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Professional Drain Cleaning And Why You Need it

  • Professional Drain Cleaning And Why You Need it

    Drain Cleaning Tips

    When it comes to indoor plumbing, most people don’t think about it until there is an issue. Floor drains are almost entirely overlooked. They are similar to drains you see in showers, and bathtubs as they are flush with the surface. However, floor drains are often found in patios, driveways, basement floors, laundry rooms, and garages. In older homes, they can be found in bathroom floors as well. Where fast efficient water drainages are required, these floor drains are installed.

    Because they are often ignored, there is no thought of maintenance until a serious problem occurs. Additionally, with pre-planning and some basic care, many issues can be avoided. By following these simple tips, you can ensure your floor drains will perform properly. This will prevent flooding, and more importantly costly water damage.

    Address Clogs Immediately

    Debris collects on your floor. As a result, potentially clogging floor drains. From hair, pet hair, dust bunnies, paper, and anything else that may fall to the floor. All of these create a risk of clogged floor drains. If it starts to drain slowly, this is the first sign of a clog. When you notice this, clean it as soon as possible. It will greatly reduce the risk of flooding.

    Minor clogs can typically be cleared with a few strong pumps with a plunger. You can also try a few home remedies such as baking soda and vinegar. If you are unable to clear the clog, it is time to call a professional plumber.

    Maintain Traps

    Floor drains found outside quickly move water away from surfaces. Indoor floor drains capture overflow from appliances and plumbing fixtures. Both indoor and outdoor drains are designed to safely and efficiently direct water to a sewer or storm drain. This ensures that floors stay dry and prevents rooms from flooding.

    These drains have a trap. The purpose of a trap is to prevent foul-smelling sewer gas from coming back into the house. Water sits in a portion of the pipes, blocking the gases from the sewer side of the pipe. These traps need to be filled with water regularly. Pour a gallon of water down each floor drain to ensure they are working properly. The water fills the trap and forms a barrier between the sewer system and your home.

    Regularly Check & Clean Drains

    Check all your drains and clear all debris from them. Use plungers or liquid drain cleaners to minimize buildup. At least annually schedule a drain cleaning with a professional plumber. This will prevent clogs and keep your drains running smoothly. More importantly, it will minimize further damage and costly repairs.

    How often you need professional drain cleaning will depend on what you put down your sink and garbage disposal.  Grease coagulates on the inside of pipes and eventually clogs the drain line. Using garbage disposal increases the frequency and need for cleaning. Sludge and debris are deposited in pipes due to regular use of garbage disposal. In addition, abusing the garbage disposal makes matters worse. Grease and hard fibrous foods should never be put down a disposal.

    Regular use of enzyme drain cleaners or home remedies can extend the time between necessary drain cleanings. Likewise, paying attention to what goes down your drains will help. Doing all you can assist your pipes in functioning properly, but they will still need professional drain cleaning regularly. For proper pipe maintenance and professional drain cleaning, call Electric Drain & Sewer Rooter today (801) 803-5660.