Prevent Drain Clogging

Have you experienced a few clogged drains? Nothing is more frustrating than a clogged drain which is the most common plumbing problem we see. Grease build-up in kitchen sink drains trap food particles that eventually clog the drain. Hair and soap are usually at fault in bathroom drains. Here are a few tips to prevent your drains from clogging.

• Do not pour grease down any sink. Store it in a container (glass, aluminum, metal) until it is cooled down then dispose. Grease hardens as it cools and traps food particles if poured down a drain.
• Do not wash coffee grounds down the sink. Be sure to throw them into the trash.
• If you have brass, steel or cast-iron traps and drain pipes, be cautious when using chemical cleaners. Some chemicals can corrode metal pipes. Cleaners containing sodium hydroxide or sodium nitrate can be safe and effective.
• Clean your floor drain strainers. Some tubs, showers and basement floor drains have strainers that are just below the drain opening. These strainers can easily be removed and cleaned to clear out any debris.
• Clean your pop-up stoppers in your sink and tub regularly. Lift out these stoppers and rinse them off weekly.
• Every few months be sure to clean the spring or rocker arm that sits behind the overflow plate on your tub. Hair can accumulate on this arm or spring and cause clogging.
• When on your roof cleaning out downspouts or gutters, flush the drain-waste and vent systems. Just run water from a hose into all vents, giving them a few minutes of full flow.
• Keep sewer pipes from your home free of tree roots. If roots are a big problem in your yard, you may need to call a professional annually to clear those pipes. An electric auger is used to cut out the roots.

As always, if you have a plumbing emergency or are in need of a plumbing service, be sure to call Badgerland Plumbing at (262) 305-7101.