Do You Have a Clogged Drain in Your Future?

August 2nd, 2017 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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It is easy to take your kitchen sink drain for granted, rinsing food debris down the pipes. Grease from pans, coffee grounds from the bottom of your pot and all types of food morsels can end up going down into your pipes. While one rinsing session will not usually clog a drain, over time all those food particles can accumulate in your plumbing. If you have bad kitchen sink habits, a clogged drain could be in your future.

Many people think their garbage disposal will save them from plumbing clogs. Unfortunately, having a garbage disposal can foster bad habits and lead to even more plumbing problems. Just because this device will chop food into smaller pieces doesn’t mean you can put anything down your kitchen sink drain. When those chunks of food encounter grease or fat pockets in your pipes, a major clog can happen.

Preventing Kitchen Drain Problems

To prevent a clogged kitchen drain, start changing your habits. Start by not rinsing food residue down the drain. Scrape plates and pans into the garage or compost bin. Wipe grease and fats away with a paper towel. This will eliminate a large amount of fat that ends up coating the interior of your plumbing pipes.

When it comes to the garbage disposal, remember that not all food is meant to go through the grinder into your drain. Keep fibrous fruit and vegetable peels out of the disposal. Never put egg shells, coffee grounds or bones down the sink drain – these are too hard to dissolve and can get caught in your pipes.

By practicing good kitchen habits, you can avoid many clogs that could have plagued you in the future. If a clog does happen, call in your local plumber to clear your pipes and plan on better habits going forward.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(404) 973-2471

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When to Call a Plumber for a Clogged Drain

May 5th, 2015 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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Clogged drains are a normal occurrence in most homes. In the bathroom, the sink, shower and tub drains are commonly clogged with a combination of hair and soap residue that can slowly plug up the drain pipe. In the kitchen, food is the culprit, especially fats and grease that cling inside the pipe and trapped large food particles to fill the drain line. Many of these clogs can be removed or cleaned without professional help, but when should you call a plumber for a clogged drain?

Reoccurring Clogs

Are you constantly removing a clog, just to have it reappear in a week or two down the road? You may be only removing the top of the clog and leaving the majority of the problem in the pipe. Try using a snake or auger to clear out the entire clog. If it still comes back, call in a plumber to clear out your drain for good.

Multiple Slow Drains

If you have several drains that are slow, it is most likely a major pipe that is clogged, even a sewer pipe. This is not something you can usually fix with a plunger or auger. You may have a broken sewer line, or a sewer pipe that is clogged under the ground outside your home. A plumber with sewer line experience should be called to find and fix the problem

Foul Odors

Is there a foul odor coming out of your clogged drains? There could be some sort of sewer backup occurring. Whether you are on a city sewer or septic system, you should have a plumber come inspect your pipes and get to the root of the issue.

Most clogs can be removed with a handy plunger and a little elbow grease. However, for those bigger clogged drain problems, call in a plumber for professional assistance.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

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Thanksgiving Weekend Was a Busy Time for Plumbers

December 5th, 2014 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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Did you know that the day after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for plumbers? In homes all across the country, “Black Friday” took on a new meaning as drains became backed up and toilets overflowed, ending up a call to a local plumber to come fix the problem. It is no mystery why this happens every year. The plumbing fixtures can only take so much food and waste before they become clogged and cause a holiday mess.

Avoiding Holiday Plumbing Problems

What is true during the rest of the year is even more important during big holiday meals and gatherings: watch what you put down the drain! Potato peelings, gravy, turkey drippings and a host of other holiday foods are common culprits which clog many homes after the Thanksgiving meal. With more holidays on the way, now is a good time to review what should not go down your kitchen sink.

  • Peelings and tough vegetables. Even with a garbage disposal, peeling and other parts of many vegetables are too fibrous to put down the drain. Throw away or compost peelings, along with leftover vegetables, to avoid clogs.
  • Grease and fat. Do not rinse the turkey or gravy pan in the sink. The grease from these will congeal in the pipes, collecting debris until they form a clog. Scrape out pans into the garbage before rinsing.
  • Leftovers. Get in the habit of scraping and wiping off all plates into the garbage or compost container before washing them. Even a little bit of food on each plate can add up to a bunch of debris going down the drain when you have several guests.

Just remember that your plumbing can and will get clogged if too much food goes down the drain. However, even the most careful holiday host can still end up with a clogged sink after a big holiday meal. Make sure to have your favorite plumber on speed dial, just in case!

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

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Reoccurring Slow Drains

October 28th, 2014 Posted in Drains
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Once again, your kitchen or bathroom sink is draining slowly. You have tried to use a plunger or snake to clear the drain, maybe with some success. However, after a few weeks or months, the same old problem is back again. There are a few things which may be happening down in your pipes that need altering to get that clogged drain clear for good.

What Is The Problem?

In most reoccurring slow drains, there is a good reason that it keeps becoming clogged. Either you did not completely clear the clog in your previous attempts, or there are new clogs being formed each time. If these are new clogs each time, it is probably due to something you or one of your family members are putting down the drain.

  • Kitchen sinks. The most common issue in kitchen sink clogs is grease and food particles. Make sure your family members aren’t putting any oil, fat or grease down the drain of your sink. Clean out pans and dishes before rinsing, wiping them out with a paper towel, rather than washing fats and oils down the drain.
  • Bathroom drains. Hair and soap are the common drain cloggers in bathroom drains. Make sure you have a drain cover on your sink and shower, removing any collected hair or soap particles after each use.

While these preventative measures can stop clogs from forming, they’re not effective in addressing existing issues. The best solution may be a professional drain cleaning to remove any residual clogs. While your attempts to remove the clog may have been partially effective, there may be residue on the lining of the pipes still remaining. This residue can collect any debris which comes down the pipe, resulting in another clog. Your local plumber has professional equipment capable of clearing your pipes to get those clogs which are causing your slow drains gone for good.

Posted on behalf of Shawn Bynum, Bynum Plumbing

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Professional Tools For Removing Drain Clogs

July 10th, 2014 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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Clogged drains are one of the most common plumbing problems any household can have. Grease, hair, food and other items can build up in your pipes, causing a slow draining sink or a clogged toilet. Often, homeowners will try to handle clogs on their own by buying commercially available liquid drain cleaner. Though these may work in some cases, they can also be harmful to your plumbing fixtures or only temporarily fix the issue. It’s always better to call in a professional plumber who has the right tools for the drain cleaning job.

Professional Clog Removal Tools

Your local plumbing company has powerful tools at their disposal which can safely and effectively remove even the toughest clog. These tools, which are not ideally suited to use by amateurs, can make quick work of damaging drain clogs.

  • Motorized drain snakes. For major clog removal, drain snakes are used to clear pipes by extending long coils of wire down the drain, into the clog. While you can buy a manual drain snake from a hardware store, motorized snakes used by plumbers are much more effective for serious clog removal.
  • Video inspection. You know your pipes are clogged, but do you know where? Plumbers can use video cameras designed to look inside your pipes to see what type of clog they need to remove. This allows them to choose the right tool to remove the clog quickly and safely.
  • Hydro-jetting. In some cases, your plumber may use water to remove the clog. Hydro-jetting uses high pressured water to push out clogs and clean the interior of pipes. This is very effective for serious clogs in sewer pipes.

If you have a drain that constantly becomes clogged again and again, it is time to call in a professional plumber with the right tools for the job.

Posted on behalf of Shawn Bynum, Bynum Plumbing

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Tips For Maintaining Your Kitchen Plumbing

January 28th, 2014 Posted in Drains
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One of the most common places for plumbing problems is in the kitchen. While bathrooms are also a common source of plumbing issues, kitchens have their own unique problems. Most kitchens have a sink, dishwasher and even refrigerators which all need a water supply and drain, each of which can cause problems if not maintained correctly. By following these simple maintenance tips, you can reduce the chance of plumbing problems in your kitchen.

  • Prevent clogged drains. Food waste is often the culprit of a clogged drain. Oil and grease are one of the main offenders; pour out oil and grease from pans and then wipe them with a paper towel before rinsing in the sink or putting in the dishwasher. Keep fibrous items like produce peels out of the garbage disposal, and avoid other hard items such as coffee grounds and egg shells. For dishwasher drains, make sure all food is scraped off into the garbage then dishes are rinsed before putting them into the dishwasher.
  • Help your garbage disposal. Run water down the drain for 15 seconds before and after you use the garbage disposal. To keep away bad odors, pour a small amount of dish soap in while running the disposal. Never reach your hand into a garbage disposal; call a plumber if there is a problem!
  • Clean your ice maker. Your ice maker water dispenser and drain can get clogged with mildew and mold, which is unhealthy for your family and damaging to the refrigerator. Follow your refrigerator’s scheduled maintenance recommendations for cleaning.
  • Watch for sink leaks. Your kitchen sink has many connections which can become worn and need of replacement. At the first sign of leaks on your faucets, aerator or pipes, make sure to call your plumber to have them repaired before water damage occurs.

Posted on behalf of Kiddco Plumbing 

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Unclogging Your Bathtub Drain

December 18th, 2013 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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What should you do about your clogged bathtub drain? First a word about prevention. It is imperative that you are using a properly fitted drain cover. This will catch hair, dirt and soap residue before it enters your pipes. Ideally, after showering you can simply empty this preliminary safeguard in the garbage on a daily basis and prevent your bathtub from getting clogged in the first place.

When you notice your bathtub is beginning to drain slowly but water is not accumulating more than a couple inches, you can gently use a bathroom plunger to dislodge the clog that is on the verge of fully blocking your pipes. It is important that you do this in the very early stages of the clogging, as a fully blocked pipe can be seriously damaged from the effects of applying this pressure. This is also a good time to make a mixture of ⅓ cup baking soda and ⅓ cup vinegar and let it sit in the drain for 10 minutes to dissolve the clog. Harsh chemicals are generally not recommended by plumbing professionals, because of damage they can cause to pipes.

If your clog has graduated to the extent that you have many inches of standing water after a shower, you may have a serious blockage, and you’ll need to address the mess at the source: pulling the entire clog from the pipes with a snake or a hooked device. These can be purchased at your local hardware store.

If the clog is too far into the piping system to be reached or if you don’t want to take on this project on your own, call your local plumber who can be trusted to clear clogged drains quickly without damaging your drain pipes.

Posted on behalf of Shawn Bynum, Bynum Plumbing

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Common Causes of Kitchen Drain Clogs

September 5th, 2013 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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Nothing can be more frustrating than a clogged drain, especially if it is in your kitchen. Has your kitchen drain ever clogged at a convenient time? Usually, of course, the clog occurs when you are at your most hurried, either cooking the family meal or cleaning up afterward. Usually the kitchen sink is the one in the house most used so there really is no convenient time for a clogged drain.

The culprit for most kitchen drain clogs can be traced to a combination of food particles, fat, and soap that has accumulated over time. Because of their dense weight, food particles can lay on the bottom of pipes, piling up until the movement of water only picks up the first loose layers. On the other hand, fat goes down the pipe as a liquid, which comes into contact with the coolness of the piping, causing it to condense. Just like plaque in the human body, the fat solidifies and slowly fills the pipe from the sides, which narrows the passage. Soap, then, soaks into the entire wet mass, sticking to the walls of a horizontal pipe. Since soap is caustic or corrosive, it can slowly erode the pipe wall. Add to this messy mass of clog, hair, if you are in the habit of washing your hair in the kitchen sink.

This type of nasty kitchen sink drain clog may require the services of your local plumbing professional. You can try unclogging it yourself first by running very hot water down the drain, to liquefy the fat. One of the many drain cleaning products available at any hardware store just may work. If your efforts are ineffective, your local plumber should be able to snake free that nasty clog with a water jet cable.

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Clogged Shower Drains

March 11th, 2013 Posted in Uncategorized
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Nobody likes getting into the shower, lathering up and then realizing that the shower drain is draining slowly – or worse, not draining at all. The common culprit for slow drains is human hair, which is normally caught in the strain cover. Normally all you have to do is clean out the strainer and check the flow of water. More serious clogged drains should be handled by a plumbing professional, but it’s also worth trying a few simple steps to unclog the drain.

The first step is to see how easily the strainer can be removed, whether it snaps into place or is removed by a screwdriver. Once it’s removed and pulled away, grab a flashlight and check for any clogs that you can see. If you spot anything obstructing your view, try to remove it with wire or other tool, and gently remove it without pushing the clog deeper into the pipe.

If this isn’t a feasible solution, an alternative is using a plunger. Pour or run water around the plunger’s head to create a tight seal, and create a force of suction by pushing and pulling the handle up and down at a fast, steady speed. Make sure you never use a plunger after pouring a chemical solution down the drain. A second alternative is a wire snake, which has a hook on the end – run it down your drain, and when it hits the clog, turn the crank to snag it into the clog before pulling it free.

If none of these solutions are enough to get rid of the clog, your last option is to call a professional plumber in your area, who will have other alternatives to remove almost any pesky clog.

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Important Plumbing Tips

March 11th, 2013 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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Nobody likes dealing with leaking pipes, slow drains and other plumbing headaches. The importance of knowing a reliable local plumbing professional is vital for the health and longevity of the pipes and fixtures in your home. But do you know some basic tips for handling the plumbing in your own home?

Never flush anything but toilet paper in the toilet: It’s important that you and your family should never flush other paper-like material such as sanitary napkins or baby wipes. Because of the density of these materials, they can block the pipe in your home, and that can lead to unsightly (and messy) clogged toilets and other plumbing backups.

Learn how to handle slow draining pipes and sinks: Some sinks and drain pipes, especially in old homes, can become clogged with unpleasant sludge and other build up. Your local plumbing professional will have industrial tools and other methods for cleaning out your pipes, but one method to try is called “snaking.” You can either buy or rent a snake pipe which attaches to your tub or sink faucet, and run it down the drain to the source of a clog. Turning on the water will shoot high pressure water streams to break up any loose mater in the pipe.

Locate the shut-off value for your home: Not every homeowner knows where this valve is located, but it’s important enough that everyone should learn how to locate it. Make sure that you know both where the valve is located inside of your home, as well as the public shut-off outside of the house. The main shut-off is usually at the curb for most residences.

Remember to contact your plumbing professional for any larger jobs or those you aren’t sure about how to handle.

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