San Diego drain clogs and problems have a way of surfacing at the most inconvenient times. Thanksgiving Day, for example, the feast is about to be served and the kitchen sink backs up. Or maybe you’re leaving your house and you notice the shower hasn’t completely drained. There are some very simple maintenance steps you can take to keep your drains working efficiently and avoid an inopportune clog.
We’re not pointing any fingers, but most clogged drains occur because someone put something into the drain that did not belong there. Usually, it starts out as a liquid, but solidifies once it reaches the P-trap. Tip number one is to set the liquid (like bacon fat) aside and let it solidify, then dispose of it in the trash.
Never pour grease down your drains! Try to keep hair and other debris out as well. To prevent soap residue from building up, do the following once a month:
- Run hot water through your drains
- Add 3 tablespoons of baking soda
- Add a little hot water
- Let it stand for 15 minutes
- Flush it by running hot water again
Drain odors can be eliminated by pouring a mixture of 1 handful of baking soda and hot water down the drain every week or so. Another proven remedy is to pour a cup of vinegar down the drain, let it stand for 30 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with hot water.
Keep drain odor at bay by keeping grease, hair and vegetable matter out of your drains and by running very hot water after each use. Here are some additional tips for maintaining your garbage disposal:
- Never use commercial drain products
- Use cold water when operating disposal
- Grind up ice cubes to clean
- Grind up lemon peel to freshen
- Review your maintenance manual
If trying these tips doesn’t fix your drain clearing problem, and you still have odor or poor drainage, give us a call at (866) 374-0402 or request an appointment online.