5 Tips to Help Prevent a Clogged Drain

Last updated on July 27, 2024

A clogged drain is a nightmare. Use these five simple tips to prevent your drain from clogging in the first place. Read on!

If you’ve ever had a clogged drain, then you know that it’s not just an inconvenience. It can be downright frustrating when your sink won’t drain, and water is pooling up at the bottom of the bowl. Not only does it create an unpleasant environment for your family, but the clog will continue to grow worse until it becomes too large to remove with traditional methods.

The good news is that we can do some simple things to help prevent this from happening in the first place. This blog post will give you five tips for preventing clogs and keeping your drains clean and flowing smoothly.

Use a Drain Strainer to Catch Any Large Particles

A straightforward way to prevent clogged drains is to put drain strainers on them. These are inexpensive items that fit right into the opening of your sink or tub and catch most large particles before they go down the drain, preventing further blockage. To clean a drain strainer, simply lift it out of its housing, dump out any debris caught in there, rinse it off, and then put it back.

Experts at General Air Conditioning & Plumbing HVAC service note that whenever you’re cooking or washing dishes, be sure to scrape food scraps into the trash can instead of just letting them go down the drain. This is especially important when you’re rinsing plates off before putting them in the dishwasher, as smaller particles will still wash away even with a drain strainer in place.

Clean Out Your Sink’s Trap Regularly

Also, clean out the trap that is underneath your sink. That will help prevent a clog and make it much easier to remove any hair, debris, or other gunk when you do need drain cleaning services. So, when a sink in your bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room – under normal circumstances – there’s no reason for panic. Simply check the trap and remove any objects that may be causing a blockage.

The sink’s trap is designed to be easy to clean. In most cases, you can remove it yourself from under the sink and give it a quick cleaning to prevent clogs in other areas of your drain system.

Additionally, make sure that all hair is removed from shower drains regularly. Use a mesh or vinyl scrubber on any blockage for easy removal before they cause serious problems like a full-scale drain clog. Consider investing in a kitchen or bathroom sink overflow too.

Avoid Pouring Oils, Grease, or Other Fats Down the Drains

Grease, oil, and other fats are a real danger to your household drains. They collect in the drainpipe and solidify, preventing water from draining efficiently. The result is a clogged drain, overflowing sink or tub, and other problems caused by disgusting standing water. To avoid this nightmare scenario, never pour fats, oils, or grease down the drain. Pour leftover oil into a sealed container and dispose of it in the trash.

Use an old milk carton to catch drippings as they come out of your frying pan for small amounts of cooking fat that you can’t collect with paper towels. Pour them directly from this makeshift funnel into the trash can. If you need to get rid of any oil or grease, only put it into something that you can throw away with the trash.

Pour Boiling Water Down Your Drains Once per Month

Pouring hot boiling water down your drains once per month can help prevent a clogged drain. The heat from the boiling liquid will kill any bacteria that has accumulated in the pipes and keep them clear of hair, soap scum, or other debris that could cause problems for you later on.

Never use harsh chemicals to clean or deodorize your drain. They may damage it. Use natural cleaners like baking soda, white vinegar, and citrus peel instead. Once you have cleaned out the drain, make sure to do everything possible to avoid a repeat problem.

Call An Expert If You Need Help

Of course, not all clogged drain problems are alike. That’s why you should always turn to an expert if the problem seems serious like your drain is completely blocked or water won’t flow away from your home. When you do need drain cleaning services, make sure to hire a professional company for the job.

By hiring a reputable and experienced provider, you can rest assured that any blockage will be removed quickly without causing damage or further issues in your home’s drainage system.