Catch the Gunk: Use Drain Covers on your Sinks and Shower
First plumbing power move: Installing drain covers in your shower and kitchen sink is a simple yet effective way to maintain your plumbing system’s health. These covers act as barriers, preventing food particles, hair, and other waste from running down your drain and causing clogs. In the shower, hair is a common culprit for blockages, while in the kitchen sink, food scraps can easily accumulate and lead to drainage issues.
Using drain covers, you can catch these potential clog-causing materials before they enter your pipes, saving you from the hassle and expense of dealing with stubborn blockages. Additionally, regularly cleaning the drain covers is much easier than unclogging pipes. Choose drain covers with fine mesh or small perforations to catch debris without impeding water flow. This simple preventive measure can go a long way in maintaining your plumbing system operating smoothly.
Upgrade Your Shower Game: Trade Bar Soap for Body Wash
Second plumbing power move: Switching from bar soap to body wash can offer several benefits for your skin and your plumbing system. Bar soap tends to leave behind soap scum and residue, which can accumulate in your shower drain over time, leading to clogs and drainage issues. On the other hand, body wash typically rinses away more cleanly, reducing the risk of buildup in your pipes.
Additionally, body wash often contains moisturizing ingredients that can be gentler on your skin than bar soap, which can dry. With body wash, there’s also less risk of dropping and losing small soap remnants down the drain, further minimizing the chance of clogs. By making this simple switch, you can help keep your plumbing system flowing smoothly while also promoting healthier, more hydrated skin.
Grease Be Gone: Give your Drains a Break from Cooking Oils!
Third plumbing power move: One of the most crucial steps in maintaining healthy plumbing is to keep grease and cooking oils out of your drains. When hot grease and oils are poured down the drain, they may appear liquid, but as they cool, they solidify and stick to the walls of your drain pipes. Over a period of time, this can build up, leading to clogs and blockages, causing slow drainage or even complete backups.
The best way to deal with grease and oils is to allow them to cool and solidify in a disposable container, then dispose of them in the trash. Use paper towels to wipe excess grease from cookware before washing them. Additionally, consider using a grease trap or interceptor in your kitchen sink to capture grease before it enters your plumbing system. Following this simple tip can help prevent costly plumbing problems and keep your drains flowing smoothly.
Steamy Solution: Flush Away Dish Time Debris with Hot Water!
Fourth plumbing power move: After washing dishes, running hot water down your kitchen drain is beneficial to keep your plumbing healthy. Hot water helps to dissolve and flush away any leftover grease, food particles, and soap residue that may have accumulated in the drain pipes. This action can help prevent buildup and reduce the risk of clogs forming. Additionally, hot water can help melt and loosen any fats or oils that may have solidified in the pipes, making them easier to flush away.
To maximize the effectiveness of this tip, ensure that you run hot water for several minutes, allowing it to flow through the pipes and carry away any debris thoroughly. You can also add a small amount of dish soap while running the hot water to help break down any stubborn residue. By incorporating this simple step into your dishwashing routine, you can maintain clear and healthy kitchen drains, reducing the likelihood of plumbing issues down the line.
Don’t Listen to Lies: How to Clear Minor Clogs Without the Drama
Fifth plumbing power move: Avoid using cheap chemical drain cleaners. Branded drain cleaners such as Draino or Liquid Plumr have been scientifically tested and will not hurt your drains, regardless of what anyone says. They have served homeowners for 60-plus years. They are not for every clogged drain but do well on minor sink drains caused by biofilm, commonly called black slime. We are not big advocates for liquid drain cleaners, but we are for our customers.
So, commonsense tells us that if a product has been in the market clearing minor drains for over 60 years and has been scientifically tested not to harm your plumbing system, you should save yourself some money and use it. Has anyone ever told you drain cleaners destroyed their drain? The answer is NO, and that’s why the product keeps flying off the shelf. Use the product as directed, and keep it out of children’s reach–––commonsense. There are also natural enzyme-based drain cleaners, such as BIO Clean, Green Gobler, or Simple Green, which all seem to have good reviews.
Even Better Drain Cleaning Alternatives
There are better alternatives, such as our faithful plunger. Every household should have a sink plunger and a toilet plunger. Most of us have learned how to use a plunger at a very early age. A small hand-held plumber snake is another handy tool for breaking up minor clogs. They cost less than fifty dollars and work wonders on small drains. We saved the best for last: For bathroom sink drains, learn how to remove the sink stopper, then use a metal coat hanger with a hook at the end to fish out the hairball causing the problem. Clean the black slime using an old toothbrush and rinse with a kettle of hot water. Your drain will be as good as new.
Toilet Talk: Keep it Clean, Keep it Clear – Bin It, Don’t Flush It!
Sixth plumbing power move: Treating your toilet and sinks as wastebaskets can lead to significant plumbing problems. Flushing items like cotton swabs, dental floss, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, and wipes down the toilet can cause blockages in your pipes and lead to sewage backups. These items can’t break down easily and can get caught in the plumbing system, creating difficult and costly clogs to remove.
Similarly, using your sinks as a wastebasket by pouring cooking grease, coffee grounds, food scraps, and other debris down the drain can also lead to clogs and drainage issues. Even small particles can accumulate and create blockages over time, resulting in slow drainage and potential water damage.
To prevent plumbing problems, dispose of waste properly in designated trash receptacles rather than using your toilet or sinks as convenient disposal options. This simple habit can help maintain the health and functionality of your plumbing system, saving you from the inconvenience and expense of repairs.
Bid Farewell to Plumbing Woes and Enjoy Stress-Free Living with Your Power Plumbing Moves
Maintaining a smoothly functioning plumbing system doesn’t have to be a daunting task for homeowners. By implementing the six plumbing power moves outlined by Big B’s Plumbing, you can proactively address common issues and ensure the longevity of your home’s pipes. From using drain covers to prevent clogs to making simple switches like trading bar soap for body wash, each tip offers practical solutions for keeping your plumbing pristine.
Additionally, avoiding common pitfalls like pouring grease down the drain or treating toilets and sinks as wastebaskets can prevent costly blockages and backups. With some know-how and proactive care, homeowners can bid farewell to plumbing woes and enjoy stress-free living. So, embrace these power moves and say hello to hassle-free plumbing!
