No matter who you are, the chances are good that you’ve experienced the inconvenience of a blocked drain in your life. If you have, you know what a hassle they are and why it is so important to have a plumber in Brighton you trust.
There are also some steps that you can take to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place. These can save you time and money. Let’s look at what professionals agree are the six best tips and tricks for preventing clogs and blocked drains in Brighton and everywhere.
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Use a Strainer in Your Sink and Other Drains
The chances are that you have a garbage disposal in your kitchen sink, but even if you do, you should try to avoid washing too many food scraps and other material down your sink. Using a sink strainer will prevent too much food waste from being washed down, which goes a long way in preventing clogs in your kitchen sink, which can also affect the functionality of your dishwasher. These problems can also be avoided if you deep clean your kitchen on regular bases, you can also hire professionals from Zero Waste Group for this purpose.
The same idea applies to shower drains and bathroom sinks. Your shower probably came with a grate over it, but there are more sophisticated products you can buy that catch all the hair and other items, preventing them from clogging your drain. After all, no one wants to stand in a puddle of dirty water.
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Clean it Out Regularly with Boiling Water
One of the best tasks for the routine maintenance of your drain is to pour a whole kettle of boiling water down it regularly; we recommend doing so once a week in your kitchen and once a month for all of your other drains.
The sudden rush of water helps loosen stuck-on debris and wash it away. The heat also works to flush oil, which we’ll discuss next.
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Don’t Drain Oils and Other Fats
Washing oil and other greasy materials down the drain is one of the worst things you can do when it comes to drain care. This is because they harden over time and can even wholly seal a drain. Very often, the entire pipe needs to be disassembled to fix it and sometimes needs to be replaced entirely.
Instead, keep a glass jar handy and pour any and all excess oil and grease into it. Allow it to harden, and simply dispose of it in the trash can when it is full. Remember, be very careful with hot grease and never pour it into anything made out of plastic.
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Don’t Flush Non-Paper Products
Many feminine products advertise themselves as plumbing friendly, but the bottom line is that they shouldn’t be flushed if they aren’t made from paper. The plastic and cotton materials that they contain don’t break down in the same way, and over time, they can destroy your sewage system. This is especially true if you have a septic tank on your property.
In addition, don’t flush anything else down your toilet. We’ve seen it all: goldfish, baby wipes, medication, bleach, and more. Anything other than the three P’s (pee, poo, paper) can cause severe damage.
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Run Water While Using the Garbage Disposal
Sometimes, washing food scraps down the drain is unavoidable. Your garbage disposal is there to break down any of these scraps into a size that your drain can handle. It is therefore an essential tool when it comes to maintaining healthy drains.
Running the water helps wash these shredded scraps away. In addition, you should dump a large bowl of ice down the drain and run the garbage disposal every couple of months or so. The ice helps clean the mechanisms, especially by breaking up any grease that has accumulated on them.
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Hire a Plumber for Routine Maintenance
Just as you hire a pest control company to prevent ants and mice or bring your car to the mechanic for a tune-up, you should have routine maintenance conducted by an expert on all your drains. We recommend having the plumber come to your home about every two to three years.
They can check your drains for any potential problems and recommend necessary repairs. They will also conduct a thorough cleaning of all of your drains. While this might be an added expense in your home maintenance budget, it has the potential to save you a great deal down the line. Remember, blocked drains are a nuisance, but they can also lead to burst pipes, which can cause incredible amounts of damage to your home.
Drain Care Is Part of Home Care
It might seem like this is a lot to remember, and as a homeowner, you probably have many little tasks and obligations on your plate already. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that the old saying is true: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!