What causes drain clogs and how to prevent them ?

Ask any plumbing company anywhere in the world and they will confirm that the most sought-after service is drain unclogging. While some clogs are easily removed with DIY tricks, some appear all of a sudden making you call for emergency plumbing service. Some ruin your entire property and savings budget due to extensive damage to the plumbing network. But the problem with drain block isn’t always about the repairs and bills – it’s how they damage your sense of peace because you are constantly wondering why there is backflow and anticipating the next block in the drains.

So what can you do to reduce the chances of drains and pipes getting blocked? What steps should you take to ensure hygiene and a sense of security for everyone in your home? Instead of tackling the issue after its occurrence, here are a few tips that will help you with your drain health and avoid clogs.

Do It Yourself, however, Do it with Caution

There are far too many so-called experts available online that will tell you different hacks and tips to resolve any type of drain and pipes blocks. Chances are it will work once in a while and for small durations. However, using too many chemical drain cleaners and other materials can cause more damage to the pipe interiors, and sometimes, not even affect the clogged area. If you spot a drain block and it does not go away even after applying DIY hacks, it is time to call in for professionals to take care of the issue.

Caring for your toilet is caring for your drain health

No kidding... The more you practice simple precautions and habits, the number of times your toilet drains getting stuck will reduce dramatically. Make it a habit for everyone at home to use toilet paper in moderation and to use frequent flushing. Also, take care that there is a proper garbage disposal system for waste materials like facial tissue, baby wipes, feminine products etc. These products are absolutely not flushable, even flushable wipes. Sometimes the blockages are caused by the innocent hands of the kids and their curiosity. As parents and caretakers make sure to train them at the small age itself to use toilet paper only as required and that toilet bowls are not for their toys.

Do not let your Kitchen Sink be a rabbit hole

It is natural for sinks in homes to be clogged. It is also the first place in a house that should be cleaned and unclogged daily / regularly because it directly affects the health and wellbeing of everyone in the house. One of the most important precautions is to refrain from discarding all your food scraps down the drain. Watch out for foul smell from the drains and backflow of water in your kitchen sink, it could be because of the following reasons. Items that are starchy or fibrous, things like potato peels, pasta, and rice should go into the garbage can or else it with get mixed with the sludge within the pipes and develop into bigger blocks. The same goes for cooking grease and fats because these products tend to collect inside your pipes over time and hamper the smooth flow of wastewater. Remember to put these substances in the trash to improve the health and longevity of your drain pipes. If you put meat waste like bones in the drain, there is a high chance of it damaging the disposal blades and resulting in the whole unit's function.

Choose a drain filter

Drain filters are a godsend as it helps tremendously to improve your toilet drain health. They are cheap, easy to use and clean. Installing these mesh screens in your bathrooms can control the amount of waste and debris that passes into the drains. Most of the time, the clogs are caused by hairs, both long and short and get accumulated into a block.

While these are some effective practices that help prevent drain blocks in your home, you would still need to call in professionals if repeated clogs occur. Never attempt plumbing repairs on your own because you might be accidentally causing more damage than helping the situation. Only a professional plumber will be able to accurately identify the root cause of the issue and take the necessary steps to address them. Trained and experienced plumbers have access to modern tools like cameras connected to long snake-like cables that move down the pipes that help to find and clear clogs.

Are you wondering if your drain and pipes need to be checked for clogs and blocks?

Be it clog prevention, routine maintenance and regular plumbing inspection, we are here to help you with our expertise and experience. We are just a call away.