Your house’s plumbing system is a vital part of your home. While drain blockages are a common occurrence, there are many ways to prevent these problems from happening with regular maintenance. By taking the steps outlined below, you could save yourself hundreds of dollars and the headache of having to deal with a blocked drainage system.
Hot Water Flushing
Kitchen drains regularly become clogged with food scraps, oil and grease. This can cause annoying blockages and turn what should be an easy task into a real headache. To help combat this problem, you should try boiling a large pot of water and slowly and carefully pour it down the drain. It’s a good idea to repeat this process a couple of times to ensure that the blockage is removed.
Once you have done this, remember to run cold water down the drain for a few minutes. This can help to melt away any solidified liquids such as oil or grease and dislodge the source of the blockage.
Drain Filters
If your dishes aren’t washed properly, food scraps can easily end up down the drain. This causes your kitchen sink to backup, something that can be avoided by utilising a drain filter. Drain filters can be purchased at any supermarket. When placed in the plug hole, they will filter out larger food scraps and prevent them from lodging in your drain pipes.
Dispose of Oil and Grease Properly
We already know that oil and grease are common causes of blockages in drains. This often occurs because someone has poured leftover oil from cooking down the drain. While the oil remains in liquid form when hot, once it has cooled it solidifies and creates sticky blockages. To prevent this from occurring, ensure that oil is properly disposed of after cooking. Allow it to cool and then pour it into a non-breakable container and dispose of it in the bin. This also prevents the oil from finding its way into our waterways.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Is there anything this trusty combo can’t do? Wait until it is night time when the drain isn’t going to be used and simply pour a cup of baking soda into the drain followed by a cup of vinegar. Then plug up the sink and wait until morning. The chemical reaction will create gas, which will remove the obstruction. Remembering to do this once a month will result in your drains remaining clear and smelling a lot better.
Plunger
The plunger is a simple and effective way to deal with light blockages in the drains. Simply plug up the sink and fill it halfway with cold water. Then remove the plug and replace it with the plunger. After a few plunges, the drain should be clear. Simply rinse the sink of the dirty water to finish clearing the blockage.
There are some stubborn blockages that no DIY solution can fix. For professional drain unblocking in Auckland, contact DrainBlasters. We provide high-pressure hydro-jetting to clear commercial and residential drains. From homes to offices and apartment buildings, our team is here for you.
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