Drain Clogs Can Usually Be Traced Back To These Big Three Culprits
Most every homeowner -- and even many apartment dwellers -- have to deal with clogged drains from time to time. The water stays stagnant in the sink or tub, and you're forced to reach for the plunger or drain cleaner. While many clogs can be removed with a plunger and some effort, it's still easier to prevent them from forming in the first place. Most clogs can be traced back to three main culprits; if you avoid these culprits, you'll avoid clogs.
Grease and Food Scraps
In the kitchen, many clogs are caused by grease. When you rinse grease or fatty sauces down the drain, they stick to the sides of pipes. They may not cause a clog immediately, but over time, they start grabbing onto small particles of food, from rice to veggie peels, that get rinsed down the drain. Eventually, the drain gets blocked completely.
Your best strategy is to pour any grease into a bowl or mug, let it solidify, and then dispose of it in the trash. Also, keep the basket in your kitchen sink drain at all times so you're catching food particles before them get rinsed down there.
Hair
In the bathroom, the most common cause of clogs is hair. Some people are under the misconception that if they have short hair, it's okay to let it just rinse down the drain. But even short hair can form tangles and mats in your drain. It also gets caught on any soap scum that sticks to the inside of your drain.
To prevent hair-based clogs, keep a drain trap in your shower drain. Also, pour some baking soda and vinegar down the drain about once a month. This helps rinse away soap scum so it does not keep grabbing onto stray hairs and contributing to clogs.
Lint
In the laundry room, lint can cause clogs in drains. Make sure you put a mesh sleeve over the drain pipe that leads out of your washer. If you can't find a mesh sleeve, you can also rubber band a piece of pantyhose or cheesecloth over the end of the pipe. It will collect lint and other debris, preventing it from going down the drain.
To learn more about clog prevention, reach out to a local plumber, like Backlund Plumbing. If you're having frequent issues with clogs, you may want to look more closely at these three common culprits and take more measures to keep them out of your drains.
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