The drains and sewer often seem to clog at the most inconvenient time, like when you have a house party or entertaining guests in your home. The best way to avoid frustrating clogs and nasty backups in your plumbing system is through preventive maintenance. It is the easiest way to keep your home’s plumbing system clean, healthy and running freely. Unfortunately, neglected plumbing pipes contain buildups of sediment, hair, grease, rust and other chemicals that cause serious corrosion that leave your pipes damaged. Here are the five ways to prevent clogs in your sewer and drainage.
Catching Hair Before It Reaches The Drain
Some hair and soap often find their way into the sewer pipes, causing severe tub clogs. To prevent this from happening, install a strainer to keep hair and other elements from your plumbing pipes. Ensure that you clean it regularly to allow the water to drain freely from your shower or bathtub. If you experience a clog, remove the strainer and plunge the drain. If the drain does not unclog after several pushes, you may need to call a DC drain and sewer service to assess and address the situation.
Collect Grease
Pouring grease down your kitchen drain is one the worst thing to do. Once you pour hot oil, it will run down the drain until it cools down in the pipe where it congeals to begin forming a clog. With time, more stuff gets stuck in it and this buildup of elements may create a major clog. The best way to prevent these clogs is by avoiding the pouring of oil and grease in your drains. You can place a jar in your kitchen to collect your oil and grease and throw it away in the trash once it becomes full.
Avoid Rinsing Cement Down The Drain
Cement often hardens through a chemical reaction and will settle down even under water forming a rock-hard clog. Sand is also a danger to drains since it is heavy and settles quickly in pipes forming clogs that are difficult to remove. To prevent these clogs, avoid rinsing any setting, joint or cementing compounds down the drains.
Flush Your Drains
Low-flow faucets and toilets are great ways of saving on water usage but not effective in safeguarding your drains. The low pressure of the water does not clear the entire debris but instead leaves it to build up in your pipes. To prevent this, ensure that you flush your pipes regularly with large volumes of water. You can fill a bucket with water as you simultaneously flush the toilet to keep the main drain clear. You can also fill your sinks and tubs with some hot water and release it down the drains.
Collect Your Food Waste
Crushing up food remains in the disposer and flushing it down your drain may be convenient, but it can create clogs in the pipes. The best way is to collect the food waste in a container and throw it in a compost bin.
In conclusion, clogged drains and sewer backups can be such a nuisance. In case you have a drain emergency or backup, locate and shut down all the valves in your home including the main water valve if there is a severe water leak. If you are not familiar with your plumbing system or don’t feel confident making any plumbing decisions, contact a DC drain and sewer service for all your emergency plumbing and drain concerns.
