Clogged drains always seem to happen at the most inconvenient times. But you can avoid clogs altogether with a few simple tips and a bit of prevention. A few minutes every couple of weeks is all it takes to keep your drains clear and functioning properly.
If you do end up with a clog, we have explained some reliable DIY options to try to clear it. If these tips don’t work, the friendly pros at Daniel’s can help with drain cleaning, no matter how stubborn the clog is!
How to Keep Drains Clean
The best way to keep drainpipes clean is to take a two-pronged approach to drain maintenance:
- Prevent things that don’t belong in your drains from going into them.
- Practice regular drain cleaning.
Simple as it sounds, these two things can save you plenty of plumbing headaches.
To keep drains clean:
- Use drain screens or baskets in sinks, tubs, and showers. (If you’re wondering how to keep hair from clogging a shower drain, this is the simplest way to do it.)
- Don’t pour grease down your drains. Pour it into a can or another container instead and throw that in the trash.
- Make sure you have a lint-catcher installed on the outlet hose of your washing machine.
- Clean drains regularly by pouring a half-cup of baking soda, followed by a half-cup of vinegar, into the drain. Allow it to sit for fifteen minutes before rinsing the drain with boiling water. Do this monthly to keep grime and other debris from collecting in your drain.
- Pour boiling water down your drains weekly. Doing this in between baking soda and vinegar treatments will dissolve minor buildups and keep things running smoothly.
- Use a bacteria-based drain treatment if your drains seem to be getting sluggish.
How to Clear Clogged Drain Pipes
What can you do with a drain that’s already clogged? There are a few good DIY options for clearing clogged drainpipes. Some of these methods will work better than others, depending on where the clog is located and how stubborn it is.
- Non-toxic drain cleaner: These products are a good option if you don’t feel comfortable plunging or using other mechanical methods for clearing your drains. Using a non-toxic product is especially important if you have a septic tank, because these products won’t destroy the bacterial biome that keeps your septic system functioning.
- Plunger: The tried-and-true plunger is handy for getting rid of clogs that aren’t too stubborn. There is a bit of a technique involved, and the shape of the plunger is also important since different shapes are better for different types of plumbing fixtures.
- Snake or barbed clog remover: These tools are threaded into the pipe through the drain, and you either wiggle or twist them to try to “catch” the clog and pull it out. They’re especially useful for shower or bathtub drains, which usually become clogged by hair.
Get Austin, TX Drain Cleaning Help
If the clog is just too stubborn and none of the above-mentioned DIY methods work, it might be time to call in the help of a professional. The plumbing pros at Daniel’s can help clear your drains and get everything running smoothly again. Call us at (512) 490-6700 or request service online anytime.