Drain line maintenance is a proactive way of keeping your home or business’s plumbing waste lines clear and flowing. This service is generally performed by a sewer and drain specialist or a service plumber. Methods include electrically cleaning the drain with a drain cleaning machine (aka snake) or utilizing what is known as a high-pressure water jet machine. Which of these services are best for you is a decision that can be made along with the chosen sewer and drain technician.
Common Causes of Drain Line Stoppages
Clogged drains can be a pain in the neck and almost always occur at the most inopportune times. A kitchen sink clog during the holidays or a clogged shower in the bathroom when a guest is staying over are a couple of examples of a stressful drain clog. When these types of situations occur, you need immediate assistance to set things right. Finding a drain technician on short notice can be difficult and often leads to overtime or holiday charges. The good news is that you can take steps to avoid these nuisances!
Prevention Tips for Clear Drains
The first thing that I like to inform my customers of is that clear drains start with you. Make sure that all your fixtures have screens attached, limit what goes into your garbage disposal, never flush anything aside from toilet paper and natural waste (flushable wipes are not flushable!), and always dispose of kitchen grease in the garbage (allow it to cool first) and not down your drain lines. Prevention is key in seeing less of your drain company.
How to Maintain Different Types of Drains
The most common causes of drain line stoppages are hair, soap scum, and kitchen grease. Wipes, flushable or otherwise, are problems for toilets and sewer lines. For the purposes of this blog, I will stick to sinks and showers, etc. A screen affixed to your tub, shower, or bathroom sink will keep hair from invading your drain line. Make sure to clean the screen regularly for maximum efficacy. Make sure that laundry lines have some type of filter to catch lint from the discharge pipe. Kitchen sinks can be a bit more difficult to maintain, especially if attached to a garbage disposal. Limit the amount of food that goes into the disposal, especially items like rice and pasta. They can “gum up” once macerated and can cause a viscous type of clog. Most importantly, do not pour used cooking oil down your drains! The oil will solidify in your waste lines and cause a stoppage, much in the same way cholesterol clogs our arteries. The result is a heart attack for your pipes!
The Risks of Over-the-Counter Drain Openers
A few words on over-the-counter drain opening products. I do not recommend any type of drain opener that contains caustic chemicals, regardless of what the package may indicate. In my 34-year career, whenever I see waste lines that have corroded prematurely, over-the-counter drain openers were almost always used regularly. There are safer alternatives such as products that utilize natural enzymes to digest grease and buildup. Some have reported success with using a combination of baking soda and vinegar. While I cannot testify to the efficacy of such methods, I can say conclusively that they will not harm your plumbing system.
Do You Need a Drain Technician?
Based on all this information, you may be asking yourself, “do I need a drain technician to proactively snake my drain lines?” Well, it depends on how proactive you want to be. Generally, we recommend house residential drains to be snaked only when there is a need for it, with the exception of sewer lines. Snaking a drain always increases the odds of making a pipe leak, although these occurrences are rare. In most instances, it is probably best to wait until your shower or sink begins to slow up. That is the best time to call in order to avoid a full clog. That being said, if a slow drain is inconvenient to you, we can snake a drain as often as you like. Sewer lines are an exception to this rule that we will discuss in our Sewer Line Maintenance blog.
When to Call a Professional
Finally, if all your best efforts have failed and now you’re standing in ankle-deep water as you shower, give us a call. We can generally remediate these types of issues fairly painlessly. A routine drain call should cost anywhere from two to three hundred dollars. We believe that is money well spent to have a professional come out and provide an effective solution. Furthermore, I highly recommend calling a sewer and drain specialist when it comes to solving drain clogs. While general plumbers are very knowledgeable, they have to wear many hats and are usually not the best option when it comes to cleaning drains. Specialists, such as my company Liberty Drain and Sewer Inc., only handle sewer and drain clogs, nothing else. Our trucks are fully stocked with a wide array of drain cleaning options. A fully equipped truck in the hands of an experienced professional assures that the job will get done the right way, the first time!
Don’t let a drain problem ruin your day.
Contact Liberty Drain and Sewer Inc. for prompt, reliable, and professional service in Mamaroneck, Mt. Vernon, Yonkers, and throughout Westchester County.
