Tips to Prevent Drain Issues

You probably don’t think too much about your home’s drain system – until it stops working. Most homeowners have neither the time nor the patience for these situations. Fortunately, we can offer some tips to help prevent drain issues before they happen.

Bathroom

Believe it or not, the bathroom is likely the most important room in your home. Everyone uses the bathroom. Between the sink, shower, tub, and toilet, the bathroom is also a place where clogs can run rampant – unless you’re careful.

• Cover drains with a mesh screen to catch and minimize the amount of hair and soap scum being washed down.
• Instead of chemical cleaners that can damage pipes and your pocketbook, try using a homemade drain cleaner.
• Don’t use your toilet as a trash bin. Only flush waste and toilet paper.
• Pour boiling water down each drain once a week to loosen and wash away any buildup.
• On occasion, a plumber should snake the drains. Keeping pipes maintained and clear will keep them from becoming fully clogged.

Kitchen

The kitchen is another important room, because it’s the hub for your family’s everyday life. This room is a haven for food preparation, problem solving, gathering, and socializing. And, like the bathroom, the kitchen is not immune to clogging. Here’s what you can do to prevent drain issues in the kitchen:

• Try not to put food down the kitchen sink. Scrape excess food from plates into the trash before washing dishes and use a strainer to catch food before it goes down the drain.
• Throw food and coffee grounds in the garbage or compost pile.
• Even if you have a garbage disposal, avoid putting things like banana peels, eggshells, and potato skins down the drain. They are more likely to stick to the inside of the pipes or get trapped in the disposal blades and lead to clogs.
• Properly dispose of cooking grease. Instead of washing it down the drain, save it in a cardboard milk container or a coffee can. Then, throw it in the trash.
• Once a week, pour boiling water down the drain. This will soften up and flush away any built-up grease inside the pipes.

Laundry Room

If your washing machine drains into a laundry tub, that drain is an easy target for clogs. To prevent this from happening, attach a mesh lint trap to the end of the washing machine discharge hose. You can also use pantyhose. These handy devices will collect lint and keep it from blocking your laundry tub drain. Just remember to periodically replace the trap.

Be careful with what you put through the pipes in your home to help prevent drain issues before they happen. To keep your drains in proper working order or if you’re in hot water with a tough clog, contact the full-service drain cleaning experts at Robillard Plumbing. We can tackle the issue and get your home’s plumbing back on track.