Nothing’s more annoying than turning your sink on, looking down, and realizing that your drain is clogged. Even worse, clogged drains always seem to arise when you least expect them – like before a big dinner party or when you’re in a rush to get to work.
Ways to Prevent Drains From Clogging
While you inevitably may have to deal with a clogged drain every so often, here are four easy ways to prevent them.
- Dispose of Cooking Oil/Grease Separately
- Use A Drain Cover
- Dispose of Coffee Grounds Separately
- Compost/Throw Away Your Food Waste
Dispose of Cooking Oil/Grease Separately
One of the biggest reasons for clogged drains is cooking oil and grease that has been dumped down the drain. When warm grease goes down the drain, it slowly cools and sticks to the pipe. Eventually, this buildup can cause clogs or make it more difficult for other products to go down the drain as intended. Instead of throwing cooking oil and grease down the drain, store it in an old container or can and throw the container in the trash once it has cooled down.
Use A Drain Cover
Hair, dirt, and smaller items will likely go down your drain unnoticed. This can buildup, or get stuck, over time and cause a drain. Using a drain cover or screen can catch these smaller pieces, preventing your drain from ingesting them and clogging.
Dispose of Coffee Grounds Separately
Another main cause of clogs is coffee grounds. Coffee grounds can get stuck in your pipe and cause a clog, or they can get caught on leftover oils from foods or cooking oils. A drain cover will catch coffee grounds, so if you have a drain cover you’re all set. If not, dispose of coffee grounds in the trash can instead of in the sink. Or, add them to your mulch, use them as a scrub, or find another way to re-use them.
Compost/Throw Away Your Food Waste
Though cooking grease is the main oil/grease you’ll want to avoid sending down the drain, foods contain natural oils that can build up in the pipe and cause clogs. Instead of using a garbage disposal to grind up food waste and sending it down the drainpipe, dispose of your food waste in an alternative way. An easy option is to throw it in the trash instead of down the drain, or you can collect it and compost it to re-use in a variety of ways.
Contact Al Terry Plumbing, Heating & AC for Clogged Drain Repairs
As you can see, preventing your drain from clogging is easy. Implementing one or all of these methods will help you prevent your drain from clogging, making your life both less complicated and less messy. If you’ve tried all of these tips and more and it’s still not working, contact Al Terry Plumbing, Heating & AC! We will unclog the drain, and pinpoint the issue to prevent the problem from happening again in the future. Fill out an online form or give us a call at 603-485-4205!