The Importance of Drain Cleaning and Maintenance in Your Home

Plumbing problems are a homeowner’s worst nightmare. They’re costly to repair and when left alone, create other problems.

One way to reduce the risk of a plumbing disaster is regular drain cleaning and maintenance by a professional licensed plumber.

Here’s why you need to keep up-to-date on your home’s drains.

Why You Need Regular Drain Cleaning

Regularly cleaning out your drains is necessary for a properly working plumbing system.

Not only does regular cleaning prevent future clogs but clearing out food, hair, fibers, and waste helps prevent:

• Bacteria: Your kitchen sink may contain up to 500,000 bacteria per square inch. Bacteria growth inside of your drains and P-traps isn’t something that’s talked about enough. The food particles trapped in your kitchen sink breed harmful bacteria such as E. Coli and Salmonella.

• Pipe Damage: Drain blockages cause pipes to crack or burst, making a costly repair. A burst pipe costs anywhere between $200-$1,000 if you’re lucky, not including water damage repair or if it’s in a hard to reach area.Cracked pipes aren’t as quickly notices as a burst. A water leak causes your water bill to rise, damages walls and floors, and promotes mold growth.
• Unpleasant odors: Gunk caught in drains causes an overgrowth of bacteria which releases an awful smell.
• Slow drain: Buildup over time will slow down the drainage. You’ll notice a faster drain once the debris is cleared out.

Common Causes for Blocked Drains

Common areas for clogs in households occur in toilets, shower drains, sinks, and bathtubs, and laundry drains.

Here are some of the most common clogs:

• Hair: You lose hair every time you get it wet in the bath or shower. This hair gets caught in drains and over time creates a matted clog. Always use a mesh drain screen to catch hair.
• Soap: Chunks of bar soap and soap scum build-up in your pipes.
• Food: Be cautious of what food you put down the disposal. Not everything is easy to break down.
• Fat, oil, and grease: Never pour these down the drain. Fats are sticky and adhere to the sides of your pipes.
• Toilet paper: Too much toilet paper in the toilet is a common cause for a toilet blockage that needs a plunger to unlodge.
• Mineral buildup: If you have hard water, the mineral buildup is a real problem and difficult to remove. One solution is a water softener.

How to Prevent Clogs

There are things you can do to prevent clogs between professional cleanings to reduce the risk of clogs:

• Use drain screens to catch hair and other debris.
• Watch what you put down the drain or toilet.
• Clean out the drain stoppers every few weeks.
• Run hot water for about a minute once a week to loosen up gunk.
• Use cold water when you’re using the disposal.

These simple maintenance steps will prevent major blockages and potential damage.

Call a Plumber for Drain Cleaning

By investing in our drain cleaning and preventative maintenance service, you reduce your risk of clogs, pipe damage, and harmful bacteria buildup.

At Drain Masters Plumbing Company, we’ll clean your drains and be there for any household plumbing issue. Contact us to schedule an appointment.