Okay, so you’ve been standing there waiting for the drain to flush the water out but it’s taking far too long. A slow drain or toilet could be a first sign of a problem.
Proper maintenance is needed to avoid clogs (that can potentially mean more stress, more time wasted and more $$$ spent!)… Here are some weekly and monthly steps you can take to prevention:
Once a week maintenance tips:
- Bring the pop-up stoppers up in the bathroom sink to get rid of trapped debris, put in the trash and wash the stopper and put it back in the drain.
- Take out the drain cover of the bathtub drain and use a bent wire or hair-catching brush to remove debris that might have collected there.
Once a month maintenance tips:
- Clean and clear your waste disposal with a stiff disposer brush or mix a few cups of ice and table salt. This will help remove grease buildup and slime off the sides of the disposer. Flush it with cold water added with lemon to deodorize.
- For bathtub maintenance, pull out the overflow plate, and bring the pop-up handle up to grasp the rocker arm. Get rid of accumulated debris and wash thoroughly before setting it back.
- It is also advisable to use a good cleaner to protect all the drains in your home. It has to be non-corrosive and biodegradable so it won’t deteriorate your home plumbing system. It is better to use a nature friendly cleaner than chemical ones as it can be safe to your plumbing system and your family.
To clean your drains effectively, you can use baking soda and vinegar. This is a great way to help eliminate a slow-moving drain. To unclog a drain with baking soda and vinegar, use the following tips.
- Let a pot of boiling water run down through the drain.
- Throw in about half a cup of baking soda. Let it sit for a couple of minutes.
- Then, pour in a mixture of a cup of vinegar and a cup of hot water.
- Cover the drain with the plug and let it sit for 5-10 mins.
- Lastly, flush with boiling water.
Enzymatic Drain Cleaners
This is an earth friendly method that involves using live enzymes and bacteria that consume organic scum.
They feed on hair and food waste as well. These organisms digest the waste, then reproduce, spreading the helpful bacteria throughout your septic system.
After you have put in all this effort to clear your drain, take steps to keep it this way. As they say, prevention is better than cure.
If your clog still keeps coming back (and we can assume it could be a real headache!), it is time to call in plumbing experts in Beaumont, TX. These certified pros in Texas have the right tools that allow them to see exactly what is causing the problem and more powerful techniques such as hydro-jetting to clear clogs deep within the pipes.
Follow the tips above and you can avoid costly emergency repairs. In case of a major clog, remember to hire a professional to perform drain cleaning in Beaumont.
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Practice social distancing by staying at least six feet away from another person.