Clogged drains are a nuisance that most homeowners have to deal with at some point in time. These clogs can damage plumbing, cause property damage, and result in expensive repairs if not taken care of quickly. Actively taking steps to prevent clogs from occurring in the first place will keep your plumbing system working optimally for years without issues. Here are four actions you can take to prevent clogged pipes.
1. Limit What Goes Down the Drains
Carefully monitoring what goes into the drains in your home goes a long way toward preventing clogs in your pipes. The majority of drain clogs are made up of food scraps, hair, and other debris that collect in the bends of the pipes until the flow of water is completely restricted. Using drain covers in your sinks, tubs, and showers will keep these items out of your drains.
2. Keep Grease Out of Your Sinks
Here in Savannah, GA, rich, fatty foods are part of our heritage, but they are also responsible for many of our plumbing problems. Grease that is liquid while it is hot congeals when it cools and collects against the sides of the pipes to form a greasy plug that prevents water from getting through. Instead of dumping liquid grease down the sink after making your best fried green tomato recipe, the grease should be collected in a sealable container and put into the trash or recycled after it has cooled.
3. Watch What You Flush
The only items that should be flushed down your toilets are waste and toilet paper. Paper towels, flushable wipes, and feminine hygiene products are notorious pipe cloggers and should go into the trash instead of being flushed. Clogged pipes on toilets are a serious health hazard. The professional plumbers with TNT offer a variety of clog-removing services that can remedy the problem quickly.
4. Flush the Drains on a Weekly Schedule
Flushing a large amount of water through the drains on a weekly basis will help move debris through the plumbing system that has been left behind by lesser water flows. The easiest way to do this is to plug the sinks and tubs and to fill them with water. Then, unstop the drains and flush the toilets to send a surge of water through the pipes. This will also let you discover if any drains are running slow and need further attention.
Get Help Today
Taking the above actions will greatly reduce the likelihood of clogs forming in your pipes. If you do encounter a clog that is not easily handled by increased water flow and a plunger, contact the crew at TNT for assistance. We stand ready to handle all of your plumbing needs.
