Any drain in your home or business can become clogged. The kitchen sink is a common culprit of a clogged or slow drain due to food waste, oil and grease build up. Another common location for drain clogs is the bathroom in both the sink and the bathtub or shower as loose hair combines with soap residue and creates a gunky build up. Yet another common place for clogs is the toilet, often from flushing disposable wipes, tooth floss and other items that should never be flushed. So how can you prevent clogged drains and what can you do once you have a clog?
Preventing Clogged Drains
The best defense against clogged or slow drains is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. In the kitchen, never pour grease or oil down the sink. These substances will cool and solidify in your pipes. When combined with other food waste, this greasy buildup can easily become a major clog. Also scrape excess food debris off of plates and dishes before putting them in the sink or dishwasher. What doesn’t go down the drain can’t contribute to a clog. It’s also ideal to run your garbage disposal every time you do dishes to help break up any food waste that does make it down the drain. And never put egg shells or fibrous foods through your garbage disposal. The fibers and pieces can easily contribute to a clog.
In the bathroom, use a hair catcher or hair trap to catch loose hair before it has a chance to go down the drain in your shower or bathtub. Be careful in the use of bath oils and soaps with fats in them as these can build up in drains just like pouring grease down the drain would in the kitchen. If you brush or cut your hair over the bathroom sink, it’s a good idea to use a hair trap there as well to prevent the buildup of hairy clogs. When it comes to the toilet, there are a number of items you should never flush. For example, disposable wipes – even those marketed as “flushable” don’t break down the way standard toilet tissue does and can contribute to massive clogs in your drain. Tooth floss is another example of an item that should never be flushed. The string winds around and creates clumps of material that result in a clog. It’s also a good practice to avoid flushing tampons. The cotton soaks up water and expands inside the plumbing and can cause serious clogs.
Drain Cleaning
When you have a clog or slow drains indicating a clog is building up, it’s time to call Williamson’s Rooter & Plumbing for a drain cleaning. We can dislodge clogs in a number of ways and help clear out the gunk and debris causing the clog. Even if you’re able to dislodge the clog, additional debris buildup could be occurring in your drains. It’s best to call in the professionals for a through drain cleaning to remove this built-up gunk. Our technicians have tools and high-powered water jets to safely break up the gunk and flush your drains clean. Clean drains also help eliminate and control drain odors.
When your drains run slow or you know you have a clog, give us a call. We’ll bust that clog and get your drains clean and running clear again. Our technicians have the training and expertise to help you with any drain clog or problem at your home or business.