A clogged sink drain is at best an inconvenience and can also cost you plenty in time and effort not to mention the cost of having a plumber come out and clear the clogged drain. Almost every home gets a drain clog at some point in time, but you can save yourself some money and aggravation by adopting habits that keep clogged drains to a minimum.
Clogged drains are the result of an accumulation of debris including soap, hair, grease, oil, chemicals, toothpaste, food particles, and anything else you flush down the drain. Start by limiting the amount of these materials that go down the drain. Install screens on bathroom sink, tub and shower drains to catch hair and large soap particles.
In the kitchen, don’t pour grease or oil down the drain. Save grease and oil in a jar and dispose of it in the trash. When washing dishes, scrape off the food particles into the trash rather than flush them down the drain. Use plenty of hot, soapy water and after letting the dishwater out of the sink, flush it down the drain by running the hot water.
Once a week, fill your sinks and tubs up with hot water, then open the drain. The weight of the hot water will help flush out any foreign material in the drain line. If you have a walk in shower, use a common household plunger to cover the drain and fill the floor pan with hot water. Remove the plunger and let the how water flow through the drain.
In the event of a clogged drain, try clearing it using a household plunger. If that doesn’t clear the clog, call a plumber. Never use chemical drain cleaners or clog removers. They can do harm to your pipes and are dangerous to handle.
