What Is The Best Way To Prevent Clogged Drains?

8 Methods You Can Use To Prevent Clogged
Drains In Your Oakland, CA Home

Properly Draining Lines Is A Must-Have For
Your Plumbing

There’s nothing worse than a clogged drain in your Oakland, CA, home. Unclogging your sink or toilet is tedious, time-consuming, and hard work. But if your sinks and toilets aren’t draining water properly, it could be a sign of a major plumbing problem. Understanding how to prevent and fix clogs can save you time and money in the long run.

In a perfect world, your Oakland, CA, home’s drains would be clog-free for life. While we can’t guarantee you’ll never experience another clog – following our eight expert tips can help prevent them. Let’s take a look at the best ways to keep your home’s drains running smoothly.

1. Use A Drain Strainer

Our first tip costs only a few dollars and can work wonders for keeping your drains free of clogs. Invest in a drain strainer for any sink or drain in your Oakland, CA, home that does not have a garbage disposal.

These small and cheap drain strainers will help keep food particles, hair, and other debris from entering your pipes and causing clogs. They are washable, easily replaceable, and will save you lots of money in maintenance and repair.

Especially in the shower, strainers can help keep your drain from becoming clogged with hair and soap scum. Be sure to read reviews and find a quality strainer that is the right size for your particular drain. Ensuring you have a good seal around the edges is imperative for proper straining.

2. Watch What You Flush

Ideally, you never want to flush anything but toilet paper down your toilet. There are many “flushable wipes” on the market, but due to their thickness, they can easily cause a clog in your line if too many are flushed.

A clog in your line can wreak havoc on your entire sewer system and cause serious damage to your home.

Likewise, paper towels should never be flushed down the toilet due to their size and sturdy texture. Instead, throw wipes and paper towels in the trash to keep your toilet free of clogs.

3. Some Foods Should Not Be Put Into The
Garbage Disposal

While many homeowners think their garbage disposal is meant to handle it all — that is not the case. There are several foods that, when put into a garbage disposal, can lead to a clog in the drain lines. The most common foods that cause issues include:

• Banana peels
• Coffee grounds
• Eggshells
• Potato skins
• Rice

Ultimately, you want to avoid putting anything thick or sticky into the disposal, as these do not grind well – leading to chunks of items entering the drain lines.

4. Run Hot Water Into The Sink

Once a week, consider running hot water into the drain to help clear out any residue or grease that could lead to future problems. Many people boil a pot of water to ensure the temperature is hot enough to melt away fat.

Be sure to pour the hot water slowly to avoid splashback that could burn your skin.

5. Grease Is NOT For Drains

Whether you have fried a delicious food or are getting fat off the meats you have cooked, you should avoid sending grease down your drains. In fact, pouring oil down your drain is one of the biggest causes of clogs – something our experts always fix for homeowners.

Instead, you should drain your grease into a sealable container and throw this into the trash. Some people even save their grease for cooking future meals. The choice is up to you – just don’t put it down your drain!

6. Always Use Cold Water When Using The
Garbage Disposal

When using your garbage disposal, you will find that running cold water while this is in use is a great way to help the disposal work better. However, it also has the added benefit of carrying away the material through the drain system better.

7. Professional Drain Cleaning

It is a good idea to have professionals clean your drain routinely. Professional drain cleaning removes any particles that may be sticking to the inside walls of your pipes – which could eventually cause a clog.

Professional drain cleaning has several other benefits, which include:

• Eliminating smells from your drains
• Balancing the bacteria in the pipes
• Faster overall drainage
• Enhanced water leak detection
• Extending the life of your drain pipes

Ideally, you should have your drains professionally cleaned by a plumber at least once a year to keep everything flowing smoothly. You will also discover that professional drain cleaning will help to keep your sewer system running as it should.

8. Strainer On Your Washing Machine

You can easily find a strainer installed onto your washer’s drain line to help prevent items from going into the drain that could lead to a clog. It has the added benefit of stopping socks from going down the drain — which can happen and later cause a significant clog in the line.

In addition, if someone were to have something in their pockets that is washed, like a tissue, it would grab these products to prevent them from going into the drain.

Will These Methods Prevent Clogs Completely?

Utilizing the methods presented beforehand is a great way to prevent clogs. However, even using these methods does not mean you will never have a clog. Despite the best of intentions, clogs can happen.

However, using these methods will prevent a significant clog from occurring, which can be devastating to how your home runs during the day.

Free Quotes For Sewer Services For Your
Oakland, CA Home

If you are dealing with clogged drain lines affecting your Oakland, CA, home, it is time to take action. We offer free quotes for any sewer service, including drain line cleaning.