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A clog in your plumbing means that something is blocking the water from flowing in the pipes. This blockage is anything from food, grease, hair, dirt, and other organic materials. When there is a clog, you will not be able to use your sink. Otherwise, it will overflow and you will have an even bigger problem.
To avoid clogs, call a plumber for proper maintenance of your plumbing system. Working with a professional can help you not just get rid of clogs but also prevent them.
In this article, we’ll discuss what causes clog in your plumbing system, how to prevent them, and what you can benefit from professional drain cleaning.
What Causes a Clog in Your Plumbing
You should be mindful of what goes down the drains. As a homeowner, your first responsibility is to take care of your homes. To do this, you need to properly maintain your plumbing system. Proper plumbing maintenance involves knowing how to take care of your pipes.
The first step is to not throw anything that may cause a clog. Below are the common causes of clogged drains in your homes. Take note and make sure that these materials do not go down the drain. Plan on how to properly dispose of these things in your home to have a healthy plumbing system.
Flushable Wipes or Paper Tissue?
No, you cannot throw “flushable” wipes down your toilet. Keep in mind that these things do not break when you flush them. That means they will really get stuck in your pipes. If you do not want the inconvenience of having to get rid of these things then know how to properly dispose of them in your homes.
Oil and Grease
These two are your pipes’ greatest enemy. You may think that they work just like water. Remember that oil and grease are binding substances meaning they will cling to the pipes. What you can do is freeze oil and grease and then throw them in the trash. For those oil or fats that you can’t get away with, you may pour hot water down the drain to get rid of those smaller fats or oil.
Hair and Food Particles
If you have issues with hair loss, contact a professional to help you manage it. Otherwise, they will only clog your system. You can also try to brush your hair first before going into the shower to rid of loose hair.
Food particles shouldn’t go down the drain too. Put them in your garbage disposal or find ways to dispose of them properly.
Also — be careful when you have smaller children at home. They may accidentally throw their small toys in the toilet. Keep an eye on them too.
Soap
Some soaps are made with either grease or fat. They will leave a residue when combined with the minerals found in water. This residue called soap scum can block your pipes.
Preventing Clogs
Prevention is the key to not have any clogs in your pipes. Below are effective tips to help you prevent clogs.
Do Not Throw Food Down the Sink
Homeowners are advised to have proper waste management in their homes so they do not consider throwing food particles down the drain. One of the many ways to do this is by calling a plumber for an installation of garbage disposal. However, though, garbage disposals are not designed to grind large food particles. You can either break them down first or have some other ways of properly disposing of food.
If you have other family members at home especially children, make sure that you educate them on how to take care of your plumbing. Inform them of the best practices of maintaining your pipes. Food, soap, grease, and other materials are not supposed to be thrown in the drain. They go either in the garbage disposal or your trash.
Use a Drain Screen
You may accidentally throw down food and other materials in your drain. To avoid this, consider calling a plumber for an installation of a drain screen. You can also do this yourself but make sure that you know how to do it.
With a screen, it can block large food particles to go down the sinks. Make sure to also clean the screen periodically to avoid unpleasant smells in the sinks. As much as possible, pour about 1 liter of hot water down the drain to get rid of small food particles or grease.