How to Avoid the Most Common Clogged Drain Repairs

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There is a misconception that if you have a clogged drain, the first thing to do is grab a chemical and pour it down the drain. These chemicals are usually designed to open drains or to clear small clogs, but they may also be harmful if they are not used properly. If you have had clogged drains and you are trying to fix the clogs without causing a huge clogged drain repair issue and fee, consider these ways to avoid the most common clogged drain repairs.

Avoid Homemade Mixes

There are a variety of homemade natural mixes online for clearing clogged drains. The problem is, they are not one size fits all. This means that the mix may have worked great for the original writer, but your pipes may be different or the clog may have been different. For example, a baking soda and vinegar mix may work well on small clogs caused by grease or coffee grounds. However, if you are on a septic tank system and not city sewer or the clog is filled with hair and food particles, you could make the clog worse. Baking soda can harden after being used, and if it is not flushed through the system, it could harden in the pipe causing the pipe to break or a major leak to occur.

Avoid Extremely Hot Water

If you have purchased a store bought drain cleaner, you may notice that it says to flush the drain with warm water. Unfortunately, too many people run hot water through the system, and this can cause clogged drain repairs. The hot water that normally can go through pipes without a problem, if the clog is not broken up, will sit in the pipes until the clog moves. That hot water can break down plumbers tape that is often used between washers and pipe fittings. This heated breakdown can lead to leaks and cause water damage in areas that you can't easily see. 

Use the Garbage Disposal Properly

One of the leading reasons people need a clogged drain repair in their home has to do with the garbage disposal. All too often, larger pieces of food or items that should not go into a garbage disposal are tossed in. This causes the blades to work harder, which causes the motor to work harder and leads to breakdown in the pipes and disposal system. Then larger chunks of debris can make their way into the pipe without being properly broken down. This leads to clogged drains and possible leaks and broken pipes.

These are just a few of the ways you can avoid the most common clogged drain repairs. If you keep noticing the same drains clogging or the same repair issues coming up, have your plumber do a survey of the home plumbing system to find the source of the issue.


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