Clogged drains are a major inconvenience for homeowners. They are especially annoying when it continues to happen and you are unsure what is causing it. Most of the time, a clogged drain needs to be handled by a professional so this can be another downer. There are times when the homeowner can clean the drain and unclog it themselves. Plumbing professionals discuss great information regarding Clogged Drains in Tacoma below.
How Clogs Happen
One way that drains get clogged is by food that is put in the kitchen sink. Even with a garbage disposal, this can be detrimental to a drain pipe. A person should avoid putting things like coffee grounds, bones, celery, potato skins, and egg shells in the garbage disposal. These items cause damage by the disposal to wearing down and also causing things to get wrapped around the blades and pile up in the drain. Another common cause of a clogged drain is oil, fat, or grease being poured down the sink. When this happens, the particles build up and eventually will not let anything through.
Preventing the Clog
Preventing clogs in sink drains and garbage disposal is often about just educating consumers about the risks of putting things in the sink. There are also products that you can buy such as a grease trap or a drain screen that can help prevent issues from occurring. A grease trap can catch oil and grease from pots and pans as one is washing them in the sink. A drain screen works very similar to a shower drain screen or strainer that keeps hair from going down the drain. it prevents small food pieces and other trash from going further into the sink. Another preventative is vinegar and baking soda. These two things can be poured down the drain to loosen up food particles that may be stuck.
Cleaning the Clog
There are some small clogs that can be handled by you. A mixture of salt, baking soda, and vinegar is a good concoction to use to clean the drain. It is good to avoid store bought chemicals as sometimes they can be too harsh. Plungers and snakes can also be used for minor clogs.
If all else fails with Clogged Drains in Tacoma, a plumber should be called. A plumber can unclog the drain quickly. They can also give tips to prevent the same thing from happening in the future.
