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Drain cleaning is something that we all dread but if you think about it — the mess you deal with is of your own creation. Most people take drain clogs lightly. They depend too much on drain cleaners, which in the long run can be harmful to the pipes.
In small amounts, drain cleaners are not that harmful (we have discussed this numerous times in our previous blogs such as the “A Guide to Drano – How Chemical Drain Cleaners Affect Your Plumbing System”). A little forethought on your part can help you prevent unnecessary clogs. A faulty plumbing system can create a lot of problems from clogs to leaks, constant banging noises, fouls smells and even a flood. This is why it is important to call a plumber in Pantego, TX.
A drain clog is caused by the slow buildup of gunk, debris, and things that don’t belong down there. When you see dirty water standing in the bathtub, the toilet flushing slowly and the sink draining slowly, immediately call for drain cleaning in Pantego, TX.
Understanding the Plumbing System
Alex’s wife had been complaining about dirty water backing up in the bathtub for a few days now. Thinking it might be a clogged drain; Alex looked up a video on YouTube and decided to fix the problem himself. After removing the tiles and getting to the main pipeline, Alex accidentally loosened the wrong connector, which resulted in a spray of water that hit him in the chest. No amount of turning the pipes right and left fix the problem. In the end, he ran back to the main water valve, closed it and called a plumber in Pantego, TX.
So where did Alex go wrong? Since he didn’t have the basic understanding of where the plumbing pipes ran, he wasn’t able to clearly identify where the clog was. The clog was actually in the main sewer line that connected to the public line.
Think Before Throwing Things in the Sink and Toilet
One of the things that plumbers in Pantego, TX hate the most is that homeowners often throw things down the drain that don’t belong there. Almost all of our blogs list this as a big “No, NO”.
F.O.G – Fats, Oil, and Grease
These are the three things that you should never throw in the kitchen sink. Below we will discuss the whys.
Fix Problems Quickly
Don’t wait too long to call a plumber in Pantego, TX when it comes to drain cleaning. The longer a clog sits, the bigger and harder it becomes. Things usually accumulate in front of the clog and this creates a nasty mess. A great way to stop big things or others that cause a clog from going down the drain is to install a strainer.
Try not to use drain cleaners to clear the clog because it will fix the problem temporarily. If you cannot get in touch with a plumber, the best you can do is use a DIY solution of baking soda and water to clear the clog. Professional drain cleaning in Pantego, TX ensures that the clog has been removed completely.
Plumbing problems often stay at the back of our minds because other problems seem more important to you. Whether you are a new homeowner or have been one for quite some years now, it is important to call a plumber in Pantego, TX for regular maintenance. This saves you from unnecessary and costly repairs.
Now that we have the basics out of the way, let’s have a look at some of the things that you should keep out of the drain:
Keep an Eye Out for These…
Bathroom
Bathrooms tend to get dirty pretty fast. All that hair, soap bits, shaving cream and more can lead to one of the nastiest clogs.
Hair: One would think that something as light and thin as hair would flow easily down the drain, right. However, hair gets stuck in the preexisting sludge, which creates anet for other gunk. By installing a strainer, you can easily scoop the hair and deposit it in the dustbin. The same way, avoid trimming facial and nose hair in the sink.
Soap Scum: Yes, soap scum can create a pretty big clog. Like hair, soap scum (a product of hard water and soap) builds up inside the pipe’s walls. With time, the pipe’s passage becomes narrower, which is one reason why water drains slowly.
Kitchen
FOG: Most people think that their garbage disposal can take just about anything. Just because it has blades, doesn’t mean it will grind the bones to dust. Moving on to fats, oil, and grease, they pose a big problem for the kitchen sink. Even these things are liquid form when they go down the drain and come in contact with water, they harden. This congealed mess becomes sludge and captures food particles. As you can imagine, when dishes are washed daily, the clog becomes bigger and bigger until the kitchen sink fills with dirty water. A professional plumber in Pantego, TX can only fix this mess.
Coffee Grounds: After FOG, coffee grounds are the second big “No, NO”. There are two ways you can get rid of coffee grounds: place them in a container and throw it in the trash can or use them as soil for your azaleas. You can use certain food leftovers such as fruit and vegetable peels for compost.
Everywhere
Coming to the destroyer of your plumbing system, the “drain cleaner” … simply avoid using it! We understand why you are buying it but there are plenty of other ways to get rid of a clog. You will probably do more harm to your plumbing pipes than good, so better call a plumber in Pantego, TX for drain cleaning.
Now that you know what things you shouldn’t throw down the kitchen sink and toilet, you will find that there are fewer clogs in the house. If you are looking for a professional plumber for drain cleaning in Pantego, TX then call Benjamin Franklin. The company specializes in all kinds of plumbing repairs and also offers emergency service. To know more about their areas of expertise, you can contact them at 817-983-7876.