Summers in San Diego are meant to be spent enjoying the outdoors with your family and friends, not waiting for your plumber to clear your drains! The last thing you want to do is to step into your shower to find the water pooling up around your feet, or as you brush your teeth, you see the water just slowly gurgling down the drain.
You might be more inclined to ignore it for a bit, but trust us, that is not the route to go. To keep your drains in tip-top shape, and to get your summer off to the right start, here is everything you need to know about your drains (inside and out) to keep them clog and problem-free:
Common Clogs
When it comes to your indoor drains, the first thing you need to fully understand is the most common ways your drains are taking a beating. Many of your daily activities might seem harmless and routine, but without the right knowledge and care, you could be working your way towards some pesky drain issues. So here are the most common indoor clogs, room by room that we experience on a daily basis:
Kitchen Drains
We know life gets busy, and washing the dishes can often be the one chore you rush through each day, but constant neglect for what goes down your kitchen sink can lead to significant build-up, clogs, and burst. When it comes to your garbage disposal, there are several things you’ll just want to save for the trash! Grease, fats, oils and fibrous foods should all be thrown in the trash, not down the drain.
The Bathroom Sink
When you think about all the daily activities you do over your bathroom sink, a lot of it can be harmless to your drain and pipes. Brushing your teeth and washing your hands — in your bathroom sink are definitely harmless, but activities such as shaving and hairstyling over your sink can lead to an unexpected blockage.
Bathroom plumbing clogs often start around the sink stopper, so your first bet in tackling this clog is to remove and clean the stopper. If the clog persists, you can try to remove the clog with a cup plunger. If a plunger is still not getting the job done, you might have to remove the P-Trap, and if you are unsure how to do so, the experts at Anderson can help.
Tubs and Showers
The tub and shower are the most common household clogs you’ll encounter, and most of the clogs are caused by excess hair! Have pets or animals that you often bathe bath at home? A packed household during shedding season can lead to a major clog quick. That extra hair can really add up. To avoid these fast clogs, invest in a drain catcher. It will stop any excess hair from getting built up down your drains.
Avoiding Clogs
Clogs can happen, but if you’re finding that it’s becoming a daily occurrence to break out the plunger or snake, you might want to start reconsidering your daily habits.
If you do have a clog, a liquid drain cleaner might seem like the best logical solution, but with time, it can cause significant damage to your pipes. Soap residue can build up as well, and an excellent way to keep the soap from building up is by mixing baking soda, and hot water and pouring it in the drain. Let it sit for 15 minutes before giving it a final rinse with hot water.
Knowing what can and can’t go down the drain is the first step to keeping your system clog free.
Fixing Clogs
The first thing you’ll want to do when a drain clog occurs is reach for your trusty snake. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, and if you don’t already own a snake, now is the time to head to the store. All snakes are not the same, so you’ll want to ensure you have the proper size for the job. Once you have the appropriate snake, you’ll want to rotate the tool downwards. Keep going until you’ve reached the clog, so you can push or pull the clog through.
If that doesn’t work, it might be time to call an Anderson Drain Specialist to evaluate your situation. The Anderson team can help with snaking and hydro jetting or a camera inspection to see what’s causing the problem.
Your Outside Drains
While you’re doing your best to keep your indoor drains free of clogs, you’ll want to remember to check your outdoor drains, too! Keeping your eyes open for any outside issues now is a great way to prevent a major plumbing issue later.
Since summer is almost here, you’ll want to identify where your outside plumbing is. First find where the drain that is closest to the sewer connection (usually a tub, sink or toilet) lives and inspect the pipe that leads to them.
Pro tip: You’ll want to be sure that roots, branches, and weeds are not growing around your plumbing, as they can quickly take over and cause a significant burst!
Top Tips to Remember
Indoor and out, you don’t want to be spending all summer fixing one drain clog after the next. To keep all your drains in tip-top shape, here’s some top drain tips you’ll want to remember:
- Always scrape plates before washing them in the sink
- Run hot water in your bath sinks after using bath products
- Check your outdoor drains and keep an eye out for any unusual changes
- Say no to commercial drain cleaners
- Pour all grease, oils, and fats in the garbage, not down the drain
- Invest in a shower catcher, to avoid hair from getting stuck in the drains
- Avoid brushing your hair or shaving over the bathroom sink, and rinse with hot water when you do
- Avoid bathing pets in your tub
Staying ahead of the clogs now can save you money down the road!
Top Repair Options
Remember, if anything changes or if clogs become a regular occurrence, don’t ignore them! The Anderson team has a wide variety of drain services that can fix the problem efficiently and fast.
Drain snaking can be a simple and easy solution that can either break up or pull out a drain clog.
For a quick, economical, and quick solution hydrojetting uses water pressure to clean out any buildup you might have, such as grease and roots.
You should consider a camera inspection if you are not getting anywhere with snaking or you have one or more of the following:
- Recurring blocks and clogs in various pipe locations
- Older pipes
- Constant sewer repairs
A camera inspection takes less than 2 hours and can be an effective way to find the route of your drain issues.
If you are continually noticing drain issues, or are constantly grabbing the snake and plunger, it’s time to call the experts at Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air at 866.374.0402. From drain cleaning to sewer service, our experts can handle all your plumbing needs!