Clogged drains are an incredibly persistent and common problem with homeowners everywhere. Trust us, we know because unclogging drains is one of the most commonly recurring issues we address on our service calls.
The folks here at After Hour Plumbing & Drain make a living at solving your plumbing problems. But we’re committed to making customers for the long term, so we strive to equip our customers with the information and knowledge that will help them prevent having to give us their hard-earned money quite so often.
That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips that will help you keep your drain clog-free and your repair bills low.
7 Most Common Foods That Could Cause A Tough Drain Blockage
As we said, we fix a lot of clogged drains — and we mean A LOT. This is such a commonly recurring problem that our experts were able to put together a list of the most common foods they found causing plumbing mayhem for our customers.
The 7 most common foods we find clogging drains are:
- Eggshells
- Flour of any kind
- Any kind of oil
- Medicines/vitamins
- Seeds
- Pasta/Rice/Carbs
- Food-associated trash, paper towels, etc.
If your kitchen sink isn’t equipped with a garbage disposal, there really aren’t any foods that are completely safe to wash down the drain, so it’s best to be avoided entirely. Luckily, there are plenty of products on the market designed specifically to help you avoid washing food down the drain.
How To Prevent Food From Clogging Your Drain
Unfortunately, there is no magic solution. Even sinks equipped with garbage disposals have their limits on what their pipes can handle. The most simple and effective step that every homeowner can take to prevent clogs is to buy and use a simple mesh strainer that sits at the bottom of your sink. This strainer can be removed and cleaned daily and go a long way in preventing future drain clogs.
However, a garbage disposal does wonders in increasing the versatility of your drain, and aside from preventing food from near your sink entirely, is the best tool for clog prevention. If you would like to explore your options regarding garbage disposals, don’t hesitate to call After Hour and get a free quote today!
How To Fix A Clogged Drain
As our history of service calls would suggest, some clogs will require professional help to fix. Fortunately, however, there are a few simple repair steps that could have your drain functioning as it should without the need for professional intervention.
- Use your plunger – The drain system connected to your sink is essentially the same as the drain system connected to your toilet. In some cases, using a plunger can force the clog to release and fix your issue.
- Clear the “p trap” – WIth a simple bucket and pair of pliers, you can clear the segment of pipe under your sink called the “p trap”. This is the segment of pipe that curves in a “U” directly under your sink and is the place where most food and debris accumulates.
- Try boiling water & salt or baking soda & vinegar – The idea here is to use the hot water and salt to help dissolve a clog — the same goes for baking soda and vinegar which has the added benefit of creating agitation with the chemical reaction.
If you’ve done all of these things or simply don’t want to do them, don’t hesitate to call After Hour Plumbing & Drain to come out and handle even the smallest of plumbing concerns. It’s our mission to provide our customers with whatever they need to solve their plumbing issues.
After Hour Will Alleviate The Drain Of Plumbing Pain
After Hour Plumbing & Drain is committed to being the industry standard concerning everything plumbing and pipe. We mean everything, from providing guarantee-backed whole-house repiping to doing the highest quality Monterey drain cleaning services possible and everything in between. Our plumbers are here 24/7 to provide any plumbing solution you could possibly need.