Vigilance and preventative care keep your drains clear-
Keeping Drains Clear (Using Do-It-Yourself Techniques)
At A-1 American we know that eventually all homeowners will have to deal with a clogged bathroom drain. While the sources of drain clogs are myriad, and include hair, grime, grease, and food debris, the general techniques and overall approach to unclogging drains is fairly universal.
Through a combination of over-sized wire brushes called “snakes,” heavy duty high-pressure water jetters, and elbow grease, our experienced plumbers have the ability to clear even the toughest of clogs. We are committed to your comfort, and part of that commitment is to offer ways to keep you from needing routine service calls, even from our company, through preventive maintenance. The following tips are meant for the fairly experienced do-it-yourselfer. If you find yourself unable to perform the tasks confidently, or if you are experienced but a more complicated sort of issue arises which requires specialized plumbing knowledge, we’ll send out the best plumbers Hampton Roads has to offer right to your home.
Over time drains can become slowly clogged from grease, grime and gunk. By cleaning them on a regular basis, you can often avoid the cost of hiring a local drain cleaning specialist. Regular treatment will also help keep drains fresh and odor-free.
Do-It-Yourself Drain Cleaning Treatments
Dish washing washing liquids containing degreasing properties can act to clean your drain.
1- Pour the liquid along the edge of the drain’s opening. Use enough to cover the surface of the drain from all sides.
2- Allow the liquid to stand for a half hour.
3- Then rinse it away with hot water.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Solution
1- Cover the exposed drain with baking soda.
2- Put several tablespoons of vinegar into the drain one at a time.
3- Let the mixture foam up. This method will break down the grease and kill odors.
4- Wash it all down the drain with hot tap water.
5- Repeat procedure ever few weeks to maintain a clear drain.
When rinsing these liquids and mixtures away with hot water, it is advisable to not to use scalding hot water because boiling water can loosen the joints of some types of PVC pipe.
BE CAREFUL: do not use boiling water if you have plastic PVC pipes as water over 175 degrees Fahrenheit can soften some types of PVC pipe possibly loosening joints (and water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit)
Using Ice for Disposal Maintenance
1- Most garbage disposal manuals recommend using around two (2) cups of ice and some rock salt as a maintenance procedure. Contrary to popular opinion, the ice does not sharpen the blades themselves, but rather cleans out the grooves between the blades and other areas of the disposal.
A Small Plunger May Be Helpful.
If your drain is clogged, try the above. If that doesn’t unclog the drain, try a small plunger. Keep one handy, it can be more cost effective than calling a professional plumber. If you decide to use a toxic drain cleaner, be careful. The fumes alone can be harmful and make sure to never, ever mix different drain cleaner chemicals. The chemical reactions can be dangerous. If all of these options fail to do the trick, it’s time to call A-1 American click here for a appointment !
A-1 American provides Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing Services, like Heating Repair for homes and businesses in the Hampton Roads Virginia cities of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News and Hampton and north into Williamsburg. A-1 American provides emergency service and repair, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. A-1 American charges by the job, not by the hour. A-1 American prides itself on immediate response, punctuality, courtesy and customer satisfaction. Call today 757-425-2400
