3 Things You Shouldn’t Dump Down Your Drain

July 31st, 2018 Posted in Drains
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Many plumbing problems could be avoided through simply choosing not to allow certain items to go down your drain. It may convenient to dispose of almost any liquid or food item down your drains, but it may not be the best option. Just because something can go down your drain does not necessarily mean it should. In the long run, it can cost you more in time and money if you dump these three things down your drain.

Grease

It may be easy to rinse those greasy pans out with hot water and watch the fat go down your kitchen sink drain, but it can be a big mistake. Shortening, butter and animal fats congeal when they become colder, often sticking to the inside of your pipes. This fatty substance grabs onto debris and can eventually cause a stubborn clog in your drain.

Chemicals

You should be careful of the chemicals you put down your drain. While some household cleaners are perfectly safe, chemicals like turpentine, paint, solvent-based cleaners and automobile fluids should not be allowed to go down the drain. They can be harmful to the environment and may damage your plumbing or septic system.

Foods

You may have a garbage disposal, but that does not mean all food should go down the drain. Even chopped up, hard produce peels, potatoes, egg shells and coffee grounds can all produce nasty clogs in your drain. Some starches like potatoes like create a glue-like substance that grabs ahold of other debris and makes a solid, stubborn clog in your plumbing.

Avoiding putting these three things down the drain can protect your plumbing. However, if you do get a clog, call your local plumber to help you clear your drain the right way.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing, Inc.
106-M Oakgrove Road
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 435-4441

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Four Common Items That Cause Drain Clogs

April 14th, 2017 Posted in Drains
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What goes in, must come out, can be a key phrase to many things in life, including your drain plumbing. That is why you need to be careful what goes in your drain, because it many not make it out so easily! Here are four regularly disposed of items that should NOT go down your drains:

  1. Grease. Grease may slide down your drain quite well, especially when it’s warm. The problem is that it can cool quickly and make a mess in your pipes, making it much easier for clogs to begin.
  2. If you have anyone with long hair in your home, you may know about hair clogs. Sure hair can make it down the drain, but it won’t get too far before catching on something. Then it will accumulate quickly, as will your draining problems.
  3. It may be tempting just to scrape those last little crumbs from dinner down your sink drain, but you will soon find out that it is a big no-no. Food can get caught in your drains, cause a clog, or start to rot. That would stink!
  4. Cotton. Many people believe that if they use it in the bathroom and its a cotton disposable, it can be flushed. Not much is meant to fit down your toilet drain. Most packaging will let you know whether or not something can be flushed.

Have you made the mistake of flushing one of these common items down your drain? Don’t be embarrassed! We all learn from our mistakes. In the meantime, you can rely on a professional plumber to get your drains and plumbing clog free, so that you can be worry free.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934

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When to Call a Plumber for a Clogged Drain

June 22nd, 2016 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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One of the most common plumbing issues are clogged drains. Almost everyone has experienced a bathroom sink that begins to drain slowly or a kitchen sink that won’t drain at all. Most often this is an easy fix that you can handle yourself. Using a plunger or snake will often dislodge a simple clog and fix your draining issue. But when should you call a plumber? Here are some signs that you may need a professional clog removal:

  • Clog keeps returning. Do you have a sink, shower or toilet that keeps getting clogged over and over? Although you may be dislodging some of the clog, chances are there is something stuck in the pipes which is perpetuating new clogs to form. A plumber can inspect your pipes and clear away any debris that will cause future clogs from forming.
  • Multiple drain issues. All your drains in your house go to the same place. If you have multiple drains that are backing up or draining slowly, you may have a clogged sewer line or pipe. This will require professional attention immediately by a professional plumber.
  • Foul odor. If a drain is backing up or draining slowly and accompanied by a foul odor, call your plumber. You may have a broken pipe or other issue that is blocking your sewer lines and causing sewage to stay trapped in your plumbing.

Although you may want to save money by trying to fix clogged plumbing yourself, often you can make the problem worse if it is not a simple clog. When you have a stubborn drain issue, call in a local plumber to have the issue resolved right the first time.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

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Little Known Plumbing Facts About Common Household Products

December 5th, 2014 Posted in Plumbing Maintenance
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There are many common products which may be in your home, posing a risk to your plumbing. In fact, some of these products are even designed to be used with sinks or toilets, yet can be damaging your plumbing every time you use them. To protect your plumbing and avoid the necessity for expensive repairs and replacements, here are a few facts about some household products that may be harming your plumbing.

  • Soap. Yes, you read that right. Your everyday hand soap can be damaging your plumbing fixtures. When you wash your hands and grab the faucet with your soapy digits, that soap left on the handle can be ruining your hardware. Ever see little bubbles or peeling fixtures? This can be caused from soap; wipe off the faucets after you use them with soapy hands.
  • Toilet tank cleaners. Those little in-tank cleaners for your toilet may not be cleaning anything at all. Many of these products only bleach the deposits, and don’t remove them. So while you think your tank and toilet are being cleaned, they are accumulating build up. Take the time to scrub down your tank and toilet instead.
  • Chemical clog removers. Most plumbers will agree that the chemical clog remover is one of the most harmful products you can put down your drains. These chemicals can damage your plumbing while doing little to completely remove any clog. Use a plunger or snake to remove clogs, or call in a professional!

Ask your local plumber about other little known facts regarding your plumbing which may surprise you. These professionals have seen it all when it comes to plumbing problems, and can offer you some money saving advice!

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA
(703) 435-4441

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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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Clearing a Clogged Shower Drain

December 22nd, 2011 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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A clogged shower drain can be a major inconvenience, especially if it happens when you are trying to get ready to go to work.  Shower drain clog pose a special challenge for homeowners because unlike sink drains, the trap is not readily accessible.  Most people just call a plumber which is a great idea, but before you pay for a service call, there is a simple and safe technique you can try that may get that clog cleared.

Most shower drain clogs are the result of hair build up combined with soap scum, dirt, and other debris.  Often this clog is caught in the trap a foot or less from the drain.  If you can remove this clog, your drain will flow freely again.

Start by removing the metal grate over the drain.  This is usually held in place with two screws.  Be careful not to drop the screws down the drain.  Remove any hair caught on the grate and set it aside.  Next, straighten out a wire coat hanger and use a pair of pliers to bend a small (about an inch) hook in the end. Put the hook end into the as far as it will go without forcing it.

Wiggle the coat hanger around and give it a few turns to see if the hook will snag on any hair or other debris.  Pull the hanger out and remove any clumps of hair.  Repeat until no more hair is caught on the hanger.

If the drain is still clogged, it is probably best to call a  good plumber and let then handle the drain cleaning.

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Keeping Hair Out Of Your Tub Drains

December 22nd, 2011 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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A clogged sink drain can be a major inconvenience, but at least the trap and the first few feet of drain line are usually accessible under the sink or in the cabinet.  Most handy homeowners have a good chance of successfully clearing clogs in these areas.

Tub and shower drains are another matter entirely.  The trap is usually not accessible, and even if it is the trap is not easily removed by hand like most sink drain traps.  The result is that a clog in a tub or shower drain usually means a call to the plumber to clear the  clogged drain.

One way to minimize these calls and save yourself a little money is to keep hair out of these drains as much as possible. Hair is easily the most common cause of tub and shower drain clogs.  Hair catches on the stopper, the grate, and any little imperfection in the drain.  It then starts collecting more hair, soap scum, dirt and debris and before you know it a clog has formed.  Less hair in the drain equals fewer clogs.

Your local home improvement store carries a selection of hair catching strainers in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit almost any type or size of drain.  These are plastic or metal devices that are easily removable for cleaning which is convenient because you will need to clean it often.  Whenever hair accumulates on the strainer, take it out and clean the hair out of it.

By catching and disposing of hair before it has a chance to reach your drain, you will be able to prevent most tub or shower drain clogs and keep more money in your pocket.

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