Clogged drains seem to always strike at the worst possible times. The good news, though, is that there are things you can do to help prevent clogged drains from happening in the first place.
Ready to keep those drains flowing? Here are a few great tips for preventing clogged drains.
Keep grease out of your drains
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to keep your drain in good working order is to not put food grease down your drain. A lot of people simply dump their excess grease down their kitchen drain or in their toilet. Again – this is one of the worst things you can possibly do to your drains.
After hot grease is dumped into a drain, it eventually cools and congeals in the pipe. This grease then catches and traps all kinds of things that go down your drain (hair, food, etc.). The debris builds up over time until you have a major clog.
The solution? Just don’t pour grease down the drain. Keep a jar or can handy to collect grease when needed.
Use drain screens, strainers, or stoppers
Drain screens, strainers, and stoppers are some of the simplest and most effective ways to help prevent clogged drains. Drain screens and fit over or into drain openings in showers, kitchen and bathroom sinks, utility tubs, and more. They keep food, hair, and other debris from going down your drains.
Strainers and stoppers fit in your drains and also keep debris from going down into your pipes.
These simple, inexpensive tools go a long way in keeping your drains free from clogs. Just make sure to clear the debris from the screens, strainers, or stoppers often.
Collect food waste
For many, getting rid of a little excess food or coffee grounds is as simple as letting your sink rinse it away down the drain – especially when they have a garbage disposal. But it is far better and better for your drains and pipes to keep food, coffee grounds, and other waste in a compost or simply toss them in the trash.
Hot water to the rescue
Make it a habit to flush hot water through your drains regularly – even up to once a week. Hot water helps to melt and clear grease, scum, and/or build-up.
Common Items That Will Clog Your Drain
- Fat, Oil, and Grease
- Coffee Grounds
- Egg Shells
- Pasta, rice, breads
- Cat Litter
- Paper Towels/Baby Wipes/Feminine Hygiene Products
- Cotton balls and swabs, cigarette butts