You might not think about all of the things rinsing down the various drains in your home, but a clog can easily happen, and is a hassle to take care of. However, preventing your pipes from getting clogged is pretty easy.
A simple solution is to use a drain screen. These are usually inexpensive, made of rubber or plastic, are placed just over any drain in the home, and will stop most debris from going down the drain.
The holes on the drain screen are small enough to prevent major clog-causing items such as hair and soap scum. To clean the screen, simply remove it, toss out the debris, and replace it over the drain before using the tub or the sink again.
A good rule of thumb for your kitchen, or any drain in the home, is to avoid pouring grease down the drain. Pouring grease down the drain will cause a clog once it hardens, and can be difficult to remove. Instead, let the grease harden and throw it into the trash.
Your bathroom sink or tub might have a popup stopper. These can catch debris, which is good, but it needs to be cleaned regularly, or it will also cause a backup.
Next, make it a habit to pour boiling water down your drains once each week. The hot water will dissolve small amounts of debris, such as scum or buildup, and will keep the drain from slowing down.
Finally, don’t pour anything in question down the drain. Even chemicals can cause harm to your pipes or possibly a backup. If you don’t think it should be rinsed down the drain, don’t test it.
Using these five tips will keep your drains clear and running smoothly to avoid purchasing unclogging chemicals or causing a bigger problem altogether.
(Flickr Photo By David Blackwell)
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