7 Easy Hacks That Help Prevent Clogged Drains

Getting a clogged drain is one of the most frustrating plumbing issues for most homeowners. These clogged drains usually start as small drainage issues that go unnoticed initially and slowly snowball into a huge nuisance.

They are mostly avoidable and can be prevented by ensuring that the people living in the house are careful not to dump things into the drainage.

Homeowners can easily avoid the frustration and inconvenience caused by clogged drains. You must first thoroughly check if your plumbing system is working properly at all times, especially when the weather change is drastic. Let us quickly look at some of the most common causes of blocked drains and how to prevent them.

Home pipes almost always get clogged with things like eggshells, food particles, hair, or paper; these usually stick to the grease inside the pipes. If you are using an older dishwasher, you should always make sure to pre-rinse and scrape your dishes to prevent the drains from being blocked. New dishwashing machines usually come with an attached garbage disposal and are able to handle larger waste particles.

With the above in mind, let us examine in more detail seven simple hacks to prevent clogged drains in your home.

1. Do not pour grease into your drains

Cooking grease and oils are thick, dense and stick to the sides of the drain pipes if poured down the drains. You should be extra careful while washing and disposing of utensils or food laden with grease and refrain from pouring it down the sink.

You should ideally pour it out in another plastic bag, tightly tie it up, and dispose of it with other food scraps instead of pouring it down the drain.

2. Flush out garbage disposals

If you live in an apartment building and have garbage disposal regularly, you need to flush cold water through the disposal system after every use. This pushes out all the waste materials that could potentially get stuck in the passageway.

Remember that water is essential to flush out all the food particles through the pipes and into the drainage so that nothing is stuck and becomes accumulated over time resulting in clogs.

3. Schedule regular drain cleaning services

If you notice that your home’s drains are slowing down and the water takes time to flow out completely, we recommend you schedule a professional drain cleaning service and get them checked and cleaned out properly.

This will speed up your pipes and get the drainage flow working smoothly. Regular checks and maintenance also prevent major repairs in the long run and keep your pipes in good condition.

4. Occasionally pour boiling hot water down the pipes

It is a good practice to pour boiling hot water down your pipes at least once a week. Do this for all the pipes, like the kitchen sink, bathroom sinks, bathtub pipes, and toilet bowls, to loosen and wash away dirt or blockage that may have formed.

Soap, oils, grease, and hair strands can be dislodged by pouring hot water down the drains regularly.

5. Maintain your toilet

A toilet bowl can be clogged with paper products that seem to be harmless. It is important to use thin toilet paper that disintegrates easily instead of thick paper towels. Thicker paper towels should not be flushed down the toilet at any time.

Garbage and wrappers should not be flushed, as they are most likely to immediately cause clogged drains. Cotton balls, feminine hygiene products, Q-tips, and other toilet trash also cause blockages in the drain.

6. Use strainers

Install strainers for all your sinks to ensure that nothing goes down the drains by mistake when one is not being careful. This is especially important if you have children at home who are often not very careful while throwing things away.

A strainer will catch all the excess food, hair, and other garbage bits that fall down the drain and get flushed along with the water.

7. Use proper utility drainage practices

As a homeowner, all the floor, pool, and laundry drains should be properly installed. Open drains must be covered with strainers to prevent scraps and other household items from falling in. Floor drains should be equipped with proper backflow prevention products and protective strainers as well.

If you need your drains cleared or even checked for slow flow, consider calling a licensed plumber who knows what they are doing. A licensed plumber has all the necessary tools and equipment to clear blockages deep inside the plumbing system. If there is a tougher clog that requires some bigger equipment, they can repair that easily as well.

Contact the Professionals

If you are considering how to get your blocked drains cleared by a professional, or you need to assess any risks or maintenance checks for your home, call Drain King Plumbers and get a licensed plumber to evaluate it.

If you need an emergency plumber for clogged drains in Scarborough, Markham, North York, and throughout the GTA, reach out to Drain King Plumbers. You can visit our website here to discover more details about our different drainage clearing services. To book an appointment, call 833-983-5663 or contact us here.