Drain Maintenance Tasks To Accomplish This Summer and Fall

Clogged drains are a major plumbing inconvenience regularly affecting many homes. Common causes of blocked drains include an improperly flushing toilet, a blocked kitchen sink, or a slow- running shower drain.

Left unchecked, a simple clog can cause your drains to back up, resulting in water damage and unsanitary conditions within your home.

Fortunately, you can do some simple things in the summer and fall to prevent serious drain clogs from occurring in the colder months and throughout the year.

Here, we lay out some routine maintenance tasks that will help you keep your drains in fine fettle all year round.

5 Simple Drain Maintenance Tasks To Do in Summer and Fall That Prevent Clogs

Check and Clean Tub or Shower Drain Daily

Once a month, clean your shower and tub drains to remove any hair, biofilm, soap scum, or other debris that could enter the drains. You can use a handy device found at most hardware stores—a long plastic tool with jagged teeth or edges. Then, pour a tablespoon of salt into your shower, sink, or tub drains and add about a quarter cup of plain vinegar. Flush the drain with hot water after an hour.

Occasionally Use Bleach in Your Kitchen Drain

Another essential drain maintenance task is to clean your kitchen sink with soap. Wash your sink daily to keep it clean and sanitary. Occasionally pour a small amount of bleach down the drain, let it soak for one hour, and then flush it down with hot water.
This not only deodorizes your drains but also keeps them clean and, importantly, sanitary.

Flush Your Garbage Disposal With Cold Water

Do not use hot water to flush out your garbage disposal. Hot water breaks down the solid oils and fats, liquefying them and later causing them to stick to the insides of the drain.

This will eventually result in blockage, potentially becoming a serious clog.

Use Dishwasher Traps To Prevent Clogging

Dishwasher traps catch food, grease, coffee grounds, and other particles before they enter your drains, solidify in the pipes, and cause a blockage. Always dispose of leftover food or greasy bits in the compost or garbage to avoid them getting in the drains. Also, use a paper towel to wipe out greasy pots and pans before cleaning them with plenty of quality dishwashing liquid.
Likewise, place a grate or screen on your bathroom and kitchen drains to keep food, hair, soap scum, and other debris out.

Schedule a Professional Drain Inspection Before Winter Sets In

Schedule a professional camera inspection annually, even if you haven’t had any clog symptoms. Doing so catches any problems early and prevents waste build-up that could cause your pipes to clog or burst during the winter freeze.

Bonus Tips—Helpful Prevention Protocols

Prevention is better than cure. These simple bonus tips should help you avoid drain repair and cleaning or at least minimize the need for it:
• Be careful about using commercial drain cleaning products; use them sparingly to avoid damaging the insides of your drains.
• Keep your drains from smelling foul by occasionally pouring some bleach or baking soda down your drains and flushing them with water; this deodorizes and rinses out any stubborn particles.
• Run hot water down your drains after use to flush out any grease or stubborn particles.
• Use vinegar as a natural, non-corrosive cleaner that prevents clogs inside your drains.

Drain clogs are an everyday part of life and are bound to occur at some point. As soon as you notice the first sign of a drain clog, contact the experts at The Plumbing Source immediately at 877-768-7239 for professional drain maintenance before the problem worsens.

Remember to apply the tips in this blog to keep your drains healthier for longer.