How to Prevent Clogged Sinks and Drains

A clogged drain can be a problem, and whether it’s in the kitchen or the bathroom, it can disrupt your life. Clogged drains can cause the toilet to overflow or the kitchen sink to back up, and clogged drain cleaning is not always easy. Fortunately, learning a few facts about plumbing maintenance and clearing drain pipes can help you keep your drains flowing freely and your day-to-day life running smoothly.

Preventative Measures for Kitchen Drains

The first step in keeping drains in good working order is to be careful about what you put into them. If you don’t have a disposal, don’t put food scraps into the sink, but use a drain strainer to catch anything that might go down the drain. Be careful not to pour grease or oil down your drain, because they can stick to the inside of the drainpipes and cause clogs. At least once a week, pour hot water down the drain to keep it clear. If you do have a disposal, it is still important to be careful with what you put into it. Don’t put bones, eggshells, coffee grounds, banana peels, or starchy foods down the disposal, and keep it clear of oil and grease. Keep your disposal in good condition by always running water when you are using it.

Preventative Measures for Bathroom Drains

In the bathroom, as in the kitchen, preventing clogs is largely a matter of being careful about what goes down the drain. Cover the tub and shower drains with a drain screen, made of mesh or perforated, to catch hair and soap scum out of the drain. Before bathing or taking a shower, brush your hair to keep loose hair from falling out and going down the drain. If you are bathing your dog, put a washcloth over the drain; a regular hair catcher can’t handle the amount of hair a dog sheds. Be cautious about what goes into your toilet, too. Toilets are meant to handle human waste and toilet paper, and flushing other things can clog your drains. Discard things like dental floss and feminine hygiene products in the trash can rather than the toilet.

General Drain Maintenance Tips

To keep your drains functioning as they should, clean them once a week. In the bathroom, remove the stoppers, remove debris from the drains, and clean the stoppers before returning them to the drains. In the kitchen, clean the disposal with ice to sharpen the blades and clean the disposal. Flush both the bathroom and kitchen drains weekly with hot water, and run hot water down the shower drain at the end of every shower. If your drains tend to run slowly, consider a bacterial drain cleaner, preferably once a month, to prevent clogs before they become an issue. For additional maintenance, enlist the help of a plumber with tools like hydro-jetting, which can keep the inside of your pipes clean and prevent clogs from forming.

When to Seek Professional Help

Sometimes, despite your best efforts at keeping your drains clear, they can become clogged. If this happens, you can try to shift the clog, using a plunger or an auger. You can also use an enzymatic drain cleaner, vinegar and baking soda, or dish soap and hot water to try to clear your drains.

However, sometimes a clog will be unresponsive to your best efforts to clear it. When that is the case, call in a plumber with the expertise to clear the clog and get your drain running again. Plumbers have the tools, equipment, and knowledge to get the job done quickly and effectively, without damaging your pipes or making a mess. Consider scheduling regular plumbing inspections, so that a professional can check your plumbing system and resolve any issues before they become major problems.  

Call Sewer and Drain Champion for Plumbing Issues, Like a Blocked Sink or Drain

If you have plumbing issues and you live in the Sacramento area, Sewer and Drain Champion can help. Our local, family-owned plumbing company has been serving the community for nearly a decade, providing 24/7 plumbing services for residential and commercial customers. When dealing with something as important as plumbing, it is important to rely on the skills of a professional to prevent property damage and even injuries.

DIY plumbing mishaps can make problems worse, but our experienced team is knowledgeable, experienced, and equipped to handle your biggest sewer and drain challenges. We are a full sewer and drain service company, and as a locally owned company, we are proud to be a part of the Sacramento community. Deeply invested in our community, we provide free estimates for all services and always give our customers fair, upfront pricing. When you need fast, friendly, reliable sewer and drain solutions, contact us through our website or fill out an online form to schedule an appointment.