7 Things to Keep in Mind to Avoid Drain Clogs

Hello World!  Welcome Friends!  Clogged drains can cause water to back up into the sink, shower, or tub. They can be close to the drain and easy to clear or they can be much further down the drain, which will be incredibly difficult to clear. Clogs can occur for many different reasons, but many types of clogs are very easy to prevent. Different items can cause clogged drains, so understanding what can and can’t go down them is crucial. If you want to avoid having to call a plumber to fix your clogged drain Winnipeg, avoid putting these items down any drains.

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Grease

Grease is one of the top reasons the drain in the kitchen sink might clog. If you’re cooking and have grease to get rid of, do not pour it down a drain. Once it’s poured down the drain, the grease will cool down and solidify. This happens quickly, so it’s often stuck in the pipes when it turns solid. Over time, this will build up and create a clog that’s difficult to remove without having to call a plumber. Depending on the severity of the clog, pipes may need to be replaced to clear the drains again.

Instead, a drainage specialist will recommend putting it in an empty container, letting it solidify, then throwing it away. In the sink, the grease will turn solid, blocking the drain. All grease should be handled this way, even if it’s only a small amount. Save old Tupperware to use for letting the grease solidify instead of pouring even small amounts in the drain.

Feminine Products

Feminine products should never be flushed, even if they claim to be flushable. They can easily get stuck inside the drain and are not going to decompose fast enough to avoid a clog. This is one of the most common reasons for plumbers to be called for a clogged toilet. The clog can happen close to the drain or much further down the pipes, but it will likely get stuck somewhere in the pipes. Instead, wrap them in toilet paper and throw them in the trash.

Floss or Other Strings

Floss and other types of strings like hair are going to clump together in the drain and cause a blockage. This is another very common reason for clogs, as plumbers frequently clear hair and other string out of shower and tub drains. Toss floss in the trash can and use products designed to catch hair before it goes down the drain to prevent a major clog in sinks, showers, and tubs. The products designed to catch hair are typically easy to install and can save quite a bit in fees for having to call a plumber.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds seem safe to pour down the sink, but they can actually cause a serious clog that can be hard to get rid of. When coffee grounds are poured in the sink, they can stick together like cement as they dry. This sticks to the walls inside the pipes and builds up, creating a blockage that’s difficult to break through. A plumber will be needed to clear this clog as it’s going to need to be broken apart carefully to avoid breaking the pipes themselves. In worst-case scenarios, sections of the pipes may need to be removed and replaced.

Instead, throw used coffee grounds in the trash or use them to fertilize the garden. Coffee grounds can provide essential nutrients for plants, so using them in the garden occasionally can be a way to recycle them instead of throwing them away.

Bath Salts

Bath salts can lead to a more enjoyable time in the tub, but they can cause drainage issues as well. Many bath salts don’t really dissolve completely, which means they can clump together in the drain and cause a clog. Similar to coffee grounds, they’ll end up getting stuck together inside the drain and can be difficult to use. If the drain is going slow, stop using bath salts to prevent the issue from getting worse. This may be enough for the clog to clear on its own over time, as long as the clog isn’t too bad that water can’t get down the drain.  

Expandable Foods

Some foods, like pasta and rice, will continue to expand as they soak in water. When they’re in the drain, this can cause the drain to get clogged. The food will continue to expand and stick together with the other foods going down the drain, clogging the drain completely. While they may eventually break down, this could take quite a while. Instead, toss any extra pasta, rice, or other expandable foods in the trash can so they won’t clog the kitchen sink.

Paint

A little bit of paint might not make a big difference, but pouring paint down the drain is not the right way to get rid of it. The paint can dry inside the pipes, especially if the paint is thick, and reduce the amount of space water and other items have to go through the drains. It won’t be able to fully dry in a drain that’s used frequently, so other items flushed down the drain can get stuck to it, compounding the issue further. Instead, check with your city to find out the best way to dispose of leftover paint from a project. Many cities would prefer leaving the paint can open and allowing the paint to dry, then disposing of it in the trash.

Clogged drains are some of the most frequent types of calls plumbers have, but they are generally easy to prevent. Just a few changes in how things are done can make a huge difference and help keep the pipes under the home as clean as possible. It’s not expensive to prevent these issues, but it can be expensive if you need to call a plumber for a clogged pipe. Keep the above tips in mind to make sure you don’t put anything down a drain that could cause an issue.

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