Keeping your clogged drains Flowing

Posted on January 15, 2018 in Building Maintenance

clogged drains

Knowing how to fix stuff is great. But knowing how to prevent clogged drains is even better.

One of the absolute best ways to prevent slow or clogged drains is to be careful about what you put into them. Cooking grease, coffee grounds, hair, and soap scum are four of a drain’s biggest enemies. Do whatever you can to avoid introducing any of these items into a drain.

We’ve put together a few tips on drain maintenance – so that hopefully, you won’t need to call us with your clogged drains.

1. Get your tools together

Before you get started with any drain cleaning, make sure you’ve got:

  • some protective gloves and glasses
  • a kettle
  • some baking soda and white vinegar
  • some soda crystals
  • a bottle for collecting fats

2. Use boiling water weekly

One of the easiest ways to practise good drain maintenance is to simply pour boiling water down your drains on a regular basis. A little hot water straight from the kettle every week can help to reduce the build-up of fats, grease and oil that can cause problems later on and clogged drains.

3. Add a little baking soda and vinegar

If you think your drain cleaning needs something a bit more powerful, you don’t need to turn to harsh chemicals to get the job done. Pour a small amount of baking soda down your drain, followed by a cup of white vinegar.

4. Flush it through with hot water

You should be able to see or hear some fizzing as the vinegar and baking soda react together. But don’t worry: that reaction is helping to remove any stubborn dirt and grime. After leaving the mixture in the drain for about ten minutes, just rinse it through with some hot water from the kettle.

5. Try adding some soda crystals

Alternatively, you can dissolve a cup of soda crystals in boiling water and carefully pour the solution down the plughole. This should help to clear up any fats, oils, grease and soap residues.

6. Keep the grease out of your drains

You can repeat either of these drain cleaning methods two or three times a year to keep your plumbing running smoothly. But if you really want keep up good drain maintenance, just be careful about what you put down there in the first place. When you’ve finished cooking, don’t pour grease from the pan into your sink – collect it in a bottle, and put the bottle in the bin.

Hopefully, these simple tips can help you keep your drains in the best possible condition. But if you’re really struggling to keep them clear, or you just need a bit of advice, get in touch with one of our engineers – they’re always happy to help.

For information on our plumbing and drainage services please click Clogged Drains or call 0845 604 1288.