Remove Clogs and Gun from Your Drain

Understanding how everyday habits create gunk in your drains and pipes helps us prevent future clogs. Here are some practical tips for trouble-free plumbing.

To keep drains free of clogs, we need to put as little as possible down them. Things that will clog or slow your drains include:

• Soap
• Hair
• Cooking grease
• Coffee grounds
• Food particles

Avoid letting hair go down the drain in the bathroom sink and bathtub. If hair accumulates, you’ll likely have a nasty clog that is difficult to fix. Hair can get wrapped around parts of the drain and removal can be challenging.

Soap typically drains easily, but if too much goes down the drain at once, it can leave a soap scum that eventually clogs the drain. If you notice soap scum build up, use a soft scrubbing brush and warm water to clear the scum.

For the kitchen sink, a plug or screen over the drain will filter food particles. If you are peeling food like potatoes, onions, apples or other food in the sink, make sure no parts accidentally go in the drain. Even small pieces can accumulate and slow the drain.

Grease from cooking is too heavy to rinse in the sink. It will solidify and cause major problems — including in the plumbing downstairs (if you have a floor below the kitchen). Cooking oil and butter are thicker than water, so they should also be put in a separate receptacle and then disposed of in the garbage.

What You Can Do to Prevent Clogs

These are some simple things you can do to help keep your drains flowing:

• Run hot water. This will help any remaining oils, food particles, shampoo, hair conditioner and soap run down kitchen bathroom drains, rather than building up in the pipes.
• Put a spoonful of baking soda down the drain and run the hot water for a few minutes. Baking soda is a good cleaner for the drain. It absorbs odours and leaves your drains smelling fresher.
• Put a cup of vinegar down the drain and do not turn the water on for 30 minutes. Letting the vinegar sit for a while can clean a drain. After 30 minutes, run hot water for a couple minutes. Vinegar has acetic acid in it and will remove debris in the pipes. Vinegar is good for cleaning garbage disposals as well.

Keeping a drain clean and fresh is the first step to preventing plumbing issues. If your problem is too big to fix, trust licensed plumbers to do the job. Call Abbey Plumbing and Mechanical at (905) 822-0521. We will clear your drains and have them running smoothly. We serve both residential and commercial customers. Let us help keep your plumbing lasting for years to come.