If you want to avoid a horrible surprise, all it takes is a bit of preventative care and an annual visit from your friendly local drain cleaning company. Read on to learn how regular maintenance for your drains can save you money and prevent gross surprises.
Why Drains Become Clogged
Drains become clogged when there is an accumulation of materials either along the sides of the pipes or somewhere in the pipes’ trajectory, often in bends and elbows. Materials that clog an in-home drain include:
Build-up from soap and personal hygiene (skin flakes, hair, etc.)
Human and pet hair that binds with other substances in the drain
Fats, oils, and grease
Food scraps
Mineral build-up from hard water
Flushing of inappropriate items, including wipes and feminine hygiene products
The first line of defense against clogging is to use hair stoppers and other drain covers to help prevent hair, food, and other small items like jewelry from getting into the drain.
DIY Drain Maintenance
Oil and Vinegar
Oil and vinegar might make a great salad dressing, but only one should go down your drain, and it’s not oil. Combined with baking soda and boiling water, vinegar can be a great ingredient in your weekly drain maintenance, which simply consists of pouring boiling water down your drains.
For extra preventive maintenance for drains, pour in ½ cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup of white or apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Let it bubble for 30 minutes. Be sure to flush everything away with another round of very hot or recently boiled water, so the pipes do not become clogged with your DIY solution.
Unlike vinegar, oil should never go down the drain. There is a reason, after all, that we say oil and water do not mix. In fact, oil and grease coagulate and create clogs in your drain. The weekly pouring of boiling water down the drain can help combat this.
Like oil, anything harsher than vinegar, even if it is a drain cleaner, should not be used as maintenance for drains. Chemicals such as lye, bleach, and sulfuric acid can lead to pipe damage, polluted water systems, toxic fumes, and even future chemical reactions inside your plumbing system.
Snakes and U’s
A less regular maintenance task for drains can consist of snaking to remove lodged particles or unscrewing the U-curve. Once you remove the U-curve, remove any build-up and gunk you find in the U and the pipe leading to and away from it. Rinse the U-curve clean and securely reattach it.
Regular Inspection
If, as they say, prevention is the best medicine, then calling in a professional for a regular drain inspection is your best maintenance for drains. A professional drain inspection can help save you from backed-up sinks like the one pictured above through the early detection and repair of problems and deep drain cleaning as well as other drain and sewer problems.
Canessco Services Inc.
In Edmonton, Alberta, call Canessco Services Inc. to extend the lifespan of your plumbing, save you money, and keep your home safe and dry.