3 Tips For Enjoying Cleaner, Free-Flowing Drains In Your Home
Clogged or slow-running drains are a problem that all homeowners dread. In some instances, the cause of this type of problem will end up being a cracked or broken pipe or invasive damage from the roots of nearby trees and bushes. In many others, however, the development of a clogged or slow-running drain may actually be caused by carelessness or lack of knowledge on the part the homeowner, their family members, or household guests. If you are currently experiencing a problem with the drains in your home and want to remedy it or you just want to avoid this type of problem in the future, here are three simple tips you can start using now.
Do a weekly cleaning treatment
Kitchen drains that begin to take longer to empty may be becoming choked with deposits of grease that trap food debris and visibly reduce the flow. Using common household products to do a weekly cleaning treatment can help to reduce the size of these deposits and keep drains running freely. To do this treatment for each drain opening, pour one cup of baking soda into the opening and follow it immediately by slowly pouring in one cup of boiling hot white vinegar.
The vinegar reacts with the baking soda to form a hot foamy substance that will help dissolve residue inside the pipes and help your drains run more freely. As a bonus, this treatment will also help to remove drain odors and freshen your kitchen.
Change the way you dispose of oily liquids
Allowing oily liquids to enter the drains is another reason for the development of slow-running drains in the home. Avoid this problem by creating a special receptacle for discarding oils, grease, butter, lard, and any other oily liquids. Lidded food containers, such as cottage cheese tubs or large mouth jars are perfect for this use and can be filled with cooled oils, and solidified fats, and then lidded and placed into the garbage.
Request a professional drain inspection
Homeowners who fear they may have a serious clog or issue with their drains should consider having them professionally inspected by a reputable drain cleaning company. These professionals can use special cameras to examine the interior of the entire drain pipe and determine what may be causing the problem, as well as offering an expert opinion for a permanent solution. In addition, many drain cleaning companies are now able to offer non-invasive drain cleaning, repair, and replacement options that do not require unsightly excavation in order to be effective.