We use the plumbing fixtures in our homes on a daily basis. You probably do not even realize how much you actually use your sinks, toilets, and other plumbing fixtures. Due to the high usage that these plumbing fixtures receive, you may find yourself needing a plumbing contractor like the ones from ACE Home Services, more often. Thankfully there are ways you can reduce the need for these contractors. There are many things that can go wrong with plumbing, but not if you know what you are doing with regards to plumbing fixtures.
The most common issue people have with plumbing is clogged drains. In showers women lose a lot of hair every time they shower. This hair goes right down the drain and forms clogs. In kitchen sinks food from used dishes can create clogs even with a garbage disposal in place. Even if you take precautions to prevent anything from clogging up the drain, eventually something will get stuck and cause your sink or shower to back up.
The first thing you can do to prevent your drains from clogging is to purchase a drain screen or grate. This screen, or grate, will keep hair and soap scum from sliding down your drain. The hair and soap scum will gather in your drain and form a mass that will prevent a lot of water from getting through. The grate will catch the hair and soap scum will be caught in the grate and you can just throw it away after your shower.
Another preventative measure is to watch what you put down your kitchen sink. There are many leftover foods that can cause issues with your plumbing. Watching what you put down your drain can lessen your chances of needing a plumbing contractor. One of the foods you should not rinse down your drain is coffee grounds. Coffee grounds will gather into a mass in your plumbing pipes and cause some issues. You should also not pour cooking grease or fat down your kitchen sink. Much like the coffee grounds, this will form into a mass and effectively clog up your sink.
If your drain gets clogged, you do not need to call out a plumbing contractor right away. Instead, first try using some clog remover. Something like Draino will help reduce the size of the clog so you can wash the rest of the clog down the drain and have fully functioning plumbing again. If using Draino, or liquid plumber, pour about a quarter to half a bottle of the liquid plumber down the drain. Allow it to sit for fifteen to twenty minutes. Then wash it down the drain using hot water. This should remove the clog from your pipes. If it does not, you can try using the rest of the bottle. You can also use a plumber’s snake which will allow you to pull the clog right out of the pipe.
So follow some of these tips to prevent getting clogs as much as possible. If you have questions about plumbing, or need assistance contact ACE today. They serve the greater Phoenix area and are here to help you.
