3 Ways to Prevent a Clogged Drain in the Bathroom
The most effective technique for a clogged drain is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Bathroom drain clogs don’t happen out of the blue. In fact, they’re a very predictable result of daily events that eventually create a clog that requires a service call from a qualified professional plumber. Because the bathroom incorporates some of the most utilized plumbing fixtures in the house, drains carry a lot of waste water daily and can be a recurrent source of issues if certain preventive techniques aren’t applied. Here are some things you can do to reduce the probability of a clogged drain in the bathroom:
- Screen out hair. The number one source of bathroom drain clogs is a gradual accumulation of hair in the drain pipe — usually in the trap located just beneath the sink or under the shower or bathtub. A clotted mass of hair also traps soap scum, and together these factors form an effective and stubborn clog that often requires removing the trap to restore proper function. Install stainless steel mesh hair screens in both the sink and tub/shower drains to trap hair. Clean the screens of accumulated hair regularly.
- Don’t flush foreign objects down the drain. Many disposable cosmetic items used in the bathroom should not be disposed down the drain. Common facial tissue, cotton balls and Q-tips do not degrade inside the drain pipe. Instead, they’ll form a clog that required the services of a plumber to clear.
- Maintain the drain. Monthly use of enzyme-based drain maintenance products (not caustic drain openers) can help dissolve drain-clogging substances and prevent clogs on an ongoing basis. If you don’t want to go to the trouble of using these products, try this natural drain maintenance technique. Once a month, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by one cup of vinegar, added slowly. Wait five minutes, then flush the drain with a gallon of boiling water.
Contact the plumbing professionals at Apollo Home Heating, Cooling, Electric and Plumbing for advice and service to resolve a clogged drain in your bathroom or anywhere else in your home.