Keeping drains free of grease, food, and hair can be done simply with mesh screens. A regular cleaning of your drains with vinegar and baking soda can also keep them flowing freely. If you notice a drain that is either slow or smelly, it’s a good idea to get the drain cleaned professionally.
Guarding the Plastic
Depending on the age of your home, the drains under your tubs and sinks may contain plastic pipes or connections. There are many caustic chemicals that are promoted as drain cleaners designed to clear clogs. Unfortunately, these cleaners can cause problems further down the line.
Clogging material, such as fat, can build up along the sides of your drain pipes. If those pipes are plastic and you pour chemicals down them, you can scar the pipe. These scars actually increase the chance of a clog. While hair, grease or food waste may slip down a pipe that is smooth, once the pipe is damaged, more clogging material will catch along its interior.
Don’t Push the Clog Further Down the Pipe
Loosening a clog close to the drain opening may also cause problems further down the drainpipe. Plunging a sink can free up a clog and send it into a larger drain to flush away, or it can push the clog deeper into the drain.
Should you find that, after plunging your sink or tub, the drain remains slow, you will need the help of a professional. The drain may need to be snaked to clear a clog, or there may be a more serious problem further into your plumbing. Again, a slow drain is a symptom that something is not working correctly. Temporary fixes can make for much bigger problems in the future.
Consider a More Detailed Diagnosis
If your drains have been slow for a while, it’s a good idea to get your sewer line checked out. Tree roots, time, and other causes can damage the sewer pipe that runs from your home to the main line.
Clearing this may actually solve the drain problems in your home. However, getting the drain line checked out with a waterproof camera will reduce your worries and give you more information about the best way to keep all of your drains running well. If snaking your main drain solves your problem, talk with your plumbing professional about the simplest ways to protect your drains from the top down to avoid clogs in the future.
If you have property in Arvada, CO and need help preventing drain line emergencies through drain cleaning, call Flatirons Plumbing today.
