The drainage system in your home plays an important role because it transports dirty water from your sinks down into the sewage system. This is the reason why it’s so important that it’s free of any clogs to ensure the passage runs smoothly.
However, despite the precautionary measures we take, it could still get clogged up. The cleaning solutions and other substances that we flush down the drain can thicken the pipe walls and cause problems later.
There are still things you can do to further ensure that this scenario doesn’t happen to your home!
1. Use DIY drain pipes clearing solutions
For cleaning kitchen sinks and bathroom drains, you can get a practical, cheap drain cleaner by mixing salt and white vinegar. Pour a couple of tablespoons of salt in the drain followed by ¼ cup of vinegar and let it sit for an hour or two. To clear out all the loosened substances, run hot water to flush them out. For better results, do this a couple of times. Besides keeping your drain clean, it will help you get rid of the drain smell.
2. Avoid pouring grease down the sink
After using your DIY clearing solution, you must keep the grease away from your drain as much as possible. Oils and grease can create giant clogs when bonding with other solid elements. Instead of pouring grease down the sink, pour it into a can or old container and throw it away. It will help you prevent any unwanted grease clog in your kitchen drain.
If there is any grease build-up in your drain, you can remedy it with liquid dish soap and boiling water.
How?
Well, all you need to do is squirt a tablespoon of the soap and pour boiling water into the drain. This mix will melt the grease and oil as it flushes away. Source: Discover Plumbing & Rooter
3. Invest in some drain guards
Drain guards (also known as drain protectors) are your first line of defense against clog-causers like food and hair. You can purchase them in a variety of shapes, materials, and sizes to fit your sink, bathtub, and shower drains, and they’re relatively affordable. The TubShroom is a particularly popular option for bathrooms. Source: The Rooter Works
4. Clean items covered with paint, grout, and mortar mix outside
A weekend warrior should always wash their tools, but if those tools are covered in a substance that hardens (like grout, paint, or mortar mix), do not clean them indoors. While these substances might appear to go down your drains just fine, they will solidify in your pipes, making them narrower and easier to clog.
5. Limit the foods you put down the garbage disposal
Despite what its name might imply, not just any garbage should be going down your garbage disposal. The only things that equipment should be “eating” are tiny food remnants. Avoid feeding it any starchy vegetables, as those tend to form a clog-causing paste. Foods that expand (like pasta and rice) are also infamous for creating blockages. Source: Rudd Plumbing
Make sure to pass this on to everyone in your home so that you will surely avoid clogging up your drainage system and let everything run smoothly. If ever worse comes to worse, just give us a call and we’ll clear it up for you!
Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
168 W 71st Ave, Vancouver, BC V5X 4S7
(604) 360-2114
