How to Prevent Clogged Drains: Helpful Tips and Tricks

Clogged drains are a frustrating issue that can disrupt your daily routine and lead to expensive plumbing repairs. They can cause foul odors, backups, and even water damage. The clogs can be caused by many things, but the most common causes include the gradual buildup of materials like food scraps, soap residue, hair, non-flushable items, etc.

While there are many ways you can unclog the drain, there’s a popular saying that “prevention is better than cure,” and this is why, in this article, we will be covering some tips that would ensure that you do not clog your drains again.

These tips are suggested by plumbers and technicians who work on the sewage system almost daily, so be sure to follow them as they are.

Note: These tips are important for any household, but if your home is on a septic system, these tips are critical. Consider these requirements for the proper care of your septic system.

Be Mindful of What You Put Down the Drain

When you look online, “what causes clogged drains,” 99% of the time, it is something that you have flushed down the drain that you shouldn’t have. In fact, over 80% of the drain blockages are preventable, and are caused by stuff you flush down the drain or the sink in the kitchen, or down the toilet.

Some of these materials harden, while others just cannot be dissolved or broken down, leading to them sitting in your septic system for days to come, making drainage a much more difficult chore than it needs to be.

Which is why one of the most effective defenses against clogged drains is being mindful of what you send down them. Grease, oil, coffee grounds, and food scraps are the common culprits behind drain blockages. These materials can cling to the insides of pipes, slowly accumulating and forming stubborn clogs over time.

Here’s a breakdown of what SHOULD NEVER go down your drains:

• Grease and Oil: Grease hardens as it cools, forming a sticky layer inside your pipes that attracts other debris and creates clogs. Instead, let the grease cool and solidify in a container before throwing it away in the trash.

• Coffee Grounds: Coffee grounds, despite their small size, can easily clump together and trap other materials, causing blockages. Consider composting leftover grounds or disposing of them in the trash.

• Food Scraps: While garbage disposals can handle some food scraps, it’s best to avoid putting excessive amounts or large pieces down the drain. Scrape leftover food into the trash bin to prevent clogs.

• Non-Flushable Items: Items such as feminine hygiene products, wipes, etc., are non-biodegradable, which means they do not break down and are common culprits for drainage blockages. Even the so-called “flushable” products in the market.

• Hair and Soap Scum in Bathrooms: Hair and Soap scum are other culprits that contribute a lot to drainage problems. They do not break down and combine with each other to form a dense mass that blocks shower and bathtub drains.

• Eggshells: While it is technically food scraps, it had to be mentioned separately because egg shells specifically would catch other debris in the drainage system and grind into a sand-like layer.

Utilize the Power of the Drain Trap

One thing that a lot of people miss out on is the drain trap. It is a U-shaped pipe located beneath your sink, and it acts as a barrier against clogs. It traps debris like hair, soap scum, and small objects, preventing them from entering the main drain lines.  Here’s how to keep your drain trap functional:

• Regular Cleaning: Every few months, remove the drain trap and clean out any accumulated debris. You might find hair, soap scum, or even small objects that have gotten lodged there.

• Inspect for Damage: While cleaning, check the drain trap for any cracks or leaks. A damaged trap won’t function properly and could contribute to clogs or leaks.

• Get professional checks every few weeks: With a professional check every few weeks, you will be able to prevent any further clogs ever again.

Use Hot Water for Minor Blockages

If you notice your drain is draining slowly, it means there is a minor blockage, and there is a very simple way to get rid of it: hot water.

Caution: Be careful not to pour excessively hot water down a cracked or damaged sink, as this could cause further issues.

Common Causes of Clogged Drains

Though you have already understood, and hope you can deal with minor clogs, you must be aware of the common causes of household rain clogs. Some of the major causes of household rain clogs are:

• One of the primary causes of the household drainage clogs is hair, as it binds with soap scum to form a dense, stubborn blockage 

• Another cause is grease, fats, and oils when will be poured down the kitchen sink, later solidify in the pipes, and end up trapping other debris 

• Food waste, like pasta, rice and other fibrous foods, can clog drains, even when you use a garbage disposal 

• Items like toys, sanitary products, such as tampons and sanitary pads, and even baby wipes, also clog toilets and rains even the so-called flushable ones in the market art a big culprit 

• If your water supply is primarily hard water, it leaves calcium and magnesium deposits that narrow the pipe diameter over time. 

Signs Your Drains Are Starting to Clog

Your drainage system doesn’t just fail one fine day; there are visible signs that your drain has started to clog, and when you understand what those signs are, you will be able to take preventive measures. 

• Slow draining is when water takes longer than normal to drain from sinks, showers or bathtubs.

• If, after every flush or wash in the sink do you hear any form of bubbling or gurgling noise, then that means that there is air trapped by the clog 

• If you get any form of persistent rotten smells that come from the drain, that means food particles are decomposing, and the sewer gases are unable to escape 

• Water backups, especially in this shower or in the toilet, mean that there is a blockage in the main sewer line 

• Something that a lot of people miss out on is pest infestation. If there is an increase in drain flies, cockroaches, or rather, any type of pests, it indicates organic waste buildup in the pipes. 

Preventive Drain Maintenance Tips

The entire motto of this guide is that prevention is better than cure, and let’s face it, it is impossible for a single person to keep an eye on the drainage system from time to time, which is why there are some preventative drain maintenance tips you must keep in mind. 

Introducing Accelerator by Dr. Pooper® Drain Cleaner & Maintenance

You've learned how to keep your drains from being clogged, but what if you already have a clog and need it cleaned? Dr. Pooper®'s Drain Cleaner & Maintenance Accelerator has a number of advantages that will help keep your pipes clean and working well.

• Cleans Drain Pipes and Keeps Them Clean: Dr. Pooper®'s Accelerator formula removes organic blockages and grease that has built up in the past, and it also stops new buildup from happening, so your drains will always run smoothly. It even gets rid of bad smells.

• Proven History: This solution is based on the strong Accelerator bio-accelerator formula that was first made for hard jobs like cleaning septic systems and commercial wastewater systems. Dr. Pooper® Drain Cleaner & Maintenance's Accelerator is a safe and effective way to clean and care for your home's pipes.

• Made in the USA: You may be sure that this product is made in the US to high standards.

• Totally Safe: Dr. Pooper® Accelerator products don't have any dangerous chemicals or pesticides in them, unlike other harsh chemical drain cleaners. You can use it around kids and dogs without worrying that it will hurt pipelines or septic systems. Actually, it makes septic systems work better by encouraging the growth of helpful bacteria that break down waste.

• Easy to Use: Dr. Pooper® Drain Cleaner & Maintenance Accelerator comes in a handy 32 oz jar with a measuring scoop. Just pour a scoop down the drain, wait a few minutes, and then flush it with warm water. If the clog is really bad, do it every day until it goes away. Use once a month to keep your pipes happy and free of clogs.

Conclusion

Remember that preventing an issue is a lot more cost effective than solving it. If you keep these maintenance tips in mind, you will be able to prevent damage worth thousands and thousands of dollars. Using Accelerator by Dr. Pooper®’s Drain Cleaner & Maintenance is an extremely smart choice, not only does it boost the water flow by boosting the number of anaerobic bacteria, but it is also safe for your sewage system as it doesn’t harm the pipes like the harsh chemicals in the market.

Choose Dr. Pooper and keep your septic system and environment both safe!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. How can I prevent clogged drains in my kitchen sink?

You can avoid pouring oil and grease into the kitchen sink, as they later harden and collect debris inside the septic system.

2. What are the most common causes of clogged drains?

Hair, grease, soap scum, and food residue are the most typical things that cause drains to get clogged.

3. Is pouring hot water effective for clearing minor clogs?

Yes, pouring hot water softens the oils and grease that hardened up, and certainly helps clear minor clogs.

4. Are chemical drain cleaners safe for pipes and septic systems?

No, these cleaners use harsh chemicals that can damage your pipes and kill the beneficial bacteria in the septic system.

5. How often should drains be cleaned to prevent clogs?

You should clean your drains every few weeks, or once every 1-2 months, in order to prevent clogs.

6. What should never be poured down household drains?

You shouldn’t pour oil, grease and other items like sanitary products and baby wipes down the drains.

7. Can drain maintenance products help prevent clogs?

Yes, routine drain maintenance every 2 weeks can certainly prevent drain clogs.

8. How do I know if my drain is starting to clog?

If your drain is starting to clog, you may notice that it drains slowly, makes gurgling sounds, and smells bad. When the washing machine is running, water backing up into sinks or showers is another symptom. Toilets that bubble or won't flush all the way are also signs.

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