How to Prevent Drain Clogs

Drain clogs are one of those unfortunate things that you will inevitably have to deal with at some time during your homeownership. They’re also one of those things that  most  homeowners deal with incorrectly. When you have a stubborn drain clog, it’s likely that you reach for some type of store-bought drain cleaner to manage the issue.

This is not an effective solution for  drain cleaning !

What  is  an effective solution is to call a professional plumber to resolve the problem. Store-bought solutions are corrosive and will eat away at your pipes over time. Besides, they only provide a temporary solution to whatever is causing the drain clog to begin with.

So, you know what  not  to do when you have a drain clog—but how do you prevent one from happening altogether?

Preventing drain clogs means being aware of what causes them to begin with. We’ve covered some of the basic culprits below, along with how to prevent them from impacting your plumbing system.

Hair:  Hair clogs are pretty common in bathroom sink drains (and bathtub drains). What happens is that the hair strands get stuck in the p-trap, which is that curved section of pipe beneath the sink drain. Once the hair is lodged in that section, it will start ensnaring other debris, leading to a tangle that can slow down the drainage or stop it up completely.

These clogs are tough to clear out, without the assistance of a plumbing pro. We are here and ready to help! But if we can help you prevent it, that’s great too. We recommend using a drain cover you can get at any home goods store in order to slow down hair accumulation.

Food and FOG:  FOG stands for fats, oils, and grease, and is a huge threat to your kitchen sink drain. The problem with FOG is that it hardens as it cools. So, when you pour it down the drain after cooking, it congeals there and creates a significant blockage over time.

The best way to prevent this is to avoid pouring FOG down the drain at all. Instead, you can pour it into a disposable container such as a tin can, and then throw away the can once the FOG has hardened.

As for food, most food products can be broken up quite well by your garbage disposal, before it enters the drain. But there are some foods that are not appropriate to rely on your garbage disposal with. Potato skins are one, as well as rice and pasta, both of which expand in water and can create clogs all on their own. Be sure with these types of food, to throw them away instead of putting them down your drain.

Hard Water Minerals:  We’re talking about calcium and magnesium, here. These minerals are not harmful for people or pets to ingest, however they  are  harmful to your pipes. They cause limescale buildup, which not only creates clogs, but can also cause corrosion and leaks. If you have a hard water problem, the best thing to do to prevent plumbing damage is to have a  whole-house water softener  installed.

For “Services You Can Depend On,”  contact Doug Turner Plumbing CO.  today!

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