scrubber to clean hair and soap film from it. Screw it back into place after cleaning.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid using chemical cleaners on cast-iron, steel or brass as they corrode pipes, according to HomeOwnerCare.com.
References
Resources
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