Clogged or blocked drains are such an annoying inconvenience. What’s more, they usually occur when you’re having a bad day or having guests over for a small party. The foul smell alone can be pretty bothersome, and when left untreated, blocked drains may even lead to persistent issues with your plumbing system.
While there may be tips and tricks you can use to unclog drains, prevention is always a better idea. Yes, your gutters could potentially clog one way or another in the future. Still, if you do your best to prevent it from happening, you could rid yourself of more considerable trouble that won’t only cost you unnecessary stress but, more so, extra costs, too.
Below you’ll find some tips that you could use to keep your drains from getting clogged or backed up:
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Use A Drain Cover Or Strainer
One easy way to prevent blocked drains is to cover your drain using a strainer. A strainer is usually a silicone, mesh, or metal sieve that you can place over the plughole so that only the water goes through the drainage system. Among the leading causes of a clogged drain is small debris that could get inside the drain pipes. If you cover the sink drain with a strainer, you can ensure that no items such as food waste can get past it.
Additionally, you can use filters to cover the drain in your shower. The shower drain is notorious for accumulating dirt, soap scum, and fallen hair, eventually leading to blocked drains. Using drain covers and strainers is an effective way to prevent this from happening. Plus, these materials are affordable and easy to find at your local hardware stores.
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Don’t Pour Down Cooking Grease Or Oil Down The Drain
Each time you cook, you’d most probably use oil or cooking grease for your recipes. Some people may think that disposing of these materials down the drain won’t cause much harm since they’re usually just in small quantities. However, that’s one of the reasons why drains get blocked.
What really happens each time you pour down cooking grease or oil down the drain is that they only stick to the pipes and don’t go straight to the drainage system. As time goes by, the build-up will accumulate on that surface, potentially resulting in quite an enormous blockage that may even require professional plumbing work. Even if you get lucky and the oil goes straight to the plumbing system, it may obstruct underground sewers, making it more inconvenient and troublesome to the whole neighbourhood.
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Collect Your Organic Waste
Some homeowners grind up food waste using a disposer and send them down to the drain. While that may be convenient, it doesn’t mean it can no longer clog the gutters. A better idea is to collect the waste and place them in a container. You can have them collected by the city disposal office, or you can also choose to start composting at home.
The compost pile can be of great help if you have a yard or a garden because the organic materials can be added to the soil so your plants can grow better. A compost pile is also ideal for yard waste, especially small dried leaves that may cause a blockage if you let them get washed down the drain whenever it rains.
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Mind What You Flush Down Your Toilet
Your toilet’s drainage system can also get backed up if you constantly flush down thicker sanitary products such as paper towels and wipes. Because these products are more viscous, they don’t break down as quickly as regular toilet paper. Toilets are only intended for human waste and as much as possible, less to no toilet paper.
If you keep on flushing down other things down, you’ll end up clogging or blocking your toilet drains. What’s even worse, some products made of cotton and plastic may permanently damage your entire sewer system. The best you can do is provide a sanitary bin or trash can inside the toilet where you and your guests can dispose of used toilet paper and other products.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Knowing how to prevent blocked drains can go a long way in avoiding further damage to your drainage and plumbing systems. To add, you can inspect your pipes and drains regularly to ensure that there are no issues that may cause any problem in some ways. You can do the inspection on your own, or you can also choose to call in a professional team to do it for you.
Ultimately, it’s crucial to always pay attention to your drains. Use covers and strainers to prevent clogging. Remember not to pour down any grease, oil, or food waste in the drain. Be careful what you flush in the toilet and collect your food waste instead of disposing of them in your sink.
