Did you know that nearly 14% of all water use in a home is the result of leaks in a person’s plumbing system?
Calling local plumbing companies for drain line repair is not something you want to make a weekly occurrence. Even mild clogs in your home’s drain lines have the potential to become a serious expense.
Even though plumbing codes, quality piping materials, and standard home maintenance should keep clogs to a minimum, a clogged drain can still happen at any time, especially since most people don’t think about their plumbing maintenance until after a clog has occurred.
Drain clogs can result in serious water damage to the structure of your home. They can cause electrical hazards if water comes in contact with your home’s wiring. They can also pose a significant health risk.
Taking steps to avoid clogged drains can save you a lot of time and a lot of money in the long run. To avoid clogged drains, or having to call for drain line repairs or drain line replacements in the first place, remember the following five tips.
Keep the Kitchen Drain Clean
When you finish washing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen after a meal, run hot water down the drain for a few minutes after letting out the dishwater. This will prevent grease from building up in your drains and also help avoid hard water deposits from accumulating in your pipes.
To increase these benefits, it also helps to pour a half cup of baking soda and then a half cup of vinegar into your drain, then wash them down using boiling water. Do this once every few days for maximum benefits, so you can prevent the need for drain line repair down the road.
Check the Bathtub Drain and Stopper
While you should clean your drain every time you shower, remembering to check the drain in your bathtub for hair and biofilm buildup every few months will keep your drains running smoothly. Biofilm is a combination mixture of body oils, soap scum, food particles, and bacteria, which harden and layer up over time. Along with excess hair, biofilm can cause serious clogs in tub drains.
While you’re at it, check the tub stopper and see if it needs replacing from wear and tear. Help maintain your stopper and drain by filling the tub half-full with hot water, and then pulling the stopper once each month. The volume and weight of the water gushing through the drain will force any lingering particles down the drain line.
Call the Plumber for a Plumbing System Check-Up
Every six to 12 months, you should hire your San Diego plumbing company to inspect your home’s plumbing for maintenance. The plumber should snake your drain lines to dislodge any mild clogs or buildup.
Major connections, like your septic tank or main pipe leading to the sewer system, should be periodically inspected. Sometimes small roots can penetrate a pipe, and it should be discovered and cleaned up before it has a chance to escalate into a serious problem.
If a plumbing company doesn’t make regular inspections of these major pipes, these roots can grow and become entrenched inside the large pipes, and they will have to be replaced completely.
Avoid Kitchen Sink Clogs
Along with the above practices for preventing kitchen sink clogs, it’s very important to avoid pouring certain substances down the drain. Coffee grounds, food particles, large quantities of crumbs, and grease should be kept out of the sink at all times.
Use the Right Cleaners, Degreasers, and Clog Removers
Chemical-based cleaners, degreasers, and clog removers can cause corrosion in metal pipes and fittings. Instead, use cleaners made from safe, natural ingredients (which are better for your local environment and wildlife anyway), and use clog removers made from enzymes and natural bacteria.
When enzyme- or bacteria-based drain cleaner is poured down the drain, colonies of good bacteria are created inside the pipe. These bacteria naturally break down biofilm and lingering particles, thus killing bad, clog-causing bacteria.
Use this natural clog remover at night, right before everyone in your household goes to bed. If it’s used during the day, and someone runs water into the drain, the good bacteria won’t have time to populate and break down the clog.
Conclusion
By using the above five tips on a consistent basis, you can prevent clogged lines that lead to drain line repair. Remember to contact your local plumbing service to for regular drain and sewer line inspections.