What’s the easiest way to fix a clogged drain? Making sure it doesn’t get clogged in the first place!
With simple routine maintenance and a little due diligence, you can make sure your drain runs freely and drastically cut down on clogs. It’s easier than you think!
- Stop food from going down the drain. Certain foods will break up in your drain and pose little risk to your plumbing…but why risk it? If you don’t have a garbage disposal, It’s much easier to assume that any food in your sink poses a potential threat to your drain. Most of us have some type of basket strainer in our kitchen sink that we use to stop the flow of water and fill the sink while we wash dishes and filter out food particles. However, these can sometimes get dislodged and allow unwanted materials to go through your drain. A wire mesh screen is a perfect solution – the screen sits in your sink all day and catches all waste materials before flowing through your pipes.
- Eliminate grease buildup. By now, we all know the devastating effects that grease can have on our plumbing. Even if we do our best to stop grease and oil from going through our drains, a little buildup is inevitable over time. To get rid of unwanted grease, bring a large pot of boiling water to a boil. While the water is getting up to temperature, squeeze a generous amount of dish soap into your drain and let it coat your pipes. Then, slowly pour the water down the drain (be careful to avoid splashing yourself!). The hot water will melt away grease deposits while the dish soap will help dissolve the particles as they wash down the drain. Repeat every other week or as necessary for quick-flowing plumbing.
- Deep clean your pipes. Using this natural method about once a month will help keep your kitchen pipes clear of organic debris without damaging your plumbing. Combine 1/3 cup of vinegar with 1/3 cup of baking soda. When the mixture starts to bubble, pour it down your drain and let it sit overnight (or at least 8 hours). In the morning, flush with warm water to wash away built up debris.
- Keep your garbage disposal clean. For those of you with a garbage disposal, you know how much easier they can make life in the kitchen. But they can also cause some major headaches if they aren’t properly maintained! Since its job is to get rid of organic waste, garbage disposals are susceptible to clogs from excess buildup. Luckily, there’s an easy and effective method to safely get rid of this material. Fill an ice tube tray halfway with vinegar and then add water. Once your vinegar cubes are ready, turn on your disposal and drop in two to three cubes. The ice will knock off chunks of debris while the vinegar gently cleanses the disposal as the cubes melt. Repeat until all your cubes are gone. Then, with the disposal still on, run cold water down your drain for a final rinse. Use this method once a month to keep your garbage disposal in peak condition.
Even with the most meticulous sink maintenance, clogs can happen to the best of us – and that’s no problem! Our experienced team of technicians have seen just about everything and can handle the worst types of clogs, day or night, 24/7. No matter when it happens, Pearson always has your back!
