As a homeowner, you are sure to be on the lookout for ways to minimize the amount of repairs and maintenance in your home. One of the best ways to do this is to take a proactive approach to some of the most common maintenance and repairs – such as keeping the drains in your sink free from food scraps, grease, hair and other drain-clogging debris. The five secrets below will help you to reduce the frequency of clogged drains throughout the home.
Don’t Use Your Drain as a Garbage
Just because food scraps, hair and other debris are small, and can quickly and easily make their way into the drain – does not mean that you should intentionally be using your drain as a garbage. For example, take the time to thoroughly scrape off your dishes into the garbage – unless you have a garbage disposal. Also, clean up any hair that falls into the sink while shaving or styling your hair before it goes into the drain. While it may appear as though small amounts of food or hair can easily navigate your drain, it’s what happens after they’re out of sight that can cause trouble. Over time, small bits of debris get stuck somewhere in the twists and turns of your line, building up to block drainage.
Invest in a Drain Catcher
A drain catcher is a small investment that can lead to a significant amount of savings when it comes to drain repairs. Head to your local home and garden store to find a large selection of drain catchers for all the sinks and drains in your home, just make sure to take note of the size you need before you head out to buy.
Avoid Pouring Grease Down the Drain
While it is impossible to keep grease or fat from entering your drain altogether, you should never intentionally pour grease or oil down the drain. The small traces found on plates and bowls after cooking or eating are fine, but never pour out excess grease from pots and pans into the drain. Instead, keep a glass jar close to the sink and toss the remaining hardened grease into the garbage.
Use Cold Water When Running the Garbage Disposal
Since small amounts of grease and fat will inevitably make their way into your drain, it is important that you use only cold water when running your garbage disposal. If you use hot or warm water, the grease will melt – meaning that at some point along the way it will harden in your line. If you keep the water cold, the grease will stay runny and pass right on through the disposal.
Keep Away from Chemical Decloggers
While a store-bought chemical declogger may provide a quick fix to a slow moving drain, using these cleaning agents on a regular basis can be severely damaging to your lines and lead to even more costly repairs in the end. If you find that your drain is slow and clogged with frequency, there is likely a larger issue at hand – meaning that it is time to call a plumbing professional. Many professional Pittsburgh Plumbers now use video inspection to help pinpoint the problem before even starting the job, helping you save time and money on almost any repair.
If you’re drains are being consistently clogged, call in the experts at Mister Sewer to help get your pipes back up to par. Using state-of-the-art video inspection cameras, drain snaking, and hydro jetting technologies, our Pittsburgh plumbers will get your home back in working order in no time at all. Call Mister Sewer today to schedule your inspection and let us help keep your entire home free of plumbing problems.