Do you know what the #1 most common plumbing problem is? This might not come as a surprise to you, but it’s a drain clog! Just about every homeowner had dealt with a clogged or slow drain at some point. Fortunately, our professional plumbers handle unclogging drains like it’s our business–because it is!
We’d also like you to know, however, how to avoid drain clogs if at all possible. We’re here for you to effectively eliminate and prevent clogging in the future, but in the meantime, we’d like to help you have as few plumbing issues as possible related to clogs. Read on for some of our best tips.
Use Drain Screens and Covers
Things like hair, soap scum and even objects accidentally knocked down into drains are some of the most frequent sources of drain clogs. You can prevent most of these from going down the drains at all by utilizing drain covers and mesh drain screens.
You can find these really affordably at pretty much any hardware store or home goods store, and even online. Some types of drain screens may need a bit more installation, in which case you might want to contact a plumber, but this will help strain out unwanted particles.
Keep FOG Out of the Kitchen Sink
You think you know what FOG is, but do you really? No, we aren’t talking about the marine layer you see when you get closer to the coast. We’re talking about the kind of FOG that can plague a kitchen–Fats, Oils, and Grease. These cooking byproducts are the nemesis of kitchen sink drains!
Sure, they’re liquid when hot, but as they cool down from the air of the drain vents, they change into solids that become difficult to remove. We suggest that you pour FOG from cooking into a separate receptacle and put it in the trash rather than down the drains.
Run Hot Water Down Your Drains After Sink Use
This is an especially useful tool to help with FOG, if you did pour it down the sink. Hot water breaks apart FOG, allowing it to flow a bit easier down the drain. You don’t have to run much water down the drain, perhaps just enough that it would take you to wash your hands after food prep.
This can also help in bathroom sinks and shower drains to clear out soap residue that can lead to soap scum buildup. Soap scum is more of a problem in homes with hard water–water with a high level of minerals in it (namely, magnesium and calcium). These minerals are harmless to ingest, so you don’t need to worry about your drinking water, but they can wreak havoc on your plumbing system over time, resulting in buildup, subsequent drain clogs, and even corrosion and pinhole leaks.
What If I Have a Drain Clog?
If you currently have a drain clog, the best thing you can do is call our professional plumbers. We never use caustic chemicals to clean out your drains–instead, we’ll use a tool such as a drain snake or hydro jet, depending on the severity of the clog. Reach out to our team to learn more!
When you do need a professional plumber in Modesto, you needn’t look any further than DeHart Plumbing, Heating, and Air Inc. Contact us today!