Blog Post

Tips to Deal With Chronic Clogs

Admin • December 27, 2017

Chronic clogs can make big problems for homeowners. Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent and eliminate clogs in residential plumbing. With lifestyle changes, drain cleaners, and regular use of an auger, many homeowners can keep their home's plumbing in good condition. These tips will help you prevent chronic clogs in your home.

Change Your Habits

Typically, clogs are caused by the habits of the people in the household. Making small lifestyle adjustments can help slow down the rate of clog development or can prevent clogs from occurring altogether. Some small things that you can do to prevent clogs from forming in your house include:
  • Throw away grease instead of dumping it down the drain. Allow grease to cool, then pour it into a bag or jar and throw it away.
  • Keep trash cans by the toilet. Keeping trash cans by the toilet encourages people to throw away feminine hygiene products, wipes, and other products that might otherwise get flushed down the toilet.
  • Comb your hair before getting in the shower. This shakes loose hairs out of the head so they won't go down the drain.
  • Use a drain filter over sink, shower, and bathtub drains. This is a good way to prevent food particles, hair, and other debris from falling down the drain.
Another good way to prevent debris from going down the drain is to identify the items that clog the drains, and then identify ways that this debris can be prevented or avoided.

Clear Clogs With Common Household Products

Vinegar is slightly acidic. When dumped into a slow drain, vinegar can eat away organic debris to clear clogs. Vinegar can be combined with a variety of other household products to keep drains flowing smoothly. Here are a few ideas.

Vinegar and Baking Soda
Pour equal parts vinegar and baking soda into the drain, and allow the vinegar to sit in the drain for several hours. When finished, flush the vinegar out of the drain with hot water.

Vinegar and Lemon Juice
Pour vinegar and lemon juice into the drain and allow it to sit for several hours, then flush it out with hot water. This combination is helpful for removing clogs and eliminating drain odors at the same time.

Vinegar, Salt, and Ice
Pour vinegar, salt, and ice into your garbage disposal, then let the garbage disposal run. Salt helps scrub away debris on the side of the disposal, vinegar helps remove clogs, and ice helps to sharpen the blades of the disposal.

Use an Auger

An auger is similar to a plumber's drain snake. Augers differ from drain snakes in that they are manually powered, and they have a shorter reach. To use an auger, insert the tip of the auger into the drain, then push it far down into the drain.

When the auger encounters a twist in the pipe, turn the crank then keep pushing the pipe down into the drain. Push the auger into the drain until it encounters the clog. When the clog is finally clear, you can remove the auger from the drain. Augers are useful for clearing slow drains and can also be used to remove total blockages.

Contact Your Plumber

If your plumbing is plagued by chronic clogs and none of the tips above have worked, one of the best ways to eliminate your problem is to contact a reputable plumber in your area. Your plumber can help you control clogs and keep your home's plumbing flowing smoothly.
For more information about the ways that you can prevent clogs in your home, contact Daytona Plumbing. We're happy to answer any questions you might have about clogs and other plumbing problems.

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