The holidays are approaching. Not a good time to have a clogged drain!
And yet, it seems to be prime time for drain issues to occur. Family is over, the turkey is baked to perfection, then grease and table scraps get sent down the drain. The sink gets backed up. Now what??
Let’s start with how to keep your drain from backing up.
The best way to prevent slow or clogged drains is to be careful about what goes into them. Some of your drain’s biggest enemies include cooking grease, coffee grounds, hair, and eggshells. Do what you can to put these items in the trash instead of allowing them to go down the drain.
By using a screen or drain-grate to cover the drain opening, you can minimize problems. Stop by your local plumbing supply store to find the right drain cover for your particular sink.
Run hot water through the sink after each use. Hot water keeps oils in food products running down the drain, rather than building up in the pipes, which can make drains sluggish and lead to clogs.
For garbage disposal maintenance, use cold water while operating the disposal and for 30 seconds after all food waste has been ground and drained away. Hot water can then be used to rinse the garbage disposal when food waste is gone.
But what if you didn’t quite get to the preventive measures, and your drain does get clogged?
Throw ¼ cup of baking soda into the drain and follow it with 1 cup of vinegar, then after about 1 minute, flush with boiling water. Baking soda is a terrific cleaning agent and is great for absorbing odors. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which acts as an excellent organic solvent in removing buildup of crud in pipes. (Don’t use boiling water if you have PVC pipes and don’t pour boiling water directly onto a porcelain sink bowl).
If your sink is completely plugged with a large obstruction, use a plunger. Fill the sink half full of water, then place the plunger over the drain and make sure you have a firm seal. Use sharp, fast plunges to remove the clog.
Clean out the sink trap by removing the sink trap with a pipe wrench, or for PVC pipes, by hand. Empty the water from the trap into a bucket, then make sure the trap isn’t clogged.
If your home remedies are not working, give us a call. We will get your drains back up and running in short order.
Fun Fact. Did you know that Bell Plumbing installed the first garbage disposal in Colorado in the 1950s?
Bell Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical
303-731-3284
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