Clogged Drains Are Avoidable
Category: Drain Cleaning
We use our plumbing systems every day for both fresh water and wastewater removal. However, most of us know very little about our plumbing.
If you have ever gone camping for a weekend or had problems that cut off your water systems, you know how quickly you start to miss running water, flushing toilets, cleaning clothes, and taking warm showers.
We are truly blessed with all of these modern conveniences today. But when they are removed, we understand exactly what the benefits of plumbing systems in our homes mean. Your house has several separate plumbing systems that connect either to each other or other things like faucets or appliances.
- Sinks
- Toilets
- Washers
- Bathtubs
- Faucets
- Connections
- Valves
- Safety devices
- Appliances
Most people are accustomed to the idea that plumbers come to homes to unclog Plano drains or install appliances, but many have not been informed that they can reduce the need to call in a professional if they can do some preventative routine things.
The most common plumbing calls are from people with clogged drains. Many homes have one or two drains that seem to continually have issues. There can be a number of causes for this, so here are some ways to avoid clogging your drains.
- If your wastewater systems are draining slowly, your plumbing pipes may be clogged up. Be sure that plumbing vents (that vent sewer gas through the attic or roof) are checked for clogs or for animals burrowing their way into them.
- You could have buildup of grease in your pipes. There are several things you can do with grease other than putting it down your kitchen drain. You can throw it in the trash or use a container to collect it until you’re ready to get rid of it.
- Never put egg shells or potato peels down your drain, even if you have a disposal. Yes, they will get chopped into small pieces, but they are mostly too heavy to flow on out of your pipes. They will fall to the bottom and get caught with other debris making a clog that starts to smell pretty quickly.
- Hair is a huge problem in drains and will quickly form a clog. The way hair wraps around everything will cause it to keep other substances from flowing through the system as they normally would. In most cases, hair can be trapped in some sort of screen or drain cover so you can avoid it building up too much.
- Another plumbing issue that is common but can be prevented is frozen pipes. You’ll need to be sure that all your pipes are in heated spaces or if not that you insulate and wrap them well. No air should be allowed in the insulation or you are defeated the purpose.
- Prior to cold weather, disconnect and drain your garden hoses. To do this, turn-off the indoor cut-off valve that is located near the faucet or the water main line if you have to, and open the outdoor faucet. If there is no cut-off valve, consider installing one because outdoor faucets can crack and leak into the walls of your home, causing a flood indoors.
At Harvey West Plumbing, we have 24/7 emergency service in case you need us. Please check us out and give us a call whenever you have clogged drains.
