There’s no arguing that the most common plumbing problem a lot of households experience is clogged drains. It just happens from time to time. However, it’s not by accident. Most often, it’s because of some practices we disregard and the lack of plumbing or cleaning tools.
Five solid tips that will make clogged drains a thing of the past and keep your drains clean:
Hairbrush
Yes, we’ll start weird. That doesn’t sound like a plumber’s tool at all. But hear us out. Almost all drains clog because of hair that’s stuck in the drainage system, especially in the bathroom. By brushing your hair before taking a bath, you can reduce hair fibers that will be trapped in the drain. This tip doesn’t cost you a dime as we’re quite sure everyone has a hairbrush lying around the house.
Drain Screen and Hair Catcher
Both tools are efficient enough in catching clog-causing debris. The hair catcher is for your bathroom drain and basin, while the screen is for your kitchen sink. What makes them ideal tools is because of their reliability and price. They’re pretty affordable and durable. However, when buying them, you have to make sure that you know the exact size of your drain as you want to get the right fit. Although they are quite unsightly to clean, they do provide almost a lifetime of clog-free experience.
Electric Kettle
The next tool is another one that you most likely have laying around the house, an electric kettle or a traditional one is as reliable. Even if you have a drain screen for your kitchen, clogs can still happen due to washing dishes with oily or greasy food. These can accumulate in your drainage pipes and cause clogs. Whenever you feel like the sink drains slower than usual, a quick litre of hot water should do the trick with minimal effort. However, just make sure the water’s not boiling as it might damage the PVC pipes of your drain - keep it at around 60 degrees Celcius. Keep this in practice to avoid encountering a severe clog due to grease and tiny food particles.
Cleaning Rods
There are plenty of cleaning rods available in your local hardware. Some of them are flexible or better known as drain augers or plumber’s snakes, while some are your ordinary stick with a brush. Get one of these tools in case you do encounter a more severe clog. These can capture hair, heavy grease, food particles, and solidified soap scum in a matter of seconds.
Drain Cleaners
Lastly, we have drain cleaners or chemicals that can dissolve almost anything that’s stuck in your drainage system. Liquid lye is a common choice among many consumers as it can be directly applied even as maintenance. If you want something cheaper, hydrochloric acid will also do the trick. However, it should be diluted with water as it’s too aggressive.
We only recommend chemicals as a last resort as they are harmful to your health. You only use these substances when the typical hot water and soap solution or the use of drain rods doesn’t fix the clog.
If you have tried all of the method above and you still have a clogged drain, it might be time to call in a professional plumbing company to take a look. They deal with clogged drains on a daily basis and have the tools and knowledge to unclog your drain in a jiffy.
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