You’re minding your own business, doing dishes in the kitchen, or washing up in the bathroom. Then you look down. The drain is clogged (again). It leads you to wonder how to prevent drain clogs permanently. 

Criminals of Clogs

Remember the acronym FOG. It stands for the three main culprits behind drain or pipe clogging: fats, oils, and grease. These scoundrels stick together, building scum up in your pipes and blocking water flow. Avoid putting fatty substances down your drain, such as turkey or bacon drippings, cooking oil, butter, and lard. Coffee grounds can also prove problematic for plumbing.

TIP:

When you have fatty leftovers, clean them out of your pans after they have cooled. Paper towels do the trick. Transfer the residue to your garbage.

Besides being a frustration in your sink, drain cleaners like Draino® wash FOG into your sewer lines and create a nasty mess that our professionals at Barney Murphy can fix. While you might be able to DIY your clogged sink, leave the sewage system to professionals. Address this issue quickly before it becomes necessary to call in emergency plumbing services. 

Summertime Blues:

Every home experiences clogged drains. Warmer months experience an increase because people shower more. Hair and soap residue go down the drain. An easy helpmate here is mesh. Put some over your shower drain or get a prefabricated hair collector. Take a moment to brush your hair before bathing, keeping loose hair out of the picture. 

How to Prevent Clogged Drains Yourself

Several factors can reduce the likelihood of your drains or pipes clogging. Don’t flush household waste, dental floss, paper towels, or feminine hygiene items. Toilets aren’t designed to handle bulky materials. 

At Barner Murphy, we also recommend:

1. A hot water flush: Fill your tub and sink basins with hot water and let it drain once a week.

2. Inspect your drains weekly. Pull out the stopper in the bathroom sink and remove any debris that may be present. Give it a good rinse. Do the same for your tub or shower. 

3. Speaking of tubs, deep clean them once a month

4. Garbage disposal. Avoid putting banana peels, eggshells, potato bits, or coffee grounds in the disposal. Always run cold water while you’re using it. 

5. Seasonal checks and maintenance. 

Quick Fixes (hopefully)

You probably already have some household tools that you use to remove grease and other clogs from your sink.

• Plunger: Ensure the plunger edges seal tightly around the drain. Fill the sink with two to three inches of water, then gently push and pull. Repeat until the water runs smoothly. If this doesn’t work, try a snake.

• Snake: Twist the snake as you put it down the drain. The corkscrew tip will gather hair and other blockages, and then you just pull it up and out. 

• Getting to know U: There is a U-shaped drain under sinks. You can unfasten it to see if there’s something at that juncture causing problems. From this juncture, you can try using your snake again.

• The vinegar trick: Pour one cup of baking soda into your drain. Now add one cup of white vinegar. Wait for 5 minutes. The mixture will bubble. Follow with a rinse of hot water. You may have to repeat this. 

Time to Call Professionals

Even when you know how to prevent clogs, some are just too stubborn. At Barner Murphy, we guarantee quality work. Please call our Levittown, PA, office for assistance (215-945-8560). We also have an online contact form for your convenience. Our professionals will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you have.