Knowing how to prevent your drains from getting clogged will keep your plumbing system working effectively for as long as possible. Learning how to unclog it will help you avoid spending tons of money on repairs.

Drains always seem to clog at the most unfavorable time, like when you are currently having a big party or a reunion in your home. And no homeowners want to deal with that kind of problem while they’re enjoying their time together with their love ones. Even if you may not be able to stop every drains to clog, there are steps you can take to prevent it. Here are some practical tips to help you avoid clogged drains.

Don’t Wait for a Mainline Blockage

If you have been experiencing a clogged sewer line for a while, you should know that getting it cleaned is not enough. Let a professional plumber perform an inspection on your pipelines to see what’s causing the problem.

Tree roots, partially collapsed pipes, other things that can cause a blockage must be the reason why your sewer line is having a problem. You must get it fixed immediately and call a licensed plumbing service before a bigger problem arises.

Stop the Lint

A lot of times, lint caused a blockage of the drain in the laundry room. Yes, lint’s may be small, but over time, these small particles can get trapped on your drains causing it to clog and back-up. To avoid this kind of problem, put a lint trap on the end of your washing machine’s drain hose. You can buy mesh lint traps from your local hardware store and home centers, or you can simply use an old nylon stocking as well. Keep an eye on the trap and when the trap is full, you can simply replace it.

Don’t Dump It

You should always put in mind that your drain is not a trash bin or a place where you can dispose all types of junks and debris. These things could seriously clog and damage your drains.

That is why it’s important to throw these types of materials properly and don’t allow them to enter into your drain system. For grease, just pour it on a jar before washing it off the dishes and throw it into the trash when it gets full.

Catch It

Two of the most common cause, why bathtubs or shower drains clogged, are hair and soap scum. Hair does not dissolve and soap scum tends to cling to the inner lining of the pipes. So the best thing you can do is to catch it before it gets down into your drain. You can put a drain strain or install a mesh screen over your drain so that it can minimize clogging problems. Make sure to keep your drain and filter clean always to keep it productive.

How to Keep Your Drains Clean

Clean your drains once a week

Pull out the pop-up stopper in the bathroom sink and remove any debris that is in the drain, then rinse the stopper before putting it back again.
Remove the drain cover on your shower and bathtub drain and clear out any debris that are accumulated there using a bent wire or a hair catching brush.

Flush your drains weekly

Filling your drains with hot water and draining it after is an effective way to reduce the build-up of grease, fats, and oils in your pipes.

Use a bacterial drain cleaner once a month to maintain your drains

Unlike chemical drain cleaners, biological drain cleaners are non-corrosive, it means that it won’t damage your pipes. Moreover, these bacteria won’t interfere with the bacteria’s that are in your septic tank.

Just make sure that you’ll follow the instruction on the package and apply the bacteria when no one’s at home or the drain system is not in use. This way, it gives the bacteria the time to work on the materials that are trapped in your main pipe before it gets flushed.

Final Thoughts

Clog drains can occur frequently if you are not being careful about what you put into them. If you do not take care of your drains and pipes in your home, you will surely end up with an expensive plumbing repair bill.

But, if you keep in mind the tips that are elaborated above, you can prevent your drains from clogging. Get into the habit of doing preventative maintenance on your drains and pipes, and bring in the professionals if you can’t do it yourself.