4 Simple Drain Clog Prevention Tips

Drain clogs are one of the most common plumbing problems in houses and residential buildings. Clogs can occur for several different reasons and, while all clogs cannot be prevented all the time, there are some simple tips you can use to reduce the chance that you will have a major clog.

1. Limit What You Drain

Most drain clogs aren’t caused on one day by one thing that gets dumped down the sink. Rather they are a result of a build-up of sludge and grease in the pipes that restricts the flow of water until eventually it simple plugs the entire pipe.

The biggest culprits are grease and oil, which can include cooking grease or oil, as well as greasy and oily products. Never pour hand lotion, creams or moisturizers down the sink, even if you are rinsing them down with warm or hot water. Some moisturizing soaps and body washes can actually contribute to sludge in your pipes as well.

2. Use A Drain Cover

A drain cover with a screen is a very low cost investment that prevents materials and hard objects from getting into the drain. These covers should be kept over the drain when the sink is not in use as well as when you are using the sink. The drain screen can easily be cleaned after each use to keep the water flowing freely.

Make sure you also clean the drain cover after each use to prevent the trapped particles from falling back into the sink on the next use. Clean it with paper towel and don’t make the mistake of rinsing it with water, this just puts all the debris back into the sink and down the drain.

3. Don’t Rinse Solid Particles Or Items Into The Sink

Your kitchen sink drain or the bathroom sink is often a place to wash objects and items. In the kitchen this includes food, coffee grounds or even dirt and soil from various items. In the bathroom you may be in the habit of cleaning the hair out of your brush under running water or rinsing cleaning supplies into the sink.

Any type of solid items, including food, tea or coffee grounds, hair and small particles of dirt and debris can stick in the sludge on the pipes and contribute to a clog. Hair is particularly bad for causing clogs since it becomes like a net in the pipe trapping more debris.

By cleaning these items away from the sinks in your home you eliminate this issue entirely.

4. Rinse Out Your Sink Regularly

Boiling water poured down a sink on a weekly basis is a simple, effective and non-harmful option to keep your sink drain flowing. Do not use commercial drain cleaners or drain chemicals as these may actually cause corrosion and leaks over time.

Boiling water will help to liquefy any grease or residue without any harmful chemicals, literally flushing out the pipe. If you notice the sink is draining slowly you can also add baking soda to the water to help create a foaming solution that is not going to damage the pipe.

Keeping your drains clean and your pipes flowing freely doesn’t take a lot of work. Talk to the family and get everyone to start using these tips to prevent those costly clogs.