You don’t think much about it, but your plumbing system plays a significant role in your everyday life. Your plumbing drains, in particular, work hard in keeping wastewater away from your home as possible.
And yet, blocked drains are also one of the most common plumbing issues that most homeowners encounter. Water not only takes forever to drain but can also back up, creating a nasty mess, in which case you’ll need the assistance of a local plumber. For this reason, it’s important to take preventive measures to keep your drains clean and clear.
In this article, you’ll learn the dos and don’ts of drain cleaning to ensure that you’re cleaning your drain the right way.
Dos Of Drain Cleaning
- Do Call A Plumber
While you can simply clean your drains on your own, you’ll want to hire professional plumbers to do a preventive deep cleaning at least once a year. Contractors like Olympic Plumbing Technology, the best and most experienced local plumber Lacey, WA has to offer, have the necessary experience and tools to deal with all drain issues.
Deep cleaning a drain is a nasty business. You can save yourself trouble by letting the experts do the job. What’s more, an expert plumber has a better understanding of what’s really wrong with your plumbing.
A clogged drain may seem like a simple issue, but there may be a more severe underlying cause that needs to be resolved such as a corroded pipe or gunk buildup. With a plumber, you’ll never miss the bigger issue. Lastly, hiring a plumber can offer you expert guidance on how to properly use and maintain your drainage system
If you want to know more about Olympic Plumbing Technology, watch this video:
Do Install Drain Caps And Filters
Probably the easiest way to keep your drain clean and clear is to simply buy a drain cap or filter. In general, most drain fixtures often come with a filter. However, if yours doesn’t have one or the one that came with your drain is already damaged or worn out, you can get a filter for just about USD$5 at any local hardware store.
These filters can help catch food particles or other objects, which could cause blockages and clogs on your pipes while making it easier to clean your sink.
- Do Use Homemade Cleaners
You don’t have to rely on commercial drain cleaners to clear your drain. In general, you can use a homemade mixture of baking soda and vinegar. These products have powerful cleaning properties that help loosen gunk and debris build-up within pipes.
You can simply pour a cup of baking soda, then a cup of vinegar down your pipes. Leave the mixture for up to 30 minutes. Then, pour hot water into your pipes to clean off the mixture. If all goes well, this cleaning solution can remove all clogs in your drain.
Don’ts of Drain Cleaning
- Don’t Use Chemical Drain Cleaners
In general, store-brought chemical drain cleaners are effective in clearing up debris in your drain. However, these are only temporary solutions that can cause lasting damage to your pipes. While they can help in breaking down the gunk in your pipes, chemical cleaners are too potent that they eat away pipes, causing corrosion and leaks as well as causing too much damage to your septic system. So, consider avoiding these cleaners and instead opt for the homemade solution mentioned above.
- Don’t Poke Your Drain
When clogs occur, it’s tempting to make your own drain cleaning tool like the ones used by a plumber. Most people make a makeshift drain snake by straightening a coat hanger or using a broom handle. If these makeshift tools are utilized incorrectly, they can create more issues than they solve.
Pushing against a clog may not break it up but rather push it further down the drain, making it more difficult to clear. Ramming a clog free with large tools like a broom handle or an improvised pole can risk damaging the pipe, especially in curved areas.
- Don’t Hose It Down
Whether you have a blocked drain or just want to clean your drain, you may be tempted to use a garden hose and start applying pressure to clear the drain. However, hydro jetting a drain should be done with equipment designed for that purpose.
A garden hose isn’t the ideal equipment for trying to clean or unblock a drain. The pressure may not be strong enough or too much, causing further damage to your pipes. It can also cause flooding, which makes matters worse.
Takeaway
And there you have it! Keeping the drains in your home clean and clear of blockages means knowing what to do and what not to do. So, make sure to keep the above dos and don’ts in mind the next time you use and clean your drains to prevent nasty clogs and promote a healthy drainage system.
