A little mindfulness and simple habits can keep your drains working properly.
Keeping your drains healthy might not be at the top of your to-do list, but it should be. Utilizing some simple habits can keep your drains clear and working properly so you can avoid an emergency call to a plumber when your shower or sink backs up and refuses to do the one job it’s supposed to do—drain. Drain care doesn’t have to be a major chore. There are some great basic tips you can use for maintaining healthy drains.
Drain Strainers
Most people have at least one drain strainer—but do you use it? These are great for catching food pieces and particles that you need to keep out of your pipes. If you already have drain strainers for your kitchen sink and you use them regularly, consider getting a similar product for your shower. Hair and debris from our bodies are also serious risks to our drains. Having an appropriate drain strainer will greatly reduce the buildup in your system and help you maintain healthy drains.
In-Sink Disposal
An in-sink disposal is also known as a garbage disposal, but it’s dangerous to take that moniker too literally. Your in-sink disposal is not a garbage can, and it’s important to be careful about what you put into it. FOGs (fats, oils, and grease) as well as eggs, coffee grounds, and high-starch foods are all known enemies of healthy drains. These cause buildup that will eventually lead to a serious clog that requires a professional plumber to clear out.
Baking Soda
A simple but effective method for making a little room in your drains is to use baking soda and vinegar. Pour one cup of baking soda down your drain, then follow it with one cup of vinegar. Wait five minutes, then run hot water down the drain to rinse. It is not recommended that you use boiling water, as this can damage some pipes such as PVC. This is not a cure-all solution and it won’t get the majority of the buildup, but it can help with minor buildup or make enough room for your pipes to continue working as intended.
The Pros
Of course, when the signs of a serious clog become apparent—or if you think it’s a good time to have your pipes cleaned—you can call in a professional plumber to snake your drains. This allows plumbers to diagnose problem areas and clear them out directly so can continue to enjoy healthy drains.
Call Mahon Plumbing Today
If you still have more questions regarding your plumbing, we here at Mahon Plumbing are here to help. We have been serving the wider Baltimore area since 1994, so we have 25 years of experience to back up our fantastic service! Call us at our Baltimore location at 410-766-8566 or our Pasadena location at 410-636-7944. Be sure to keep up with us on social media by following us on Facebook or Twitter.