Your drains are crucial to maintain the convenience of waste removal through plumbing. When issues arise, you could have clogs, leaks, and water damage that cost you a load to repair. Prevent these problems and save your hard-earned money by following these simple tips and getting help from a professional plumber.
Use Drain Stoppers and Strainers
The most common problem people encounter with drains is clogs. Clogs form when foreign material goes down the drain and builds up, stopping the flow of water and waste. Keeping a stopper or strainer in your drains prevents most debris from infiltrating your pipes and causing clogs. Use a mesh strainer in your bathtub to trap hair and in your kitchen sink to stop unintentional food from going down the drain.
Never Pour Grease Down the Drain
Grease, oil, and fat are detrimental to your drains. Hot grease and oil harden as they cool and may stick to the inside of your pipes before they leave your home. Pour grease, oil, and fat into a glass jar to cool, and then toss it in the trash.
Only Flush Toilet Paper
The only thing safe to flush down the toilet other than human waste is toilet paper. Toilet paper is specially designed to dissolve in the sewer, making it safe for flushing. Wipes, paper towels, and feminine products should never be flushed, even if they are marketed as flushable. These products do not dissolve or disintegrate fast enough to keep them from clogging your pipes. Always throw anything other than toilet paper into the trash.
Install a Garbage Disposal
A garbage disposal is a device that attaches to your kitchen sink drain and pulverizes food before it goes down the drain. Garbage disposals have teeth or blades inside a reservoir. These blades turn food into mush so that it can go through your drainage system without getting stuck. Even with a garbage disposal, you must take special care to remember what can and cannot go down the drain. Bones are too hard and irregularly shaped; thus, they will damage or break the blades. Flour, starchy foods, and coffee grounds clump together when they get wet, creating a glob in your drains. Finally, never put anything other than food through your garbage disposal.
Schedule Routine Drain Cleaning
Professional drain cleaning is a method that uses specialized tools and techniques to remove debris from your pipes. Most experts recommend scheduling this service once a year to prevent clogs, toxin buildup, and damage to your pipes.
Caring for your drains is essential to maintain the health of your plumbing system. When you need a professional plumber for drain cleaning or other preventative drain measures in Monroe, LA, be sure to call the experts at Gordon AC & Plumbing.
